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AMMAN — Jordan and Russia have agreed on holding the meetings of the joint ministerial committee for development, technical and scientific cooperation during the last third of 2018, a statement from Planning and International Cooperation Ministry said on Sunday.

On the sidelines of the committee's meetings, the two countries' public and private sectors will convene in a business forum, the statement said.

The agreement came during meetings between Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury with Russian senior officials on the sidelines of St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2018.

St Petersburg forum concluded on Saturday with 15,000 participants including Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe.

According to the statement, Fakhoury met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Representative of Russian President for Middle East and North Africa Affairs Mikhail Leonidovich Bogdanov, Minister in Charge of the Development of Integration and Macroeconomics Tatyana Valovaya and representatives of St Petersburg municipality.

Fakhoury described the Jordanian-Russian committee as an important "podium" for discussing development and cooperation in economy, investment, tourism and technical fields.

The minister's talks with the Russian officials also covered building on the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries last year, which entails establishing economic cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union, a coalition established by Russia that encompasses that states of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Fakhoury stressed the importance of studying and working on turning the memo into a free trade agreement between Jordan and Russia.

He said that Jordan is seeking to find new markets for Jordanian products and industries to stimulate economy and attract new investments.

In his meeting with St Petersburg Municipality representatives, Fakhoury discussed the prospects of holding technical and scientific cooperation agreements and twinning projects with cities such as Aqaba.

Marking the 55th anniversary of the Jordanian-Russian diplomatic ties, Jordan is keen on boosting cooperation in various fields including economy, energy, health, pharmaceuticals, tourism, mining, education and developing sea ports.

AMMAN — The Israeli occupation has changed the Arabic names of 667 archaeological and heritage sites in Jerusalem with the aim of “Judaising the city” and “erasing its historical and religious identity”, according to a recent study.

“Replacing the Arabic names is part of a long-term and systematic attempt to distort facts and falsify the real identity of the holy city until the future generation forgets its Arab and Islamic identity,” Ibrahim Bazazo, researcher and dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Jordan told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

The study was conducted over the course of three years by Jordanians Omar Jawabreh, Mohammad Sarayreh, Haitham Abdelraza and Bazazo, under the title “Towards Sustainable Documentation of Geographical Names of Touristic and Heritage Sites in Occupied Jerusalem Using Geographical Information System [GIS]”.

Researchers used documents dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, including holy books, historical and geographical atlases.

“The new names are chosen based on 10 different manifestations, including the names of Zionist figures and fighters, names of Israeli leaders and colonies, in addition to Talmudic and Tanakh names, which all aim at perpetuating their memory and forcing a ‘Judaised’ identity,” Bazazo said, adding that “the core of the problem lies in the replacement of the Arabic names not only from all signs and banners but also from school books and official curricula”.

The study provides a “complete and sustainable” documentation of the geographical names of all the heritage and archaeological sites in Jerusalem, using technological means by providing spatial databases of all the Arab sites that have been “Judaised” in addition to digitised images and schematic layouts, according to the study, a copy of which was sent to The Jordan Times. 

Bazazo noted that the study is only “the first stage” of a process that will include a historical sustainable record documenting the original names of the holy land’s sites, as well as a guidebook.

“It is now the role of government institutions and civil society organisations to use the research data and take action to stop the Judaisation of Jerusalem,” the researcher said, stressing: “We should speak out to the international institutions and the International Court of Justice to ensure that our identity is preserved and protected.”

A similar effort by Omar Al Ghul, an associate professor at Yarmouk University, was the translation of the “Jerusalem and its Terrains” by Gustaf Dalman from German to Arabic, with the aim of preserving the Arabic names of Jerusalem’s sites and areas before 1930’s.

“We cannot deny the Judaisation processes which are evidenced by the existence of a special committee in the Knesset to change the Arabic names, but the urban development also has a role to play,” Ghul told The Jordan Times.

Ghul also made a distinction between East Jerusalem and West Jerusalem, stating that “the eastern part is an occupied land by the international conventions so the Arabic names should not be changed, but the western part is recognised internationally as part of the Israeli state”. 

During the Extraordinary Session of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Istanbul earlier this month, His Majesty King Abdullah called for “immediate measures by brotherly Arab and Muslim countries to support the perseverance of Palestinians and empower them economically, while countering attempts to Judaise Jerusalem and alter its Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity”.

After efforts spearheaded by Jordan, UNESCO, in June, 2016, officially adopted an Arab-sponsored resolution condemning Israel’s actions at holy sites in East Jerusalem and stipulating the recognition of the Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Sharif as an official name of the site.

