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AMMAN — The Prime Ministry on Saturday issued its second periodic report, detailing progress on projects and initiatives at sites visited by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan during his weekly tours across the Kingdom.

Between September 25 and November 9, the prime minister inspected 37 sites, which required 71 development and improvement initiatives across various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, industry, youth services, tourism, environmental protection, and social welfare.

The report also showed that 26 initiatives have been completed, while work continues on the remaining 45, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

During last week's Lower House vote of confidence, Hassan highlighted the importance of direct government engagement with citizens, farmers, business leaders, and youth, noting how these interactions inform decisions aligned with the government’s development goals. 

He also reiterated the government's commitment to prioritising urgent needs through ongoing field visits and addressing concerns raised by deputies during recent discussions.

-His Majesty reaffirms Jordan’s respect for choices of Syrian people

-King reaffirms intensified efforts, cooperation to counter terrorism and its threats to Syria’s security

-His Majesty says Jordan will continue to provide humanitarian support for Syrian people, stressing need to create necessary conditions to allow for voluntary return of refugees 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday received a delegation of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria, as well as a number of foreign ministers and representatives of international organisations participating in the Aqaba Meetings on Syria, and stressed that Syria’s stability is a strategic interest for Arab countries and the entire region.

His Majesty called for a unified and effective international stance to safeguard Syria’s security, its citizens, national institutions, and sovereignty, while preventing the encroachment on its territorial integrity by any party, reaffirming Jordan’s respect for the choices of the Syrian people, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King said Jordan supports a peaceful, inclusive political transition in Syria that represents all political and social powers, is supported by the United Nations and the Arab League, and meets the aspirations of all components of the Syrian people.

His Majesty noted the importance of the Syrian people’s unity to build a free, secure, stable, and united Syria, the statement said. 

The King reaffirmed the importance of bolstering efforts and cooperation to counter terrorism and its threats to Syria’s security as well as to regional and global security.

 His Majesty said Jordan will continue to provide humanitarian support for the Syrian people, stressing the need to create the necessary conditions to allow for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and to provide the support needed for this, in cooperation with the relevant UN agencies, according to the statement. 

The meeting also covered efforts to reach comprehensive calm in the region, which requires ending the war on Gaza, putting a stop to unilateral Israeli measures in the West Bank, and ensuring the success of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

The meeting included members of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria, which is made up of the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt, as well as the secretary general of the Arab League.

The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey, the United States, and France were also in attendance, in addition to the United Nations special envoy for Syria and the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice-president of the European Commission.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh also attended the meeting.

AMMAN — NATO Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood Javier Colomina has reiterated the Alliance's deep-rooted relations with Jordan and the "fundamental" role His Majesty King Abdullah in bringing stability in the region.

Colomina's remarks came during an interview with The Jordan Times conducted on the sidelines of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels on December 4, which His Majesty attended.      

Asked on the significance of the King's attendance and his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the foreign ministers of member states, Colomina said, "It means a lot, we respect the partnership we have with Jordan very much, we respect His Majesty very much. It means a lot in both senses, as Jordan is one of our most valuable partners, and it means a lot of the respect we have for His Majesty."

"We believe Jordan and His Majesty play a fundamental role in bringing stability to the region and trying to understand the different challenges and threats to the region. It was an extremely useful conversation, the one we had with His Majesty. He is very knowledgeable and he was useful for ministers to understand what are the threats and challenges that the Middle East and the South are confronted today." 

Colomina said he has visited many countries from the South, including Jordan, Egypt and Morocco and will also visit the Gulf in the coming weeks "to uplift as much as possible the political engagement [with the region."] 

"I visited Jordan at the beginning of November; it was my intention to visit the most valuable partners that we have in the south. The South is of high importance and the Euro-Atlantic security is absolutely connected to the challenges and the threats that we see in the South. Therefore, we need to engage as much as we can with our partners in the South. I already visited Egypt, Morocco and Jordan, and will be visiting the Gulf in a couple of weeks. The goal was to uplift as much as possible the political engagement. As part of that, what could be best than having the King of Jordan discussing the threats and challenges with the ministers of the alliance."

On the political and strategic implications of the Liaison Office the Alliance in opening in Amman, he said that it is the culmination of the advanced NATO-Jordan relations and will open avenues for extra areas of cooperation.  

"The relationship we have with Jordan is today already very healthy, we have lots of areas of cooperation, we are using most of our partnership tools. The opening of the office will be a major change in how we cooperate with Jordan. It will open avenues for extra areas of cooperation, bring us a physical presence in Amman that will help us to achieve our mutual goals quicker. The office has a political meaning, prepared to build on the already excellent relationship, and contribute to the practical cooperation we have with Jordan."

He also explained that the NATO office in Amman will push the existing cooperation the Alliance has with Jordan, including in cyber security, countering terrorism, and crisis management. "There are many areas where the office will be helpful. It will mean a lot as well for the region, the Southern neighborhood, since it’s the first ever NATO office in the Middle East, which will help people on the ground to better understand the threats and the challenges that you are confronted." 

