On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met with Dr. Alia Hatoug Bouran, Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington D.C. to talk over shared concerns on the ongoing Syrian crisis.
The Florida Senator, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, discussed with Bouran the impact the country’s ongoing civil war is having on U.S. and Jordanian interests in the region.
“Given ongoing uncertainty and instability in the Middle East, America’s partnership with Jordan is one that I value greatly,” Rubio said. “Ambassador Bouran’s visit further confirms the growing threats we face from the ongoing conflict in Syria, and the urgent need for a more meaningful response from the Obama administration.
Rubio also expressed concern over President Abbas’ recent announcement on a new Hamas-backed Palestinian unity government. Earlier, Marco Rubio called on the Obama Administration to review U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority following the formation of a new government.
“Despite the immense burden placed on Jordan by the flow of refugees from Syria, I commend the government’s efforts to assist their Syrian neighbors in their time of need and will continue to support U.S. assistance to the Government of Jordan for this purpose,” Rubio added.
Marco Rubio was a co-sponsor of the Senate Syria Democratic Transition Act 2013, which authorized U.S. assistance for Syrian civilians and victims of the conflict, expand sanctions against the regime of Bashar al Assad, strengthen U.S. support for democratic opposition groups and help ensure stability and security in Syria during the political transition.
