Jordanian Politics Thread

[yazm1991]

King urges active participation in polls

His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday called on Jordanians to take part in the parliamentary polls, which will be held before year-end, and elect deputies capable of serving the country and its interests.

Addressing over 700 community leaders from Irbid Governorate, King Abdullah said: “Everyone will have the opportunity to compete in his or her ability to serve the country with transparency, integrity and justice. I hope each citizen will practise his or her right and uphold the duty to elect the candidate most capable of serving the country and its higher interests.”

Last week, a Royal Decree was issued endorsing the temporary Elections Law for 2010, which adopted measures to ensure free and fair elections while it maintained the one-person, one-vote system.

In his address, King Abdullah said Jordan is making “steady steps forward in accordance with a clear vision of the future to which we aspire; the future that will guarantee the best life for all Jordanians, replete with knowledge, willpower and the spirit of unity that confronts any attempt to tamper with our security, stability or national unity”.

“These are constants. We will never allow them to be violated, and we and all Jordanians across this proud land will protect them.”

His Majesty added that the government is working in line with specific programmes to make progress in the ongoing reform plans and overcome economic challenges during the current stage, which, he said, requires cooperation and teamwork.

His Majesty, who was briefed on the governorate’s needs in the fields of education, health, youth, infrastructure and water, was greeted by tens of thousands of residents who lined the streets the Royal motorcade passed through as it was heading from Yarmouk University to the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST).

In his address, delivered at JUST, King Abdullah assured the community leaders that their governorate’s needs and concerns “are my priority, and I have directed the government to start immediately the implementation of viable projects that will have a direct impact on the lives of citizens”.

[MARTYR]

this was from 2 days ago...



Lebanese PM Saad Hariri meets with Jordanian King in Aqaba before his visit to the United States. (NOW Lebanon)



Jordanian King Abdullah II (L) walks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Red Sea resort city of Aqaba on Friday. (AFP/Dalati & Nohr)

[yazm1991]

Jordan condemns Gaza attack as protesters take to streets

Jordan condemned the Israeli naval attack on an international aid flotilla in international waters near the Gaza coast as protests flared up in the Kingdom to protest the deadly attack.

The government condemned the attack and described it as a “crime”, holding Israel responsible for the safety of Jordanian activists on board some of the ships.

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Nabil Sharif called an impromptu press conference in which he said the government summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires and expressed “condemnation with the strongest words over the unjustified attack”.

“What the Israeli military did is a heinous crime that we condemn and reject; this crime has violated all legal and humanitarian codes. Nothing justifies the use of force against civilians in this humanitarian mission,” said the minister.

“Jordan has followed all the developments related to this crime since the early hours of this morning. And we consider Israel completely responsible for the safety of our citizens who are on board these ships. At the same time, in the name of Jordan, I extend condolences to the families and the countries of the martyrs who fell as a result of this crime,” he added.

There are conflicting reports to the number of Jordanians on board the ships, but officials confirmed none has been hurt in the attack.

Later in the day, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Sharif as saying the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv received confirmation from the Israeli authorities that all Jordanians who were on board the ship were safe and sound until yesterday afternoon.

In a statement, Sharif added that the Kingdom’s embassy in Tel Aviv requested its representatives be allowed to visit the Jordanian nationals who were detained by Israeli authorities.

One of the Jordanian activists is Ismail Nashwan. The 81-year-old is the oldest participant in the campaign to break the siege on Gaza. His son, Mustafa, is also taking part.

Nashwan’s eldest son, Mohammad, told The Jordan Times over the phone that they have no information about the condition of their father, who is taking part in the flotilla for the second time, except through the media.

“We are not worried about his health. My father is a strong man,” said the 48-year-old son.

Sharif called on the international community to work on ending the embargo on Gaza, imposed after Hamas took over the enclave in a deadly confrontation with its rival faction, Fateh.

Jordan also plans to take part in the Arab League meeting in Cairo to discuss the development, said Sharif.

The Arab League will hold an urgent meeting today to discuss the attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy. Jordan’s ambassador to Egypt and its permanent representative at the Arab League, Hani Mulki, will head the Kingdom’s delegation to the meeting.