On the situation in Syria, the NATO official said, "We are all concerned with the development that we are seeing in Syria. We understand that it brings a lot of uncertainty for Jordan at the border, and we will be there to help Jordanian authorities." 

Aqaba — The United States has made "direct contact" with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebels despite designating the group as terrorists, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday, as he sought international unity on a peaceful transition.

"We've been in contact with HTS and with other parties," Blinken told reporters after talks on Syria in the Jordanian Red Sea resort of Aqaba.

He did not give details on how the contact took place but when asked if the United States reached out directly, he said: "Direct contact -- yes." 

Blinken said that the contact was partly related to the search for Austin Tice, the US journalist who was kidnapped in 2012 near the start of the brutal civil war. 

"We have pressed upon everyone we've been in contact with the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bringing him home," Blinken said. 

He said that in the dialogue with HTS the United States also "shared the principles" on Syria that he has publicly laid out.

Blinken was closing a regional tour in which he has sought common ground after HTS overthrew Bashar Al Assad, whose family ruled with an iron fist for half a century.

In Aqaba, Blinken took part in talks that brought together top Arab and European diplomats as well as Turkey, the main supporter of rebel groups in Syria.

Blinken said the talks would issue a joint statement in which "we agreed that the transition process should be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned and produce an inclusive and representative government".

"The rights of all Syrians, including minorities and women, should be respected. Humanitarian aid should be able to reach people who need it," Blinken said.

Blinken said that the talks also agreed that "state institutions" should continue to deliver essential services.

UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen earlier told Blinken: "We need to make sure that state institutions do not collapse, and that we get in humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible."

Blinken said the talks also agreed that chemical weapons stockpiles should be destroyed and that Syria should have "peaceful relations with its neighbours".

The United States and other Western governments classify HTS as a terrorist group due to its roots in Al-Qaeda's Syria branch.

The designation severely impedes activities of businesses and aid workers who risk falling foul of US law enforcement if they are seen as directly supporting a terrorist group. 

Some analysts note that HTS has not focused on US or other Western targets.

Few expect a quick move by the United States to lift the terrorist designation, especially with a political transition set next month following Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election. 

In Britain, a senior minister said that the government would decide quickly whether to remove the terrorist designation but Prime Minister Keir Starmer walked back the comments, saying it was still "far too early" to do so.

-'Stabilisation in Syria might encourage some refugees to consider returning'

-Refugees need time, space to absorb new reality, make decisions for themselves, their families

-'If a refugee decides to go back voluntarily, there is nothing stopping them'

-'Around 500 Syrians have been returning monthly to Syria, prior to latest political developments'

-'We do not want refugees to return to a situation of displacement. They must return in safety, dignity, not to camps'

AMMAN — The UNHCR has expressed cautious optimism about recent political developments in Syria and their potential impact on the voluntary return of refugees displaced since the civil erupted in 2011. With millions of Syrians uprooted, the crisis remains one of the largest displacement crises in modern history.

Maria Stavropoulou, the newly appointed UNHCR Representative to Jordan, said during a recent interview with The Jordan Times that it is "too early to determine the long-term implications of this political shift. “It is very soon to know how the situation will develop there [in Syria].”

With 620,000 Syrian refugees registered with the UNHCR in Jordan, the world’s second-highest number of refugees per capita, Stavropoulou acknowledged that stabilization in Syria might encourage some refugees to consider returning. However, she stressed. “It is important to give them the time and space to absorb a new reality and to make decisions for themselves and their families,” she explained. 

Stavropoulou reaffirmed the UNHCR’s respect for refugees’ right to voluntarily return to their home country. “If a refugee decides to go back voluntarily, there is nothing stopping them,” she said.

She added that refugees have expressed mixed emotions, joy and excitement about the changes in Syria, alongside anxiety and uncertainty about how the situation will unfold. “Generally speaking, refugees aspire to go back to their home country one day. Depending on developments, they might decide to return sooner or wait to see what happens,” she said.

Despite ongoing challenges, Stavropoulou revealed that approximately 500 Syrians have been returning monthly to Syria, even prior to the latest political developments. She highlighted UNHCR’s close coordination with Jordan’s Ministry of Interior to monitor these movements.

Reports of European countries reconsidering Syrian asylum applications were also addressed. Stavropoulou clarified that some governments have paused decision-making, awaiting further clarity on the ground situation in Syria. “This is not the same as stopping new applications altogether,” she explained.

Stavropoulou reiterated the international legal protections afforded to Syrian refugees. “They retain their rights, including the right not to be sent to a country where they might face risks. This could change eventually, but not yet,” she said.

She firmly opposed the establishment of refugee camps inside Syria, despite increasing pressure on Jordan’s resources. “We do not want refugees to return to a situation of displacement. They must return in safety and dignity, not to camps,” she stressed.

