Syria’s Assad discusses refugees, drug smuggling with Jordanian FM

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met Monday in Damascus and discussed war refugees and a crackdown on cross-border drug smuggling, Amman's foreign ministry said.

The meeting "focused on the issue of refugee returns and the necessary measures to facilitate the voluntary return" of Syrian refugees from Jordan, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Assad and Safadi also discussed "humanitarian, security and political" steps towards a "comprehensive solution" to Syria's crisis, it added.

Earlier in May, Damascus was readmitted to the Arab League after nearly a decade. Arab states hope to find a solution for the millions of Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries, including 1.3 million in Jordan.

Several Arab countries are also seeking increased security cooperation with Syria, which has turned into a narco-state with a roaring illegal trade in the stimulant drug Captagon. The Jordanian statement said Safadi discussed with Assad "the dangers posed by drug smuggling across the Syrian border into the kingdom, and the need for cooperation to confront it."

During his visit, Jordan's foreign minister also met with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad. The two discussed a "joint committee to combat drug smuggling" that would meet in Amman "as soon as possible", the Jordanian foreign ministry said.