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AMMAN — Inspectors from the Public Sector Development Ministry recently carried out an unannounced visit to the department for certificate attestation at the Higher Education Ministry to check on the quality of services offered to the public. 

According to a report prepared by the inspectors, a copy of which was made available to The Jordan Times, there was only one accountant serving over 50 people as the other window for accounting was closed. 

The report also said that all windows serving people were crowded due to lack of a proper organisation mechanism based on the services offered to applicants, and "not enough" seats were allocated for people waiting to be served.

The inspectors criticised the fact that people have to queue three times to obtain service as they had to queue at the window for attesting documents, then move to the accountant and then stand in line to obtain the signature of the head of the department. 

The report said the building was clean and there was a special place to answer people's inquiries. 

There was a box for complaints and suggestions at the department but there were no forms to be filled out by clients, the inspectors said in the report.  

The inspection tour to the government agency took place earlier this month, according to the ministry. 

Over the past three years, teams from the Public Sector Development Ministry have been carrying out unannounced visits to various government agencies to monitor their performance and submit reports to the prime minister and concerned ministers.
The project seeks to improve the quality of services offered to the public.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Environment has completed distributing the second batch of bins and containers across the country to collect electronic waste, a government official said Monday.

The ministry started earlier this month the distribution of 200 bins and containers in the governorates to collect unwanted computers, cellular phones, chargers, dry batteries and fluorescent light bulbs, Environment Minister Taher Shakhshir said.

“The ministry launched this project to improve waste management in the Kingdom, especially electronic and electric waste," the minister added in a statement.

The project’s first phase, implemented in cooperation with the UNDP and the UN Environment Programme, was launched in March last year, when the ministry distributed 200 bins with a capacity of 240 litres each for collecting computers, cell phones and dry batteries, while 40 wooden boxes were distributed for fluorescent light bulbs, which contain mercury.

Under the project’s second phase, the ministry will also organise lectures and campaigns on the dangers of storing electronic waste at home or disposing of them along with domestic waste, according to Shakhshir.

“The draft environment protection law, currently being examined at the Legislation and Opinion Bureau, features new articles that address electronic waste and seek to manage and regulate its collection and disposal,” the minister noted.

The bins were distributed at schools, universities, hospitals and municipality headquarters to facilitate access for the public.

The improper disposal or processing of electronic waste causes serious health and pollution problems, as some electronic scrap components contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury and brominated flame retardants, according to web sources.

Environment Ministry officials believe that the absence of sound management of electronic waste threatens the environment and public health. Official figures indicate that 94 per cent of Jordanians own at least one cell phone and two-fifths of households own PCs, which are often discarded with regular garbage when outdated.

In Jordan, the average age of PCs ranges between two to five years, while it is eight to ten years for TV sets and fridges, and two to three years for most cell phones, according to ministry studies. Statistics indicate that at least one million Jordanian households are linked to the electricity network and thus each has a minimum of one electrical device.

Officials have repeatedly urged the public to drop off their unwanted or outdated computer equipment and any electronic waste at the ministry, which discards the materials at the hazardous waste unit in Swaqa Landfill, 160 kilometres from Amman.

Earlier this month, the Greater Amman Municipality distributed 88 containers to the headquarters of its 22 districts to enable residents to dispose of their unwanted electronic devices.

The containers are designated for the disposal of TVs and computer monitors, dry batteries, light bulbs and mobiles, according to the municipality.

AMMAN — Economic empowerment is “a tool for quality and positive change”, Her Majesty Queen Rania said Monday, noting that small projects that grow steadily can have ripple effects across the community.

The Queen was speaking during a visit to Pella District (also known as Tabaqet Fahel), 90km north of Amman, in Northern Ghor to highlight several success stories of small businesses run by women. 

In Pella, Queen Rania met with several women residing in the area, including Um Yasmin and Um Ahmad. Both women are involved in small income-generating businesses and are working hard to succeed despite their harsh living conditions, according to a statement issued by Her Majesty's office.

The small businesses are supported by the Community Centres Association (CCA) in the area.

Her Majesty also dropped in on Tarfeh Al Anbar’s (Um Yasmin) house where she met with CCA Chairman Sari Naser and CCA President Firyal Saleh. 

