Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Gov't should be evaluated in line with policy statement,
Badran tells deputies
PM concludes visit to Syria after meeting with Assad
By Ahmad Barakat
Prime Minister Adnan Badran is seen off on
Tuesday by his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Otri (Petra photo)
AMMAN — Prime Minister Adnan Badran on Tuesday reiterated that geographic
representation is not a constitutional requirement, but a political norm that he
did not commit to when forming the government.
At a meeting with deputies who last month signed a petition objecting to the
formation of the Cabinet, Badran said geographic representation could be
considered at a later stage if His Majesty King Abdullah orders a reshuffle.
In the petition, 45 MPs said the government was not representative and included
ministers who created clashes with the legislative authority as well as members
who were “not up to the responsibility.” They said they would withhold
confidence when Parliament convenes for the vote.
On Saturday, Badran told senior local journalists that he was ready to reshuffle
his Cabinet to make it representative of various parts of Jordan, particularly
the south and bedouin regions.
The premier yesterday urged the deputies to evaluate the government in line with
its policy statement, programmes and plans.
But Deputy Abdullah Akayleh of Tafileh told Badran that the government's
economic team was “absolutely detached from the Kingdom's problems,” adding that
geographic representation was not the most important issue.
The premier stressed that the economic team was appointed to face challenges
like global oil price hikes, unemployment and poverty in the Kingdom, as well as
attracting foreign investment. He said the economic team is ready to fully
cooperate with the House and work “hand-in-hand” with the MPs.
Akayleh said he understands that Badran had limited time to form the government,
but added that the prime minister could have asked King Abdullah for sufficient
time.
The deputy added that other MPs share the same views with him and are ready to
sign the petition, including House Deputy Speaker Mamdouh Abbadi.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and
Minister of Political Development Hisham Tal, Minister of Social Development
Abdullah Oweidat, Minister of Municipal Affairs Tawfiq Kreishan and Minister of
Tourism and Antiquities Alia Hattough-Bouran.
Badran meets with Assad
Earlier in the day, Badran returned from Syria after a two-day visit, during
which he delivered a letter from the King to President Bashar Assad on bilateral
relations.
Badran said Assad invited King Abdullah to visit Damascus. The premier said he
agreed with his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Otri to establish a “hotline to
overcome obstacles facing the enhancement” of economic cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to increase Royal Jordanian flights to Damascus and
Alleppo, unify transit fees, facilitate travel procedures across and cancel
residency fees.
Badran said the government will study a Damascus suggestion to establish a free
transit zone in Suwaidaa on the Syrian side of the border.