AMMAN — A delegation from the Palestinian National Council (PNC) has visited the wounded of the Great Return march in the Gaza Strip, who are currently being treated at the King Hussein Medical Centre in Amman, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Headed by the Council President Salim Zanoun, the delegation checked on the health of the injured and praised their sacrifices for their country.

PNC also voiced its appreciation to Jordan’s efforts under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah to host the wounded and provide full medical care for about 30 victims.

AMMAN — Secretary General of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) Ayman Mifleh on Sunday said that the organisation has secured 30,000 Ramadan meals this year, with a daily average of 1,300 meals.

Mifleh told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that these meals were produced by the JHCO Arzaq project, and will be distributed to all governorates of the Kingdom.

He noted that JHCO implemented a similar project last Ramadan through distributing 25,000 meals. The secretary general said that the meal costs JD2.75, which is a highly competitive price in the market.  

AMMAN — A Jordanian delegation, comprising representatives from the three sides of production: the government, employers and employees, is scheduled to participate in the 107th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva between May 28 and June 8.

Labour Minister Samir Murad, head of the delegation that comprises 18 members, said that the Kingdom’s participation is part of continuous cooperation with the international community towards achieving development goals, according to a ministry statement issued on Sunday.

Murad referred to Jordan’s dire need for the international community and world organisations to honour their pledges to enable the Kingdom to face repercussions of the Syrian refugee influx. 

AMMAN — Jordan on Saturday announced a plan for a small modular nuclear reactor with Russia, replacing the $10 billion nuclear power plant for which an agreement was signed in 2015 between the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and Russia’s Rosatom Overseas.

“Jordan is now focusing on small modular reactors because the large reactors place financial burden on the Kingdom and in light of the current fiscal conditions we believe it is best to focus on smaller reactors,” a government official, who preferred anonymity, told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

The official said the plan for the $10 billion nuclear plant with Russia that entails building two nuclear reactors with total capacity of 2,000 megawatts is over now and that focus will be on smaller reactors, which are safe, require less financial burden and for which Jordan can attract investors, the official said Saturday.

In 2015, Jordan signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosaton for building a $10 billion nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts.

The deal envisages the construction of a two-unit power plant at Amra in the north of the kingdom by 2022.

In a joint statement Saturday, the JAEC and Russia’s Rosatom Overseas announced the signing of an agreement to conduct a joint feasibility study for building a Russian-designed SMR in Jordan.

Building on cooperation and studies performed for a large nuclear power plant, Russia and Jordan have decided to intensify and step up their cooperation in the field of SMRs, Khaled Toukan, chairman of the JAEC, said in the statement.

“We have been cooperating with Rosatom for many years, and we are going to build on this cooperation in various spheres. Today, a potential project to construct SMR-type NPP seems more relevant and more needed, so we would like to focus on it,” Toukan said.

Evgeny Pakermanov, president of JSC Rusatom Overseas said the Russian group and Jordan decided to “focus our cooperation on enhancing SMR technology projects based on Rosatom’s innovative solutions”. 

“The SMR technologies will certainly become one of our top priorities on the way to develop the world energy market”, he said in a statement emailed to the Jordan Times.

“Apart from its modular composition, one of the main advantages of the Russian-design SMR NPP is its ability to be used as a desalination and heating plant”, according to the joint statement, which added that Jordan is looking forward to benefit from all the available technologies in order to strengthen its local dependency on energy.

Russia and Jordan are cooperating closely in the human resource development area, to implement the nuclear programme of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.  Currently, 100 Jordanian students are conducting their Bachelor, Master and other postgraduate studies and programs in major Russian universities, according to Toukan.

AMMAN — Demand on foodstuff since the beginning of Ramadan is around 25-30 per cent lower than its rate last year, although prices during the holy month are “much lower” this year, President of the Foodstuff Traders Association Khalil Haj Tawfiq said.

Prices of many food items are 10 to 40 per cent lower this Ramadan compared with the same month last year; however, demand is still "very low", he said on Saturday.

"Prices of food items declined due to very fierce competition between traders, malls, and even small groceries and supermarkets… and it is also due to a decline in foodstuff prices in countries of origin," Tawfiq noted, adding that despite these drops in prices, customers are not buying "as they usually do in Ramadan".

"Although civil servants have received their salaries [for May], we have not seen any rise in demand. On the contrary, demand is around 30 per cent less, compared with last year… I am surprised that prices of some food items are less than their actual cost as traders are only seeking to make some cash," he pointed out, calling the decline "a serious issue".

"More than half of citizens' spending goes to food items, even more so during Ramadan. If there is a decline in food buying, imagine what is happening to other sectors? This is a serious issue that highlights the drop in Jordanians' purchasing power," Tawfiq stressed.