Anbar told Queen Rania about her project, where she sells a variety of house utilities from her home, and how the project has helped improve her family’s economic situation and support her daughter’s education. 

Queen Rania then stopped by Iman Mustatiji’s small business — Um Ahmad’s mini-market. 

Um Ahmad shared with Her Majesty her project’s small beginnings and how it has grown since.

The Queen conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah’s greetings to the people of the area and expressed his pride at hearing local successes stories. 

“His Majesty is always keen on highlighting the competitive advantages of each area. Tabaqet Fahel is also a great location for agriculture and tourism, and residents can invest more in these qualities to attract more tourists, thus, benefiting its residents,” Her Majesty said.

She concluded her visit with a meeting with several women from the area at the Pella rest house. 

In the meeting, several beneficiaries shared with Queen Rania the impact their projects have had on their socio-economic and living conditions, and they expressed their gratitude for the opportunities they have been given.

Through these projects the women were able to strengthen their self-confidence and provide new sources of income, ensuring better education opportunities for their children as well as helping their husbands with home expenses, the statement said.

The women also reported that the projects broke down the culture of shame and helped them rely on themselves while teaching them project management skills. 

The women said they were proud to effect change within their community, and many were able to finish their education as a result of the income generated by these projects.

Through the establishment of an internal cooperative network, the products sold by the women have been marketed within the area, according to the statement.

Also at the meeting, Saleh said the women of the district are highly motivated, which has been reflected in the success rate of their projects, as some projects have generated profits just three months after establishment. 

The CCA president highlighted that the women have also taken advantage of tourist attractions the area has to offer, and have started selling their products to tourists and visitors on weekends and public holidays.

So far, they have launched 11 agricultural and livestock projects, three grocery stores, and three other home and clothing projects, Saleh added.

At the meeting, Ehab Saleh, CCA project coordinator in Tabaqet Fahel, explained that the association trains women on how to manage small businesses and how to sustain and grow their start-up capital, generating more profit.

Pella is located in the northern part of the Jordan Valley with a population estimated at about 48,000 people. The area was one of the cities making up the Roman Decapolis League.

One of the key structures uncovered in Pella is the so-called Canaanite Temple, the largest and best preserved structure of its type in the region. 

Occupied for over a millennia between 1800BC and 800BC, the site hosted a series of cultic activities that left behind several ritual vessels and offerings.

Experts attribute Pella’s attraction to its source of permanent freshwater springs, arable land for cultivating cereal crops and grazing cattle, isolated topography, and its location at the crossroads between the civilisations of the east, west, north and south.

AMMAN –– His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday honoured Sgt. Omar Balawneh with the Order of Dedication and Sacrifice, according to the Royal Court twitter account.

Balawneh, a diver from the Civil Defence Department, managed to rescue two Iraqi children who were drifted away by waves at the Dead Sea n Friday.

The rescuer spent more than 12 hours carrying the children in the Dead Sea and managed to bring them back to their parents.

The heroic story of Balawneh dominated social media in the Kingdom with users describing him as a true hero.

AMMAN — There are no reported cases of injuries or accidents among Jordanians in Yemen, an official said on Sunday.

Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Sabah Al Rafie said the ministry is following up on the conditions of Jordanian nationals in Yemen and communicating with students there “round-the-clock”.

“There are no Jordanian diplomats in Yemen; we only have administrative staff that performs duties towards the Jordanian community in Yemen,” she told The Jordan Times over phone.

“We urge Jordanians in Yemen to remain in contact with the ministry and its operations room,” she said. They can call the ministry on mobile number 00967733820073, and the ministry’s operations room at 0096265501444, or 0096265735166 in cases of emergency. 

She added that Jordanians in Yemen reach up to 1,000 in number, including some 350 students at Yemeni universities. 

In a recent statement, the ministry urged Jordanians not to travel to Yemen due to the current situation, urging Jordanian citizens in Yemen to exercise caution, take prudent security measures and stay away from areas of clashes.

The Saudi Arabia-led operation against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which started on Thursday, is aimed at supporting legitimacy in Yemen and its security, as well as the region’s stability, according to the intervention allies. 

