Jordan Times
Thursday, March 2, 2006
Jordan deserves support — US ambassador
AMMAN (Petra) — US Ambassador to Jordan David
Hale on Wednesday said his country is keen on supporting the Kingdom's reform
policies, in the political, economic and educational fields, which he described
as “impressive.”
In a meeting with chief editors and senior journalists of local print media
outlets yesterday, Hale said the US administration wants to continue its support
for this process, realising that Jordan exists in a difficult region.
The US ambassador said Jordan deserves support, explaining that his country is
looking into suitable ways to extend aid to the Kingdom.
He said the issue of additional assistance to Jordan is under study, pending the
completion of the budget review process under way in Washington and a decision
is expected after that and will be announced at the proper time.
Hale acknowledged that his country has taken wrong choices regarding the region,
like when it gave priority to stability over democracy, but achieved neither.
Therefore, he said, the US started encouraging reform measures that originate
from within the targeted countries.
The US envoy said his country wants to see an independent Palestinian state that
lives side by side with Israel, and a democratic, stable, unified and
economically prosperous Iraq that lives in peace.
Washington, he added, is also seeking to effect political and economic
transformation that renders the region more democratic and prosperous, pointing
in this context to plans to establish a free trade zone between the US and Arab
countries.
On the Palestinian situation after Hamas' electoral victory, Hale said
Washington has made it clear through the international Quartet that Hamas, as a
leader of the new Palestinian government, has to take three steps: Reject
violence, recognise Israel's right to exist and respects the commitments of the
Palestinian Authority (PA).
He stressed that US humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people would continue,
stating that his country understands that the PA will face difficulties.
Asked if the US is having contacts with Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood, he said
Washington rejects dialogue with groups labelled as terrorist organisations,
including Hamas. However, he said the Muslim Brotherhood Movement is part of
Jordanian society and US law does not prohibit having a dialogue with it. He did
not elaborate.