AMMAN — Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani has said that Jordan had expressed dissatisfaction over the deaths of civilians in a recent incident and agreed to form a joint committee with Syria to investigate the circumstances.

 

Speaking during a visit to a condolence house in Daraa in southern Syria, Al Shibani Syrian-Jordanian relations as being at their strongest in a century, stressing that the incident would not undermine ties between the neighboring countries.

 

He said that the strength of bilateral relations should serve as a foundation for addressing disputes and resolving incidents fairly, rather than allowing them to damage longstanding ties.

 

He also said that both sides needed to use the incident as an opportunity to further strengthen relations.

 

He also warned against attempts to exploit the situation to stir tensions between the two countries, saying that public awareness on both sides would help prevent escalation.

 

He said Jordanian officials had taken the incident seriously, offered condolences to the victims’ families and demonstrated concern for the humanitarian consequences.

 

Jordan had also agreed to establish a committee to follow up on the case and investigate the circumstances surrounding it, he added.

 

The Syrian foreign minister said that the governments of both countries had handled the incident responsibly, emphasising their shared security interests.

 

“Jordan’s security is part of Syria’s security, and Syria’s security is part of Jordan’s security,” he said.

 

The top diplomat added that relations between the Syrian and Jordanian peoples were rooted in historical and popular ties, stressing the importance of preserving goodwill and maintaining communication despite incidents that could strain bilateral relations.

 

He also praised Jordan’s positions during the Syrian revolution, saying the latest incident would not bring an end to relations between the two countries.

 

The minister expressed hope that the committee would complete its work successfully and that the Jordanian side would conduct further investigations to help establish the facts and ensure justice.

 

He called for efforts to move beyond the incident and strengthen Syrian-Jordanian relations at both official and popular levels.