Saudi Arabia acted after the Houthis, backed by Yemeni army troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, advanced on Aden, threatening the southern city where President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is based.

Regional players involved in the Saudi operation include the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, according to Al Arabiya satellite channel, which said Egypt also announced political and military support.

AMMAN — Jordan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will negotiate a new cooperation programme as the 36-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) ends in August.

Finance Ministry Secretary General Ezeddin Kanakriyeh was quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying that the government will start negotiations with the IMF to reach an agreement on future cooperation in order to "sustain achievements made under the SBA". 

The IMF-sponsored programme, Kanakriyeh said, has achieved positive results in the financial and monetary fields and the government wants to guarantee the sustainability of these achievements in the coming years, Petra reported. 

The IMF has said on more than one occasion that it would be open to renewed cooperation with the Kingdom and expressed willingness to extend the SBA for Jordan if needed. 

In May last year, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the international financial organisation was ready to extend the programme to offer the Kingdom technical assistance and financial support.

The SBA, which was approved by the IMF's executive board on August 3, 2012, granted Jordan an exceptional access of around $2 billion, representing 800 per cent of Jordan’s quota at the IMF. 

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met Speaker of the US House of Representatives John Boehner and an accompanying delegation. 

Discussions at the meeting, attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania and HRH Prince Feisal, covered bilateral ties and means to develop them at all levels, in addition to the latest regional and international developments, particularly efforts to combat terrorism and efforts to bring about peace, according to a Royal Court statement. 

King Abdullah called for intensifying efforts to combat terrorism and extremist groups, which, he said, pose a threat to global security and stability. 

Highlighting endeavours to realise peace in the Middle East, the King underlined the “centrality” of the Palestinian issue as the core conflict in the region, calling on the international community to push for reviving negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis based on the two-state solution and relevant international resolutions. 

Talks also focused on the situation in the region, with His Majesty reiterating the immediate need for a comprehensive political solution that ends the Syrian crisis and halts the cycle of violence in a way that preserves the coherence and cohesion of the Syrian people. 

He also underscored the importance of enhancing the security and stability of Iraq, Yemen and Libya. 

For his part, Boehner and the delegates voiced their country’s appreciation of efforts exerted by Jordan to address the various challenges at hand. 

They stressed the significant and focal role Jordan plays in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. 

Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Judeh met with Boehner and his accompanying delegation over bilateral ties and the region.

Reviewing the latest regional developments, Judeh stressed the importance of arriving at a political solution for the crisis in Syria, highlighting the economic burdens borne by the Kingdom as a result of hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees. 

The two sides also underlined the importance of launching serious peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians to achieve the two-state solution. 

SHARM EL SHEIKH — Arab leaders officially approved forming a joint military rapid response force by Arab countries to preserve their stability and security when the need arises.

Participation in the joint force will be optional for member states of the Arab League. The force's main task is to address threats facing any Arab state or pan-Arab security, including those posed by terrorist organisations, the Arab leaders said in the Sharm El Sheikh Declaration at the end of the 26th Arab League Summit.

The force will be sent to any Arab country that requests intervention, according to the declaration announced by Arab League Secretary General Nabil El Araby at the end of the two-day summit, which attracted 14 heads of Arab states.

The Arab leaders tasked the Arab League to convene an inter-governmental meeting of high-ranking figures under the supervision of commanders of Arab armies in a month to look into measures and mechanisms of the joint force, according to the declaration, a copy of which was obtained by The Jordan Times.

At the planned meeting, participants will look into procedures for the military force and set the necessary budget.

The outcomes of the meeting will be discussed during another meeting to be held after three months and presented to the Joint Arab Defence Council, according to the communiqué.

Iraq was the only state to voice reservations over this resolution, according to the declaration.

The Arab leaders pledged continued efforts to prevent any external powers from sowing seeds of sedition, and causing chaos and divisions in some Arab states on geographic, religious, ethnic or sectarian grounds.  In the declaration, they called on the international community to support Arab efforts to combat terrorism and urged international cooperation in exchanging intelligence and military coordination to fight terrorist groups.

They said religious institutions should shoulder their responsibilities in countering extremist ideologies and highlighting the true values of Islam.

