Jordan Times
Friday, March 12, 2004
Prime minister rejects calls for amending Constitution
IRBID (Petra) — Prime Minister Faisal Fayez on Thursday rejected calls for amending the Constitution, urging, instead, focus on “other issues that contribute to political development.”
At a meeting with officials and key figures in the Irbid Governorate, Fayez praised the 1952 Constitution as “good and one of the best in the world.” He added that those who have made calls for changes in the country's basic law should concentrate their efforts to produce “modern” laws to govern elections, political parties, public liberties and other legislation that ensures more active participation of youth and women in public life.
The premier also rebuffed criticism of the Public Assembly Law. “Some parties have criticised the... law, but I see it as a good law,” he said, explaining that the original law was enacted in 1953, “when the population of Jordan was half a million.” Then, he said, “there was political and social stability. Jordan was not threatened as it is now.”
At the meeting, hosted by the Yarmouk University, Fayez said the basic job of any prime minister is to preserve political, economic and social security. He added: “Political security involves security, stability and order... without these constants, there will be no political, economic or social development,” he stressed, calling for a “balance” between security and order on the one hand and political development on the other.
Encouraging the Irbid community leaders to be candid, he emphasised that the government has no problem with criticism: “Say whatever you want,” he told his audience, “for we have come here to... listen to you. But let us be realistic. As you know, we do not have a magic wand that can solve all our problems once and for all. We are stuck between the anvil of the [difficult] economic situation and the hammer of politics and the turbulent region around us....”
MPs, senators and key figures speaking on behalf of the district called for increasing the number of Irbid's seats at the Lower House and for fairness in the appointment of senior officials.
Minister of Interior Samir Habashneh said Irbid has 16 seats in the House, noting that population is not the only criterion to decide each district's share of parliamentary seats.
Meanwhile, farmers from the governorate complained about the weak marketing of their products, particularly olive oil. Minister of Agriculture Hazem Nasser explained that finding external markets for olive oil, especially in Europe, is not an easy task due to the availability of the commodity in the continent.
Concerning traffic congestion in Irbid, Minister of Municipal Affairs Amal Farhan said her ministry is to find a solution to the problem. Minister of Public Works and Housing Raed Abu Saud said a study to open a JD100 million ring road in the governorate is now ready.
Other ministers presented plans and projects allocated for the area under-implementation or in the pipelines.
Issues like the budget deficit, privatisation, poverty and unemployment and political development were also brought up during the discussion.
During his visit, the premier inaugurated a new library at Yarmouk University, one of the largest at the regional level. His Majesty King Abdullah laid the cornerstone for the project in 1999. The library, called Al Maktabah Al Husseiniyah, applies up-to-date electronic methods that facilitate research.
In Ajloun, the prime minister inaugurated a power grid project in Eshtafeina. The facility is part of a network that links two other grids at Al Hassan Industrial Estate in Irbid and Mandah.
The three grids are connected to the national power grid through high-voltage transmission lines, Director General of the National Electricity Company Ahmad Hiyasat said. The JD17 million-project will enable the company to offer quality services to a wide range of consumers in the northern region.