Jordan Times
Sunday, June 13, 2004
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Faisal Fayez reiterated on Saturday the government's commitment to carry out the political reform project promising to enhance women's rights and uphold the values of justice and equality.
In an address at the opening of a two-day conference on political parties in the Arab world, Fayez rejected claims that Jordan's commitment to political reform was as a result of external dictates and asserted that the Kingdom had made an early commitment to the reform process.
The prime minister said the government is keen to see political reforms carried out as an outcome of national dialogue with representatives of various political, economic and social sectors, including those representing women, labour unions and the country's youth.”
But Fayez pointed out that political reforms can only be achieved within the context of a nationwide consensus on the state's principled stands and in an atmosphere marked by stability and security that are essential requirements for investment and economic prosperity.
The prime minister backed up the government's commitment to the reform process by stating that new laws have been enacted governing the performance of political parties and parliamentary elections in addition to the cancellation of martial law since the resumption of democracy in the Kingdom in 1989.
Referring to regional issues, the prime minister said Jordan has managed to consolidate national unity through the pursuit of democracy despite the negative effects of the Iraq crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on either side of the country's borders.
Fayez concluded by reiterating Jordan's commitment to helping the Palestinian people attain their legitimate rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The conference was organised by the Jerusalem Centre for Political Studies in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.