Regional challenges have made us more determined to achieve reform — King

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed that the country’s stability and fortitude are the result of citizens’ awareness as well as the joint efforts of state institutions, army and security bodies.

During a meeting with members of the parliamentary Islah (reform) Bloc at Al Husseiniya Palace, the King said Jordan has always been capable of overcoming the most difficult challenges and has been able to deal with them, deriving its power from “the unity of our internal front”, and the vitality of the state institutions, which “place the country’s security and its higher interests at the top of their priorities”. 

Referring to reports and analyses, especially by foreign sources, which claim every now and then that Jordan is not stable and that its future is in jeopardy, the King reiterated that Jordan has since its inception proved its ability to remain secure, strong and unified despite all challenges, which include bigotry, radicalism and extremism.  

“Regional challenges have made us more determined to forge ahead with our drive towards comprehensive reform and development to arrive at the progress and prosperity that Jordanian men and women aspire to achieve,” he added. 

King Abdullah reasserted that “if we can solve the problem of the economy… we will overcome the biggest challenge facing us today, because our problem is not political or a security one, but rather the economy”.

During the meeting, which is part of a series of meetings with lawmakers, the King stressed the need to build on the Kingdom’s accomplishments as part of its ongoing reform drive. 

His Majesty called for the collaboration of efforts of all concerned parties to prepare the 10-year economic blueprint aiming to improve the lot of the Jordanian people.

The King has tasked the government with preparing the blueprint in partnership with relevant stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and coordination among various components of the community to serve the Kingdom’s higher interests.

King Abdullah urged Lower House blocs to present their views and actively participate in preparing the blueprint, noting that having different opinions and views is a healthy phenomenon as long as all agree on national priorities in the current stage away from any private agendas.

The economy tops Jordan’s priorities, he said, stressing that it is a major challenge at present.

Understanding the reality of the economic situation entails shouldering the responsibility, “which should be shared by all” to bring the economy back on track and tackle poverty and unemployment, the King noted.

He expressed optimism concerning the national economy’s potential to overcome obstacles and challenges arising from regional crises, citing the readiness of “friendly and brotherly nations” to assist Jordan in implementing development and reform programmes in various sectors.

At the meeting, attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and the King’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury, King Abdullah stressed the need to intensify coordination and consultations among the three branches of authority to enhance Parliament and government stability and work, which is bolstered by a strong, independent judicial authority.

The current stage requires the continued development of the Lower House’s performance, and activating party-based and platform-oriented blocs to sustain the Kingdom’s reform model in prelude to switching to parliamentary governments in the future, the King said.

Also at the meeting, which addressed a range of local issues and latest regional developments, His Majesty reaffirmed Jordan’s consistent positions over various issues and the pivotal role that it plays in ensuring security and stability in the region. 

In this context, he stressed that the Kingdom is continuing with its diplomatic and political efforts, in coordination with key world players, to bring a permanent end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza and do all that it can to extend relief assistance to the people of Gaza, which entails beefing up the capabilities of the Jordanian field hospital in the Palestinian coastal strip.

His Majesty emphasised the need to formulate a clear vision for the rebuilding of Gaza, which he described as a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. Meanwhile, he urged a resumption of final-status peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis to end the conflict in a way that leads to Palestinian independence. Without a final and lasting peace deal, he warned, Israeli offensives against Gaza will be repeated, sustaining a situation where the Palestinian people remain the victims and Israel incapable of achieving security. 

On Syria, His Majesty reiterated the need for a political solution to the crisis, which, he said, has had an adverse impact on Jordan as the largest refugee host, especially its northern parts. 

He also called for an inclusive political process in Iraq that preserves the country’s unity and engages all components of the Iraqi people.

For their part, the lawmakers raised a number of issues of national concern, including the need for the government to closely follow up on any programme or plan implemented, and pay more attention to the agricultural sector and youth organisations.