King discusses reform process with military retirees. AMMAN — Continuing his outreach efforts to meet with representatives of all sectors in the country, His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday held an off-the-record meeting with a group of retired servicemen. The gathering was hosted by veteran Lt. Gen. Fadil Fahid (retd) at his house, a source familiar with the meeting told The Jordan Times. His Majesty talked about regional challenges, chiefly the situation in Syria and the burden Jordan is carrying, according to the source. The King stressed the importance of the stage that comes right after the January 23 elections, namely the formation of the next government in consultation with parliament. He also stressed the need to encourage young people to work and deal with the culture of shame, adding that “we need training programmes to polish their skills”. The King also highlighted “the importance of the national integrity system” in fighting corruption.
King stresses gradual move to full-fledged parliamentary gov’t. AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday called on deputies to upgrade the Lower House bylaws and codes as a prerequisite to having parliamentary governments. His Majesty made his remarks at a meeting with Lower House members at the Royal Court, where he discussed Parliament’s duties, escalating campus violence as well as Jordan’s stand on Syria crisis developments and repercussions of the conflict on national security, according to a Royal Court statement. His Majesty advised against including deputies in the Cabinet at the present time, adding that priority should go to revamping the way in which the House operates. Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour told lawmakers during the debate over the vote of confidence last month that a government reshuffle was imminent “after taking permission from the King”.
He reportedly did not rule out the possibility of adding MPs to his 18-member government. Rule of the law Syria. No one can afford to sit on the sidelines of change — King. Following is the full text of His Majesty King Abdullah’s speech at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos on Friday: Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim Thank you, Professor, and thank you all. It is a pleasure to be here once again. Klaus, my friend, the direction of world events has, more and more, borne out your insights when you founded this forum. This was never a gathering about ideas alone. It was and is a forum for action.
My friends, These last years have seen turmoil and challenge — across the globe, no less than in my region. Today, we hear some say “wait and see” about a two-state settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We hear some say “wait and see” about the Arab Spring. We hear some in the West look at the transformations in the Arab world and say “let’s wait” for the dust to settle and “let’s see” if democracy takes its course. Last, we hear some in the global business community say, “we will wait and see”. Are we satisfied with our progress? Thank you. Jordan biggest winner in elections — King. AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday congratulated the Jordanian people on the success of the parliamentary elections which he described as a “qualitative leap and shining milestone in Jordan’s political history and democratic process”.
Addressing the public in a letter, His Majesty said: “You have made history, adding another bright chapter to the country’s record of achievements, by participating with confidence and enthusiasm in these elections, which are the stepping stone into a new era of determination to proceed with the process of change and the envisioned reform, and enroot political pluralism and public participation.” The King highlighted the important role of the new Lower House in addressing the challenges facing the nation.
King Abdullah hailed the distinguished performance of the president, commissioners and staff of the Independent Elections Commission. Following is the full text of the King’s letter: In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate, King orders JD5.4 million in aid to needy families, charities. AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday issued directives to distribute JD5.4 million in financial aid to a number of underprivileged families across the Kingdom as well as several care centres and societies. A total of 30,000 families across the Kingdom will benefit from JD3 million in aid, in addition to in-kind assistance, a Royal Court statement said.
The aid, which is aimed at alleviating the suffering of these impoverished families to enable them to meet their basic needs, is a replacement of the Hashemite Charity Caravans, launched in 2004 to serve underprivileged families. The Ministry of Social Development will compile a list of the families that will benefit from the assistance according to its database and the studies it has carried out regularly in targeted areas across the Kingdom.
Moreover, the Monarch directed the concerned authorities to continue supporting a total of 1,500 orphans in the Gaza Strip through Al Wiam Charitable Society (WCS) at a cost of JD1.3 million. Vote success reflects growing public tendency towards wider participation — King. AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday described the Wednesday parliamentary polls as a “success”, adding that the consultations among blocs in the new House will start to designate a prime minister. Meanwhile, the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) announced the results of the vote (see list of winners). His Majesty made his remarks at a meeting with a delegation of international monitors. Thanking the monitors for their efforts and highlighting the significance of their role, King Abdullah noted that the landmark elections, which kick-start a parliamentary government system experiment, were carried out in an environment that supported transparency and fairness, a Royal Court statement said.
Briefed on their evaluation of the vote, in which around 57 per cent of registered voters took part, the King said authorities would take their notes into account to develop flawless election procedures in subsequent elections. Results Final figures Monitors. Exclusive : Extended Interview with the King of Jordan : Lignes de front. January 2013. Unholy matrimony battle continues in Lebanon Whenever I write about the Lebanese rumpus over civil marriage, I have to keep reminding myself that it really is about civil marriage and not gay marriage. The opponents of civil marriage in Lebanon are exactly the types you would expect to find in other countries opposing gay marriage – it's just that what shocks them in Lebanon is the prospect of two people (one male, one female, of course) getting married, if they so choose, in a non-religious ceremony.