[MARTYR]

Over 240,000 new voters registered for November polls

AMMAN - The number of new voters who registered to cast their ballots in the upcoming parliamentary elections reached 242,800 by the end of the working day on Thursday, according to the Civil Status and Passports Department (CSPD).
"This number is subject to increase as we have received thousands of new applications today and will issue the new IDs tonight," CSPD Director Marwan Qteishat told The Jordan Times Thursday, as the deadline passed for voters to register or change their constituencies.

The initial figures raise the number of eligible voters to more than 2.7 million, or around 45 per cent of the population.

The department has closed its computers and will register new voters from now on, he said, adding that the department will announce the final figure on Saturday after completing some statistical work.

The registration of new voters started on June 6 and was scheduled to end on July 5, but to allow more citizens to participate in the upcoming elections, slated for November 9, the government decided to extend the period until July 22.

In the final days ahead of the deadline, working hours at the registration centres were extended to 6:00pm.

The CSPD's next step will entail preparing voter lists for the Kingdom's 45 electoral districts and publicising them as stipulated by the law, according to Qteishat.

By the beginning of next month, local authorities in each district will announce the locations where the voter lists will be posted for the public, he added.

The citizens then will have the right to file objections related to the official lists, Qteishat said.

Citizens will have the right to submit objections if their names are missing from the voter list, or to contest names of citizens they believe are not residents of their electoral district, according to Qteishat.

This stage will start on August 8 and end on August 14, in accordance with the Elections Law.

The CSPD has 21 days to respond to all contests as of August 15. The responses will also be made public and posted at the same locations of voter lists for three days. If not satisfied, contesters can resort to a court of first instance within a three-day deadline as of September 9. The courts are to rule on the objections in 10 days, according to the same law.

In addition to the final number of new voters across the Kingdom, the department will provide detailed statistics such as the number of new female vs. male voters, in addition to other categories, according to CSPD Public Relations Director Malek Khasawneh.

[MARTYR]

Maani: GAM Takes Neutral Position towards all the Candidates in the Coming Parliamentary Elections

Mayor of Amman, Omar Maani, stressed that Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has one neutral position towards all the candidates of the coming parliamentary elections, be they from inside or outside of GAM's Council.
During the monthly session of GAM Council, Maani said that dealing with the municipal demands of the elected Council members is ongoing within the regular framework and upon GAM's vision of the citizens' services.

Responding to the member, Ali Al Hadeed, during the session's discussion, Maani reconfirmed the fact that there are no new appointments currently at GAM , nor a financial support for anyone, and stressed that GAM's funds are being spent in compliance with the law.

He further emphasized that GAM will spare no effort to provide support and necessary facilities within its tasks and missions framework to achieve a successful elections in cooperation with different official agents.

Maani announced that the launch of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects is to be patronized by the Prime Minister on Thursday, in addition to King Faisal Plaza Development within the 2nd phase of the City Center development.

Maani commended the achievement of the current Council which approved the BRT project, pointing out that it is an important, vital project to the Capital, Amman, and it will be one of the biggest projects of the City, as its outcome will positively impact the citizens and the future of the City upon completing the execution works as expected within two years.

Maani added that GAM resumes the works to speed up the project implementation, and that GAM and the Traffic Department had prepared measures to minimize the traffic jam resulting from the project, a normal procedure for executing big projects in any given city of the world.

In the same context, GAM launched a media and advertising campaign simultaneously with the official opening of the project, aiming at introducing the citizens to the project details and its importance to service them.

Maani declared that GAM finished the preparations to launch Amman Summer Festival for the 5th year running, at Al Hussein Parks, pointing out that GAM took into consideration the diversity of activities to meet the tastes of all ages and categories.

The Council also approved to exempt the empty pieces of land classified as agricultural within GAM boundaries, from the due land taxes of the years (2010 - 2011), in preparation for referring the matter to H.E the Prime Minister to present it to the Council of Ministers.

The Council also reviewed the report of the activities and achievements of GAM departments and regions within the 2nd quarter of the current year, as well as the measures taken by the regions' committees, and other committees, resulting from GAM Council and accomplishments.

Upon approval on the recommendations of Amman Identity Committee, the Council promised to rename some streets of the capital, in response to the member, Badr Al Abbadi's proposal which demands naming the upper intersection of the Press Tunnel after the Jordanian Press Dean, Mahmoud Al Kayed.

