Day: November 17, 2021

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stressed the need to effectively move towards establishing a political horizon to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution that embodies the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with occupied Jerusalem as its capital on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders to live in peace and security alongside Israel.

Safadi gave his remarks as part of his participation in at the ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for Coordination of International Aid to the Palestinian People, which was held on Wednesday in Oslo.

Safadi said that while efforts must be intensified to find the necessary political horizon for achieving a just peace, work must be done to find an economic horizon that contributes to ending the suffering of the Palestinian people.

He emphasized that this economic horizon cannot be an alternative for the political horizon required to achieve the two-state solution, but rather a conducive factor in its realization.

Safadi added d that the necessary economic support must be provided to the Palestinian National Authority, and all obstacles to the growth of the Palestinian economy, including those imposed by the Paris Protocol, must be removed, in a way that facilitates trade and investment opportunities.

He noted that maintaining the calm requires Israel to stop repeating its illegal measures, which had sparked tension this year, and progress in efforts to revive the peace process.

He underscored that Jordan will continue exerting every possible effort, in coordination with the Palestinian National Authority, to achieve a just peace, of which the two-state solution is the only way.

In addition, Safadi met, in Oslo, prior to the ministerial meeting, Palestine’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shtayyeh, and they discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between Jordan and Palestine, and preparations for the meeting of the Jordanian-Palestinian Joint Higher Committee to be held on December 7.

Shtayyeh and Safadi also discussed developments related to the Palestinian issue, and efforts to revive peaceful efforts and achieve peace that meets all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people on the basis of the two-state solution.

Safadi stressed that the Kingdom will keep supporting the Palestinian people, and will continue its uninterrupted efforts to help the Palestinian people meet all their legitimate rights, especially their right to freedom and the state on their national soil on the basis of the two-state solution.

Shtayyeh commended the Kingdom’s consistent supporting positions to Palestine, and the main role led by His Majesty King Abdullah to ensure that all the rights of the Palestinian people are met.

The meeting affirmed the continuation of coordination and consultation regarding the developments in the Palestinian issue.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, on Wednesday visited the ancient city of Umm Qais, northern Jordan.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, and head of the mission of honour accompanying the guest.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall toured a number of archaeological and historical places and monuments in the city.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were briefed by HRH Princess Dana Firas, and Tourism Minister, Nayef Al-Fayez, on the historical and archaeological reality of the city, and plans for development and modernization in a number of its sites.

Prince Charles also visited the Colonnade Street and the Roman Amphitheater, and other sites that represent the social and historical life of tribes that inhabited the city since the beginning of the nineteenth century.

The guest also visited Umm Qais Museum, which includes an integrated panorama that examines the city’s archaeological history and the successive civilizations, in addition to the live exhibition that tells the story of the city’s development, lifestyle and urban character that prevailed in it.

He toured the training pavilion, which is based on training local community members on handicrafts and how to preserve and maintain heritage and antiquities.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were accompanied by UK Ambassador to Jordan, Bridget Brind, the military attache at the embassy, and a number of officials at the Tourism Ministry and the British Embassy.

Source: Jordan News Agency

His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday called for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System, especially in empowering youth and women while developing local administration, stressing the importance of completing the legislative aspect concerning the constitutional amendments and the laws on election and political parties.

At a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace with Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and the concerned ministers, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah urged qualifying youth leaders and promoting youth’s and women’s political engagement, calling for engaging with the public to encourage them to pursue partisan work.

His Majesty noted the important role of the media in promoting public engagement in decision-making.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Khasawneh noted the key role of the youth and culture ministries in implementing the committee’s recommendations, as well as the role of the minister of state for media affairs.

He pointed to the need to strengthen the Jordanian national identity while promoting modernisation and mutual understanding, stressing the importance of instilling a culture of platform-based partisanship that addresses citizens’ needs and concerns.

The prime minister said modernisation also extends to the administrative and economic sectors, as well as enhancing the partnership with the private sector.

The concerned ministers highlighted their ministry’s plans and programmes to implement the committee’s recommendations.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yousef Shamali, discussed Wednesday with Russian ambassador to Jordan Gleb Desyatnikov ways of enhancing economic and trade cooperation and leveraging opportunities in various fields.

During the meeting, the two ministers also discussed overcoming difficulties facing the two-way trade, which will also be addressed during the sixth session of the Jordanian-Russian Joint Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation slated for late November of 2021.

Shamali underlined Jordan’s commitment to bolstering economic cooperation and finding ways of boosting trade exchange, as well as investment stimulation and expertise exchange.

Last year, Jordanian exports to Russia reached $2.56 million constituting a 9.33 percent drop, while imports from Russia hit $207.4 million, constituting an 11.81 percent decline.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Lower House Speaker, Abdul Karim Doghmi, on Wednesday received Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, congratulating him and the new House permanent office for winning the lawmakers’ confidence.

In a House statement, Doghmi and the PM affirmed keenness to maintain “constructive” cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities, within the constitutional framework to serve Jordan and its supreme national interests and strengthen the paths of Jordan’s modernization and development.

They added that the House and the government have “remarkable” tasks to fulfill during the Parliament’s first regular session, which was inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah II Tuesday, and outlined by The Speech from the Throne, foremost is debating and approving of the elections and political parties draft laws, and the constitutional amendments aimed at modernizing and developing Jordan’s political system.

Locally, Doghmi called on the government to launch “feasible and workable” plans and programs for economic recovery, which would be reflected on improving the citizens’ living conditions and alleviating poverty and unemployment.

Doghmi stressed that cooperation with the executive authority is governed by Jordan’s “advanced” Constitution, which will see amendments after House’s deliberation and endorsement.

The House will cooperate with the government as long as it is moving in the right direction and implementing programs and plans that would serve the country and the citizen, according to Doghmi.

The PM, for his part, announced a committee to modernize and reform Jordan’s administrative system will be launched in the coming days to work on achieving the “required” balance aimed to develop public administration and remove bureaucratic challenges facing the private sector and investments, in a way that contributes to creating job opportunities and alleviating poverty.

Khasawneh said: “We have a large and ambitious agenda that we are working to achieve in cooperation with the Lower House, which has recognized national expertise and competencies.”

The PM also vowed ministerial team’s “full” cooperation with the Parliament to meet the King’s and Jordanian people’s aspirations and overcome the Covid-19 pandemic-related effects and repercussions.

Source: Jordan News Agency