On Monday, the Grand Mufti of Lebanon issued a fatwa threatening to excommunicate any member of parliament or government minister who supports the legalisation of civil marriage, "even if it is optional". Yesterday, Lebanese MP Samir Gemayel hit back at the mufti, according to the Daily Star: Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Gemayel said: “The mufti’s comments are a violation of the civil state and every Lebanese person’s right which is stipulated in the Constitution.” Citizen Saleh. King Abdullah Considers Postponing Jordan Elections. Jordanian gendarmerie policemen stand guard to separate pro-government supporters from anti-government protesters during a demonstration following an announcement that Jordan would raise fuel prices, including a hike on cooking gas, in Amman November 13, 2012.
(photo by REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed) Author: Al-Hayat (Pan Arab) Posted December 3, 2012 With the sharp polarization in Jordan between the government and the opposition, and the ongoing popular protests, King Abdullah II has employed a new approach in the past two days, insinuating that parliamentary elections scheduled for early next year may be postponed. Summary⎙ Print Jordan's King Abdullah II may be considering postponing parliamentary elections scheduled for early 2014, reports Tamer al-Samadi. Author Tamer al-Samadi Posted December 3, 2012 Translator(s)Joelle El-Khoury At a banquet held by Jordanian figures, the monarch delved deep into the internal issue. ‘There is no final destination on the path of reform’ His Majesty King Abdullah’s interview with Al Rai and The Jordan Times: Question: Your Majesty, the government’s decision to lift fuel subsidies triggered protests, some of which were marred by vandalism and assaults on public and private property, an unfamiliar phenomenon.
How do you view what happened? King Abdullah: The decision was definitely very difficult for citizens amid real economic challenges. I realise how much people suffer, especially the limited- and medium-income segments. I am proud that the majority of the rallies were peaceful and abiding by the Constitution and the law. They reflected a civilised manner of expression, proof that Jordan’s Arab Spring is different. They also signalled that our people have a high level of awareness, especially as reflected by the spontaneous initiatives taken by citizens themselves to prevent riots and sabotage of public and private property. Despite the difficult situation we are in, I am optimistic about the future. Clarity of vision | Editorial. Jordan is marching on the right track and is capable of overcoming challenges facing it, as it has done throughout its history.
This is the comforting conclusion one gets from meeting His Majesty King Abdullah who eloquently outlines his vision for the future of Jordan, the vision that he arrived at from his personal experience, the history of the country, the study of established democracies, as well as from interacting with various segments of the society. In a wide-ranging interview with The Jordan Times and Al Rai, the King illustrated the roadmap to Jordan’s future in a very clear manner, particularly with regards to political reform, which should not be hampered by various challenges facing it, including the economic. The upcoming parliamentary elections, slated to be held on January 23, are a landmark in this process, but are a means, not an end in themselves.
This is what political reform, led by King Abdullah, aims to achieve in Jordan. Jordan: King Abdullah II cancels UK trip after protests - Middle East - World. There had been anxiety over the visit due to the violence in Gaza, as his wife, Queen Rania, is Palestinian. Smaller groups of protesters have made rare calls against the monarch before. But the crowd in the capital of about 2,500, chanting slogans reminiscent of last year's Arab Spring uprisings, was the largest yet to seek the overthrow of the regime.
Similar rallies turned unusually violent earlier this week, with one person killed and 75 others, including 58 policemen, injured. The protesters, angered by a sharp increase in fuel and gas prices, were led by activists that included the secular Hirak Shebabi youth movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, and various nationalist and left-wing groups. Turnout yesterday was smaller than recently, however, with crowds varying from about 150 in the southern town of Tafila to 3,000 in the northern city of Irbid. الملك للشباب : صوتكم عامل أساسي ومؤثر في نتائج الانتخابات. عمان - بترا - مؤيد الحباشنة أكد جلالة الملك عبدالله الثاني أهمية صوت الشباب في “مسيرتنا الإصلاحية الشاملة”، مشددا على ضرورة اغتنام الفرصة التاريخية المتوفرة اليوم لمأسسة عمل الشباب بما يخدم طموحاتهم ويحقق أهدافهم في بناء مستقبل الأردن، والتأثير في صناعة القرار.