The Council further approved the project of naming and numbering streets and buildings, and the project of pavement and sidewalks system within GAM boundaries; it decided to delay the commencement of the decision calling for the support of the public transportation operators, in addition to the Council's approval of the merging of some taxi offices.

The Council awarded the tender of GAM cars and vehicles insurance to the Arab Orient Insurance Company, for 1.289.000 JOD. The Council verified the financial statements and final accounts of the Central Market department; it also approved to transfer the net incomes of the market, which amounts to 8.231.000 JOD to GAM's account.

GAM Council supported the decision to rent an eight floor building in Jabal Amman, to gather the dispersed departments of GAM in one place. It is also approved to renew the lease contract of the Sports Cultural Complex of GAM, which is owned by Nour Al Hussein Establishment for a nominal annual payment.

[yazm1991]

Polls stir old rivalries in Jordan’s first capital

SALT - Leftist, Islamist, tribal or independent; only one criterion matters in Ahmed Adnan’s choice for MP: “Harra or Krad”.

The 32-year-old Salt resident said when the time comes to cast his ballot, he will vote according to the groupings of tribes that have settled in the hills and valley of Balqa Governorate over the last 500 years.

Salt’s Harra-Krad divide dates back to the Mamluk times, when the city consisted of two boroughs, according to Ibrahim Masri, Salt historian and curator of the Old Historic Salt Museum.

In the 16th century, Salt was a town of some 400 people divided into the Krad area on the plains southwest of the city’s citadel, which has long since been demolished, while the Harra area developed northeast of the fortress.

With the introduction of new residents in the early 19th century due to the regional movements of the army of Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt, the two boroughs expanded until they met each other at the castle centre.

The merging of the two areas into a united town sparked a mostly friendly rivalry between the two sets of tribes that would flare up during events like grape harvests and municipal elections, Masri said.

Times have changed in the sandstone city, and tribal alliances are no longer geographically bound. But in a city which prides itself on a more traditional way of life, some old habits die hard, according to 19-year-old Hana.

“If you aren’t voting for your own tribe, then its Harra or Krad,” said the university student, who declined to use her full name.

Eman Hiari said the amount of cross-tribal support for many candidates is a sign that this year’s polls are breaking away from traditions.

“We still have these divisions, but it’s time to move on,” noted Hiari, a candidate for the first district.

“We are all brothers and sisters, we are all Salt and we should stand behind each other and elect our representatives based on ability,” she added.

Another candidate, Jehad Kharabsheh chalked up the talk of tribal divisions to the “old mentality” of political veterans.

“We have so many people that are used to the old state of affairs that they live in the past. Today we are one, united Salt,” the 39-year-old said.

However, Islamist candidate Samir Dababseh believes the Harra-Krad divide has impacted this year’s polls by dictating which districts candidates registered under.

Tribal candidates avoided entering districts that had popular candidates on the same side of the Harra-Krad rift, he claimed.

“There is still a level of tribalism guiding the elections in Salt, something we need to move away from,” he said, indicating that a return to Islamic principles will bridge the gap.

“The Arab and Muslim world was once united. Now we can’t even keep one city together?” he remarked.

Former Salt mayor Salmeh Hiyari said the divisions are fast becoming a thing of the past.

“Unfortunately we still see this [divide] in the municipal elections, but for parliamentary elections these tendencies died out in the 1950s,” he noted.

The Harra-Krad rift continues to influence how the city’s affairs are handled, but not the way voters choose their parliamentarians at the national level, he stressed.

Three-time MP and candidate for the first district Abdullah Ensour said Salt has largely moved on from the divisions.

“Only weaker candidates are playing that old tune,” he said, indicating that most citizens are moving beyond tribal affiliations to issues such as employment, education and women’s empowerment.

But for some like Adnan, old habits die hard.

“We still want qualified people. We just want to see our qualified people,” he said.

[sirenz]

Minister of environment resigns


Royal Decree Accepts Minister's Resignation
2010-10-25
Royal Decree Accepts Minister's Resignation
AMMONNEWS - A Royal Decree was issued on Monday by King Abdullah accepting the resignation of Minister of Environment Hazem Malhas as of October 25th, 2010.

Malhas had submitted him resignation to Prime Minister Samir Rifai on Monday evening following controversy over statements he made against journalists in a workshop on Monday, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications, Ali Al Ayed said.

Al Ayed added that Malhas apologized in his resignation letter over the "un-intentional offense" to media outlets and some journalists in statements he made on Sunday.