Salem Sleihi, a worker at a mall in the northern Hashemi area, echoed similar remarks. 

“We have very interesting prices on basic food items such as rice, cooking oil and canned foods, but the demand is very low,” Sleihi told The Jordan Times.

“During the first 15 days of Ramadan, people usually spend a lot on food before they start spending money on clothes for Eid… But the demand on food is much lower than last year,” Sleihi said, concluding that “the only reason is that people do not have enough money”.

Irbid shopkeepers, according to a report by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said that after the government salaries were paid, there was a better market activity, yet, still below its rates this season.  

Consumers agreed that prices during this Ramadan are more affordable than previous years.

“The prices  during of some commodities such as rice are very cheap and malls have very good offers,” said Yousef Salwan, a father of four, adding: “To be honest, I am surprised at how much low prices of food items are. But the prices of clothes for instance, or transportation and other items are high.”

“I think people have so many priorities and they are rationing their spending on food because Eid Al Fitr is coming mid June and maybe they will not receive their salaries [for June] before the holiday so they have to be careful,” Salwan suggested.

Ramadan will end mid-June before the holiday begins. Public servants are some time paid before Eid to spend on needs of the holiday. 

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, HRH Prince Feisal on Friday attended the 88th session of the Hashemite Scientific Council at the Royal Cultural Centre, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The scientific council, organised by the Awqaf Ministry, is an annual Ramadan event that features the participation of intellectuals, clerics and Sharia (Islamic law) professors from the Kingdom and other Arab and Muslim countries. 

During the session, titled "The Muslim Awqaf in Jerusalem...the Hashemite custodianship", Sheikh Abdul Azim Salhab, who heads the Jerusalem Awqaf Council, commended the council for selecting this subject at a time when Jerusalem is "under an unprecedented occupation attack" that targets its land, holy places, institutions and people.

Salhab said that the Jerusalem's Awqaf owns three quarters of the old city, supervises 125 mosques with more than 1,000 employees, and supports over 40 educational centres.

He stressed that the Hashemite custodianship is the "only refuge" for Jerusalem in light of the Israeli "arrogance", noting that many obstacles hinder the work of the Awqaf such as the repeated actions of Israeli extremists breaking in Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif and practising "Talmudic rituals", and the Israeli policies that delay procedures related to building and reconstruction.

AMMAN — On behalf of Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Jamal Sarayreh on Saturday visited the house of condolences of Fuad Abu Aradeh, who died in the Aqaba silos incident.

Sarayreh offered the government's condolences to the family of Abu Aradeh, noting that the loss of six lives was a "loss for the entire nation", the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Abu Aradeh died in hospital late Monday night, raising the death toll of an explosion that happened a week earlier during demolition work in Aqaba to six victims.

The explosion, which occurred on May 14, resulted in the critical injury of nine workers, as several contracting companies were demolishing construction sites at the premises.

Sarayreh voiced the government's concern to follow up on all legal procedures in dealing with the rights of the victims of the explosion. 

Members of Abu Aradeh's family expressed their appreciation for the government's follow up on the rights of Fuad and the other victims.

On Friday, Sarayreh visited Karak Governorate's Southern Ghor District where he offered condolences to the families of four victims of the silo incident, stressing that "the government will take all procedures necessary to follow up on the employees' rights after gathering information and identifying the reason for the explosion". 

The minster also visited the family of the fifth victim in Marka to whom he offered condolences, listened to their demands and pledged to proceed with legal procedures in the incident and present any necessary support. 

The prosecutor has charged the contracting and sub-contracting companies tasked with demolishing the old port with causing the death and harm of individuals.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the two companies failed to adopt the required safety measures in accordance with their contracts, according to Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh.

ASEZA issued a statement last week stating that the cause of the explosion was due to “a spark from iron wielding or another electric source”, adding that ASEZA closed down the premises to allow rescue teams and investigators quick and easy access to the area.

The demolition of the silos was part of an executive plan to handover the port’s site and the third phase of the Marsa Zayed project, Shraideh said in April.

AMMAN — Northern Badia security personnel have seized more than 5,000 narcotic pills, a security source said on Friday.

Northern Badia Criminal Investigation Department had received a tip-off on people with a pick-up vehicle who had hidden a bag in a suspicious way in Um Al Jimal area near a dune, the source said, adding that a joint security force headed to the site upon receiving the information, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The security force surveyed the site and found a white bag with 5,165 Captagon pills and six kilogrammes of a white substance that was believed to be "narcotic Chrystal", the source added.