On the Palestinian issue, the Arab leaders reiterated their support for the cause, which they labelled as central, stressing continued Arab backing of the Palestinians until they realise their right to statehood in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

They said it was crucial to maintain the Middle East free from nuclear weapons.

They decided that next summit will be held in Morocco. 

AMMAN — The Lower House is scheduled to hold a special session on Wednesday to discuss the “worsening financial situation” of print media as requested by a group of MPs.

During Sunday's session, the House’s first deputy speaker, Ahmad Safadi, announced that the memorandum, signed recently by 53 lawmakers on the financial woes of the country’s major newspapers, will be on the Chamber's Wednesday agenda for discussion. 

In the memo, a copy of which was made available to The Jordan Times, signatories stressed the important national role of print media outlets, providing at the same time a set of recommendations to help alleviate newspapers’ financial difficulties, including exemptions from taxes.

Before voting on the memo on March 18, MPs commented on its content, with some blaming the “bad” management of newspapers for the financial problems they are struggling with. 

Others stressed the need to deal with newspapers away from the considerations of profit and loss, citing the spread of electronic media outlets as the major reason behind print media’s woes.

Some deputies cited consecutive governments’ interference in newspapers as the main factor responsible for their accumulated problems, explaining that these governments flooded print media outlets with unneeded staff.

During a meeting on March 12 with the House Committee on National Guidance and Media to discuss the financial hardships facing dailies in the Kingdom, particularly Jordan’s oldest newspaper, Ad-Dustour, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said that exempting daily newspapers from taxes and customs fees would be against the law. 

Momani noted that the law does not give exemptions to a certain sector, adding that the government would be ready to solve difficulties facing print media but within legal limits.
Industry leaders have been demanding the government to exempt newspapers from taxes and customs fees in order to enable dailies to maintain a steady income and prevent the closure of key media outlets. 

Ad-Dustour daily has been witnessing financial difficulties that left its management unable to pay salaries for months.

AMMAN – Stakeholders will draw up an urgent marketing plan to “salvage” the Kingdom’s tourism industry by promoting national tourist products in new and traditional markets worldwide, Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez said Sunday. 

Fayez made his remarks at a meeting on Sunday with representatives of the sector to review their recommendations to improve tourism, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The number of Arab tourists has not been affected by the regional turmoil, Fayez said in previous remarks to The Jordan Times, but the number of visitors to archaeological sites has recently dropped and those who visit these sites are mostly non-Arabs.

The number of Petra visitors dropped by 50 per cent since the start of this year compared to the same period of 2014, according to Petra. 

Fayez noted that the plan will include a series of incentives and measures related to taxes imposed on the sector and entry fees, in additions to organising more attractive cultural activities.

Participants at the meeting endorsed the recommendations proposed by sector leaders, which will now be referred to the Cabinet for approval.

The proposals include reducing Petra entry fees for tourists who stay overnight in the rose-red city.

Another recommendation is to use Amman Civil Airport in Marka for charter flights that transport tourists to Jordan.

The suggested measures are part of efforts to encourage more foreign tourists to visit the Kingdom and promote the country as a safe destination, according to Fayez.

Also on Sunday, the Lower House’s Tourism Committee held a meeting to discuss tourism in Petra.

Speaking at the meeting, Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority Chief Commissioner Mohammad Nawafleh said the ancient Nabataean city is going through “a crisis” due to regional turmoil, calling for coming up with radical solutions to help hotels in the city.

A number of Petra hotels, Nawafleh said, have had to lay off employees because they could not afford to pay their salaries due to the drop in visitors, Petra reported.

Jordan is planning to promote Petra, Aqaba and Wadi Rum to football fans watching UEFA Champions League matches.

The stadium advertisements, which will appear during the matches of the league’s quarter-finals onwards, will show Europeans promotional material of tourism sites in Jordan for the first time, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Chief Commissioner Hani Mulki said in previous remarks to The Jordan Times.

Mulki highlighted that the project, which costs around £10,000 (around JD10,518) per match, is implemented in partnership with several hotels and businesses, as well as Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport.

If the promotion proves successful, the same method may be applied in Arab and Asian football leagues, the former minister said.