Al Ayed stressed that the Jordanian government respects professional media and is committed to cooperate with media outlets and journalists in accordance with laws and standards that would guarantee a professional and independent media role.

Ammon News

[orgenack]

Not that Indigo Chick. I mean weve seen her, but now we know shes that one alien talked about in the DCU Special a while back.

[yazm1991]

Turkish ambassador: Relations with Jordan steadily progressing

AMMAN-Turkish ambassador to Jordan Ali Koprulu said that the recent visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to Turkey and the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Jordan, reflected positively on the historical ties between the two countries in various fields.

The ambassador added in an interview with Petra on the occasion of his country's national day, that Turkish investors, institutions and companies are interested in investing in the Kingdom as it enjoys security, stability and attractive investments climate. " Both countries maintain continued consultations and coordination and exchange visits between top officials," Koprulu added.

He said trade exchange between Jordan and Turkey stands at $500 million and this figure could be increased as the Turkish side is willing to increase its investments in Jordan which currently amount to $150 million.

The ambassador highlighted the strong bilateral cooperation in the scientific and cultural fields, pointing to a cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in this domain.

On Middle East peace, he said Turkey shares Jordan its view on peace, which can only be established through the creation of a Palestinian state in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative on the 1967 borders that lives in peace and security alongside Israel.

[MARTYR]

Political reform to meet aspirations of Jordanian people - Monarch

AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday voiced confidence in the success of the political reform process in the Kingdom in its various facets and in a manner that meets the aspirations of all Jordanians, a Royal Court statement said.
During a meeting with Jordan Press Association President Tareq Momani, directors of official media outlets and chief editors of Jordanian dailies, the King said the outcome of the National Dialogue Committee's deliberations on the new elections and political parties' laws will be announced soon.

Also, the Royal committee entrusted with reviewing the Constitution will continue with its thorough work, he said, stressing his full support for the two committees to arrive at results that serve citizens and boost the country's drive towards development, according to the statement.

The King also emphasised that he has sensed fear among citizens and officials and in the private sector during his recent meetings regarding the economic situation in the country, citing challenges, foremost of which is the unprecedented increase in the budget deficit.

King Abdullah said the global financial crisis greatly impacted the performance of the national economy and the economic and living conditions of citizens.

Attracting Arab and foreign investments to the Kingdom to provide job opportunities "is a priority for us at the present time", he told the press.

There is a need to provide 60,000 jobs annually in the Kingdom, "and the private sector cannot provide more than 10,000", he added.

The King underscored his support for combating corruption and terminating all its different forms, but cautioned that calls for prosecuting the corrupt without sufficient evidence may turn into a tool to distort the country's image and lead to character assassination.

This will adversely impact the confidence of Arab and foreign investors in Jordan, "which we pin many hopes on to provide job opportunities for the sons and daughters of our people and to combat poverty and unemployment," he added.

During the meeting, the Monarch also stressed his support for responsible press freedom and media organisations that base their work on the truth and place the interests of the country and the people above all other considerations.

He emphasised the media's responsibility to cast aside and combat all non-professional practices, adding that such practices have had a negative effect on the investment climate in the Kingdom.
In addition, His Majesty highlighted his scheduled visits to London and Washington during which he will meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama, the statement said.

The latest developments in the region, means to achieve just and comprehensive Middle East peace that regains the legitimate rights of the Palestinians and means to boost bilateral relations, especially in the economic fields, will top the agenda of talks during the two visits.

Also yesterday, the King chaired a meeting with several government officials, which focused on economic challenges and means to encourage investments in the country, according to the statement.

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit emphasised the role of the media in this regard, adding that the government will provide all facilities for businessmen and investors to achieve that goal.

The government will also work to protect citizens and state institutions from any non-professional practices and blackmail by some writers, under the pretext of freedom of expression, to serve certain agendas, he added.

[hakz2007]

JORDANIAN KING MEETS US DELEGATION

AMMAN, Jan 20 (NNN-KUNA) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II discussed on Saturday with visiting US Senator John McCain and his accompanying delegation developments in the region, particularly Syria and the Middle East peace process.

A statement from the King's office said that the meeting also highlighted ways of exerting efforts to bring back the Palestinian and Israelis to the negotiation table based on the two-state solution.

Read more