وأوضح جلالته، خلال لقائه أمس الأربعاء مجموعة من النشطاء في قطاع الشباب من مختلف التوجهات الوطنية، أنه يدعم كل جهد يهدف إلى تعزيز قدراتهم ويمكنهم من المشاركة بفاعلية في صناعة المستقبل “الذي هو مستقبلهم”. وشدد جلالته، خلال اللقاء الذي تخلله حوار مع الحضور، على أن الانتخابات القادمة هي مفصل رئيس في مسيرة الأردن الإصلاحية، وعلى الجميع بمن فيهم الشباب العمل على اغتنام هذه الفرصة والبناء عليها، مؤكدا جلالته “أن صوتكم مسموع ورأيكم مهم ودوركم أساسي في بناء الوطن”. كما أكد جلالته أن الانتخابات النيابية ستجرى بكل نزاهة وشفافية، وأي تدخل بهذا الشأن هو “أمر مرفوض بالمطلق وسأحاسب من يحاول العبث بهذا الأمر”. وعبر جلالته عن دعمه الكامل ومساندته للشباب ودورهم المؤثر في مختلف القطاعات وعلى رأسها القضايا المرتبطة بتوفير فرص العمل والحياة الكريمة. بدء عرض أوبريت «الملك المعزز» في المركز الثقافي الملكي. عمان - بترا بدأت فرقة عمون للفنون والتراث على مسرح المركز الثقافي الملكي مساء أمس الثلاثاء أول عروض اوبريت «الملك المعزز» بهدف تنمية الروح الوطنية لدى ابناء وبنات الوطن وتعزيز روح الانتماء لديهم نحو الامة والفخر والاعتزاز بالقيادة الهاشمية.
ويشتمل الاوبريت الذي رعى أول عروضه مندوب وزير الدولة لشؤون الاعلام ووزير الثقافة، امين عام وزارة الثقافة مأمون التلهوني، على سبعة مشاهد تتناول تاريخ الاردن في ظل القيادة الهاشمية ومن اقوال جلالة الملك عبدالله الثاني بالاضافة الى لوحة فنية راقصة. ويتحدث الاوبريت عن انجازات ومكارم جلالة الملك عبدالله الثاني المعزز من خلال حوار بين عدد من مؤسسات الدولة في مختلف القطاعات العسكرية والمدنية، تعبر كل مؤسسة عن اهم التطورات التي تحققت في عهد جلالته وكذلك حوار بين شخصيات تنطق بلسان عدد من مستفيدي هذه المكارم.
ويختم الاوبريت عرضه برسالة عمان التي تدافع عن الدين الاسلامي الحنيف من خلال الحديث عن اهم محاور هذه الرسالة. يذكر ان اعداد التوزيع الموسيقي للفنان نصري الترك، اما فكرة واعداد وكتابة الاوبريت فجاءت لنصري الترك ونهى ابوحيط. ‘Next Parliament is the gate to comprehensive reform’ Following is the official translation of His Majesty King Abdullah's remarks during a gathering with national public figures at the Royal Court on Tuesday: My brothers and sisters, I would like to welcome you all to your home, the home of all Jordanians. I wanted to meet with you today for a sincere talk at this particular stage in our beloved country’s history, in order to highlight our reform roadmap.
I fully realise, my brothers and sisters, that every modernisation and change initiative is accompanied by anxiety and uncertainty. This is natural. Popular demands over the last year-and-a-half have focused on enhancing citizens’ rights to participate effectively in the decisions that impact them and their future, and I am committed to guaranteeing this right for all. The trajectory of the political reform roadmap under which this phase was launched was agreed upon a year-and-a-half ago. •How will candidates, political parties and lists address the challenges of poverty and unemployment?
King’s speech addressed sensitive issues candidly — politicians. AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah’s speech was powerful and candid, touching on issues only discussed behind closed doors, former officials and politicians said on Wednesday. Addressing over 3,000 personalities, including all civil society sectors and state institutions, on Tuesday, King Abdullah called on all political parties and forces to take part in the upcoming legislative elections, urging citizens to exercise their right and vote to determine the make-up of the next Parliament.
Former minister of state for media affairs and communications Nabil Sharif said the Monarch’s speech was unprecedented, tackling sensitive issues with great courage and openness. “The King spoke about some points that others address shyly or behind closed doors… especially when he mentioned calls for the downfall of the regime,” Sharif said. “There is a misperception among the many activists that the regime is only represented by the King,” the former minister added. “The change is coming,” he said. Young Jordanians discuss King’s recent speech. National interests top any other considerations — King. King abdullah bin al hussein. الملك يوعز بتلبية احتياجات أسر عفيفة خلال زيارة مفاجئة إلى ماركا الجنوبية. Charlie Rose interview's King Abdullah II of Jordan. September 25, 2012 - King Abdullah II - The Daily Show With Jon Stewart - Full Episode Video | Comedy Central. Badia families receive new apartments. Public school students still exempted from school fees. King Abdullah II Official Website | Press Room | Interviews Interview with His Majesty King Abdullah II.
King urges full citizen engagement in democratisation. King urges youth to lead process of change. Popular movements urged to adopt platforms, run in polls. King discusses reform with politicians, academicians. King meets with retired officers over national issues. Royal discussion papers to encourage national debate. King outlines roadmap for democratic transformation. King outlines vision for reform, roadmap for new Jordan. Jordan: A 2012 Retrospective And Where The Country Goes From Here at The Black Iris of Jordan.