Jordan Times
Friday, April 9, 2004
Opposing the country is totally unacceptable — Fayez
ZARAQA/MAFRAQ (Petra) — Prime Minister Faisal
Fayez said on Thursday there is a difference between opposing the government and
opposing the country, stressing that the former is legitimate while the latter
is totally unacceptable.
The premier's remarks came during meetings with representatives of the local
community in the governorates of Zarqa and Mafraq, which he visited yesterday.
He was accompanied by a several-member ministerial team and senior officials.
Fayez stressed that the government's tolerance, democratic approach and respect
of the opinions of others do not mean that it would give anyone the chance to
harm the country and distort its image.
He said the government is keen on involving everyone in discussions on the
political development draft plan, discussed recently by the Council of Ministers
and subsequently publicised.
The premier told the people of Zarqa that the national conference under
preparation to address the problems of poverty and unemployment “will be one of
quality and different from other conferences in that its recommendations will
not end up forgotten in the drawers of officials.”
The prime minister reiterated the need to maintain a balance between freedoms
and security, underlining the latter as the key factor to ensure stability and
thus be able to attract foreign investment.
He called for cooperation between all concerned parties to achieve “preventive
social security” as the only way to prevent the country from sliding into
undesirable situations.
Speakers in both governorates took turn to list the demands of their respective
areas. In Zarqa, where the government spent more than JD30 million on
development projects last year, representatives of the district focused on the
need to address the environmental problems facing the area due to the existence
of the Khirbet Al Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant, a thermal plant, and the
methane factory.
They also demanded increased support for the agricultural sector and expansion
of health services.
For their part, the citizens of Mafraq called on the government to establish a
military hospital and an industrial estate, and to extend financial support for
the debt-riddled Al al Bayt University.
According to official figures, 86 per cent of the 397 projects planned for
Mafraq last year was completed. In 2003, the government allocated around JD35
million to implement socio-economic development plans in this eastern district.
The ministerial team accompanying the premier replied to the speakers' demands
and comments.
Responding to a complaint that shopkeepers have taken advantage of the recent
price hikes, Fayez assured citizens in the two governorates that the government
is determined to bring to an end such violations and has intensified inspection
tours all over the Kingdom to monitor price manipulations.