Jordan Times
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Former gov't played
constructive role — King
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday thanked former Premier
Faisal Fayez and his Cabinet for their distinguished efforts and achievements.
King Abdullah told Fayez and the former ministers at a Royal Court meeting that
they “played a constructive role in development and shouldered great
responsibilities under difficult circumstances.”
Fayez on Tuesday was named Royal Court chief and chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the King Abdullah Fund for Development. Fayez expressed gratitude
for the confidence the King had in him and his team, stressing that they will
always be in the service of the country.
King Abdullah on Tuesday asked Adnan Badran, 60, a biologist by training and a
pedagogue by profession, to form a new government.
Also Wednesday, King Abdullah, the supreme commander of the Jordan Armed Forces,
observed a military exercise by a unit of the northern military area.
Accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff General Khalid Sarayreh and
other high-ranking army officers, King Abdullah was briefed on the troops'
training programmes and field drills.
The King also met yesterday with visiting Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki
Tuomioja at the Royal Court for talks on regional issues and bilateral ties.
The King, meanwhile, is to attend the funeral of the late Pope John Paul II at
the Vatican on Friday.