Jordan’s population is estimated at 11.5 million by the end of 2023, with at least one-third being non-Jordanians, according to the Higher Population Council (HPC). “Over the past 19 years, the population has increased by 6 million, with official data showing that the percentage of non-Jordanians living in the Kingdom has grown from 4.2 per cent in 1979 to 30.6 per cent in 2015.” 

On the Syrian Refugee Response Plan, Stavropoulou noted it is being updated in preparation for 2025. However, she highlighted the declining financial support for refugee programs as a critical issue. “Funding for UNHCR and other operations has been decreasing. This affects refugees’ welfare, increasing poverty rates and limiting their access to proper housing,” she said. 

According to UNHCR’s 2024 socioeconomic survey, poverty among Syrian refugees in Jordan has spiked from 57 per cent to 67 per cent over the past two years, coinciding with broader economic difficulties affecting vulnerable Jordanians.

Two-thirds of refugee families now live in poverty, with a significant drop in average monthly incomes.

Stavropoulou called on the global community to renew its commitment to Jordan’s efforts. “The international community has an obligation to stand by Jordan and sustain the refugee response, especially in light of recent developments,” she concluded.

AMMAN — Female media students at Middle East University on Wednesday participated in a training session on digital safety as part of an initiative aimed at combating online violence against women in journalism.

Organised by the Jordanian Network to Combat Digital Violence Against Female Journalists, the workshop aimed to equip aspiring journalists with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the digital landscape safely and confidently, according to a statement shared with The Jordan Times.

The training is part of a broader effort to empower female journalism students in Jordan, stressing the critical importance of digital safety in protecting their rights and building resilience in an increasingly hostile online environment.

“Workshops on digital safety for female journalists can have significant economic impacts by fostering a safer, more inclusive media industry,” said Rania Sarayrah, the network’s coordinator. 

She noted that empowering women to navigate online threats encourages greater workforce participation, boosts productivity, and promotes innovation in journalism.

Sarayrah also highlighted that such initiatives support the growth of the digital economy by building trust in digital platforms and reducing the economic costs associated with cyber violence. 

"Ultimately, these efforts strengthen the media sector's contribution to economic growth and social resilience," she added.

AMMAN — Jordan on Saturday condemned Israel's attack on a residential area in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, which resulted in a large number of casualties, primarily women, children, and the elderly.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Sufian Qudah expressed the Kingdom's firm rejection of Israel's ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law, particularly the 1949 Geneva Convention, which protects civilians in times of war.

The official also condemned Israel's continued and systematic targeting of innocent civilians and called attention to the international community's failure to hold the perpetrators of these attacks accountable, according to a ministry statement. 

Qudah also renewed his call for the international community to fulfil its legal and moral obligations, urging it to demand that Israel immediately cease its aggression against Gaza, end its crimes against the Palestinian people, and ensure accountability for those responsible, without impunity for their actions.

AMMAN — The Arab Contact Group on Syria convened on Saturday in Aqaba to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian crisis and outline steps towards a peaceful resolution.

The committee, which included representatives from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Arab League Secretary-General, was joined by the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain (the current chair of the Arab Summit), and Qatar. 

The meeting was held at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, under the framework of Arab League Resolution 8914, as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The discussions focused on supporting a Syrian-led political transition in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including the establishment of a transitional governing body, the drafting of a new constitution, and the holding of free elections within a defined timeline.

The committee reiterated its solidarity with the Syrian people, stressing their right to determine their future. It also stressed the importance of an inclusive national dialogue that includes all political and social groups, particularly women and youth.

The participants called for a boosted role for the UN in Syria’s transition, urging the UN Secretary-General to allocate necessary resources to the UN envoy to Syria and establish a mission to oversee the process.

The committee also emphasised the need for an immediate cessation of all military operations and the protection of the rights of all Syrians, without discrimination. 

It also called for guarantees of justice, equality, and the preservation of Syria’s state institutions to prevent chaos and ensure their ability to serve the people, calling for the establishment of a strong and effective police force to protect citizens and public property.

The committee also reiterated its commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and unity, alongside the critical need for humanitarian assistance and the conditions necessary for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, with the support of international organisations.

The participants also condemned Israel's incursions into Syria’s buffer zone, including areas such as Mount Hermon, Quneitra, and rural Damascus, describing these actions as clear violations of international law and the 1974 Syria-Israel Disengagement Agreement.

The committee also called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from these areas and condemned Israeli airstrikes targeting various locations in Syria.

It also reiterated that the Golan Heights remains occupied Syrian land and urged the international community to work toward ending this occupation, calling on the UN Security Council to take necessary measures to prevent further violations.

Stressing that Syria’s security is vital for regional peace, the committee pledged to support the country’s reconstruction as a unified, terrorism-free state. 

Participants also agreed to present their findings to the Arab League Council and cooperate with international partners to build consensus in support of Syria's recovery and stability.