Jordan Times
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
King orders steps to facilitate travel of Iraqis
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah ordered a series of measures Tuesday to facilitate the travel of Iraqis into and out of Jordan.
King Abdullah “ordered immediate and practical
measures to be taken to facilitate the arrival and departure of Iraqi nationals
at the border,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. “Jordan's ties with
Iraq are strategic and require that we do what we can to help its people
overcome their difficult conditions,” the King said, according to Petra.
King Abdullah issued his instructions during a meeting with General Saad Kheir,
the King's adviser on security issues, director of the General Intelligence
Department and president of the National Security Council, Royal Court Minister
Samir Rifai, Cabinet ministers and senior officials. He told the officials to
“build temporary facilities on the border with Iraq ... as well as plan to
construct permanent ones.”
The Cabinet later met and decided to “immediately” rehabilitate the existing
border facilities and build new constructions to help 5,000-6,000 travellers
into and out of the Kingdom, according to Minister of State and Government
Spokesperson Asma Khader. She told reporters after the meeting that the
government considers setting up a new highway, civil defence stations and a free
zone at the border.