Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Jordan remembers King Hussein
AMMAN (JT) — Jordanians today mark the 8th anniversary of the passing of His
Majesty King Hussein.
King Hussein, a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, was born on November
14, 1935 as the eldest son of King Talal and Queen Zein Al Sharaf.
He was proclaimed King on May 2, 1952 at the age of 18 and assumed his
constitutional powers on May 2, 1953.
At the time of his death on February 7, 1999, King Hussein was the longest
serving executive head of state in the world.
Throughout his five-decade rule, the late King worked hard to raise the living
standards of his people and during his reign infant mortality declined by 50 per
cent and literacy rose by nearly 160 per cent.
He also struggled tirelessly to promote peace in the Middle East and help the
Palestinian people regain their legitimate rights, playing a key role in the
1991 Madrid peace conference.
The late King’s commitment to democracy, civil liberties and human rights helped
make Jordan a model state in the region.
He believed that the key to a brighter future lies in joining together to work
towards the goals of conflict resolution, peace, education for enlightened
citizenship and leadership, and the values of community, mutual understanding
and sustainable development.
February 7 also marks the day His Majesty King Abdullah assumed his
constitutional powers.
The Monarch has continued his father’s legacy, placing great emphasis on
improving the economy whilst promoting democratic institutions and political
pluralism.
Today is a day of remembrance of a great leader, a great man and a great King
who weathered numerous crises and managed to ensure the stability of his country
and people.
Today is also a day of hope and confidence in a future towards which Jordanians
are being led by King Abdullah, who has declared the well-being and prosperity
of his people his number one priority.