Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 12, 1999
'Jordan expects additional $100m in U.S. aid over next two years'
By Caroline Faraj
AMMAN — Jordan is expected to receive $100 million in additional aid in two equal payments from the U.S. over the next 21 months, a senior Jordanian official said Monday.
“The U.S. administration has pledged to seek from Congress an extra $100 million in economic assistance funds to Jordan,” Ambassador to Washington Marwan Muasher told the Jordan Times.
Muasher said Jordan's current economic difficulties were a main issue of in-depth discussion during His Majesty King Hussein's last Tuesday meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton at the White House.
“During last Tuesday's meeting, His Majesty argued for additional economic assistance to the Kingdom, due to the present difficult economic situation and needs,” Muasher said.
He said the American administration reacted to the King's argument by pledging to seek an extra $100 million in economic assistance that will be divided over two years.
“We expect to receive the first extra $50 million in October 1999, and the rest in October 2000,” Muasher said.
HRH Crown Prince Hassan, the Regent, announced on Saturday that the King briefed him on the recent results of his talks with U.S. administration officials and on the administration's intent to encourage increased investment in Jordan and provide additional aid.
Last year, the U.S. Congress agreed to allocate $225 million to Jordan in 1999, $150 million in economic assistance and $75 million in military aid.
During a brief visit to Amman on Dec. 15, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright pledged to seek from Congress an extra $200 million in security assistance funds to bolster Jordan's ability to cope with regional turmoil.
The extra $200 million is to be divided over three years (approximately $66 million per year).
Muasher explained that should Congress approve the additional packages, the Kingdom would receive a total of $341 million, $200 million in economic and $141 million in military aid, in 1999.
The ambassador pointed out that the U.S. administration also promised to offer all possible assistance to Jordan in order to support its national economy.
“The U.S. promised to support Jordan's demands for increasing trade with the Palestinian National Authority areas,” Muasher said.
Referring to the recent agreement signed between Jordan and the U.S. on trade and investment, the ambassador said, “We have signed with the U.S. a framework which is considered an introduction for negotiations for establishing a free trade area soon.”