A Future Jordan - نحن الأردن

Agenda proposals unrelated to gov't change — King

Agenda proposals unrelated to gov't change — King
Monday, October 10, 2005

AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday said the release of the National Agenda proposals is unrelated to any government change, emphasising that talk of a Cabinet reshuffle or change was nothing but speculation.

In an interview with Al Rai daily, the King said a referendum on the National Agenda was unnecessary and was also unconstitutional.

He said the next step is for the government to study the recommendations, principles and ideas agreed to by the members of the National Agenda Steering Committee, and on issues such as the Elections Law, the government may find a need for additional dialogue.

In response to a question about the Kingdom's glut of political parties, King Abdullah said the fact that Jordan has more than 30 parties is a hindrance to political reform. He said he hoped that in the future three to four parties would emerge as representing the principles and ideologies of the country with programmes tackling national, political, social and economic issues.
The Steering Committee for National Agenda was formed in February to set the Kingdom's socio-economic and political reform policies for the next 10 years.

King Abdullah told Al Rai that the path of the National Agenda would take it through the evaluation of recommendations, and the translation of those proposals into programmes and laws that would go through the constitutional process.

Asked about the formation in January of the Royal Commission on administrative divisions, the Monarch said the goals involved planning, economic and development dimensions.

“We felt we needed to involve citizens in development and economic decision making to increase economic growth in the governorates and reduce poverty and unemployment.”

The commission is tasked with instituting a decentralisation plan that would divide the country into three administrative regions and grant citizens the right to elect their municipal councils.

Once again, he said, the findings of this committee will be put before the government for study and assessment, and the necessary procedures of programme and legislation drafting.

The King dismissed as baseless rumours that the administrative division concept was intended to pave the way for a Jordanian role in the West Bank, as a fourth region.

The King said he was certain that the Anti-Corruption Commission, which he formed in June, would be able to carry out its mandate.

In a public opinion poll released by the Centre for Strategic Studies in September 2005, citizens ranked fighting corruption second among their priorities, after reducing poverty and unemployment.

On pressing bread and butter issues such as the recent hikes in oil prices and the elimination of oil subsidies, King Abdullah listed several initiatives by the Royal Court and public institutions to provide in-kind and cash assistance to the underprivileged via a revamped method of identifying families and individuals who legitimately qualify for such assistance. He also said that plans were in motion to provide housing facilities for the needy.

But the King emphasised that reduction of poverty and unemployment required increased private-public sector partnerships to create more job opportunities.

King Abdullah said the oil price increases do pose a burden, particularly on the poor, but he added that the step was necessary now to avoid becoming dependent.

“Either we face this problem ourselves or be victims of external economic effects,” the King said.
On Sunday, King Abdullah visited the Jordan Press Foundation (JPF), which publishes Al Rai, The Jordan Times and Hatem, a children's magazine.

He said local media outlets play a key role in spelling out Jordan's achievements and programmes.

The Monarch stressed that journalists should be committed to high professional standards, transparency and credibility.

During the visit, the King met with Chairman of JPF's Board of Directors Khalid Wazani, JPF Director General Nader Horani and Editor-in-Chief of Al Rai Abdul Wahab Zgheilat, who briefed the Monarch on the newspaper's achievements and future plans.

posted by Ashraf Zeitoon @ 5:18 AM