Jordan Times
Tuesday, March 2, 2004
'Reform
must reflect local will'
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh, Jordan Times
AMMAN, March 2 - Jordan on Monday said US plans for reforms in the Middle East
"must stem from the aspirations and will of the Arab peoples."
Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader did not reject
Washington's "Greater Middle East Initiative," but said Jordan has not
yet officially received it.
"According to what has been reported so far, suggestions are similar to
local demands for reforms; issues we are already working to achieve,"
Khader told a press conference. She said Jordan welcomes plans that are in line
with the requirements of citizens, helping achieve the aspired development and
democracy.
"Development, reform and democracy are themes which we have adopted in
Jordan and which we have been working on for years," the spokesperson said.
"If the initiative incorporates issues we believe in and is based on local
demands, then we will work by it. But if we see issues that do not correspond
with local requirements we would say so."
The minister could not confirm if the initiative, to be announced at the G-8
summit in June, would be discussed during the upcoming Arab summit in Tunisia.
The US initiative, which proposes funding for projects that promote free
elections, civil society, empowerment of women and modernization of education,
was widely criticized locally and regionally as a clear attempt to impose
"ready-made democratic regimes" to the Middle East and meddle in their
internal affairs.