Jordan, Germany said to disagree on status of German troops

German soldiers and members of the NATO multinational battle group are pictured during a visit by German President and Lithuanian President in Rukla, Lithuania, on August 25, 2017. (AFP)

AMMAN: A Jordanian official said Sunday that Jordan is negotiating with Germany over the legal status of German troops to be stationed in the kingdom, amid reports that disagreements delayed deployment.
The German magazine Der Spiegel reported that Germany seeks immunity in Jordan for 250 soldiers who are part of the US-led campaign against Daesh group extremists. The report says Jordan balked at the demand.
The Jordanian official said talks with Germany are 鈥渟ubject to international diplomatic rules鈥� and 鈥渆qual mutual treatment.鈥� He demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters on the issue.
Germany鈥檚 defense ministry played down the report saying the negotiation process is ongoing and that 鈥渨e are in fruitful talks with Jordan.鈥�
鈥淲e already started the deployment ... and are expecting to be fully operational by October,鈥� said a spokesman for the German defense ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.
Germany chose Jordan after previous host Turkey prevented German lawmakers from visiting the troops there.