Jordan Times
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Instilling citizenship values, sense of belonging top priority, Jordanians agree
By Mahmoud Al Abed
DEAD SEA — A cross-section of 700 Jordanians on Wednesday agreed that instilling the values of citizenship and the sense of belonging was the priority the country should address first.
During an unofficial discussion and voting session, participants, invited by King Abdullah, were asked to prioritise what they saw as the country’s 10 most urgent issues out of a list of 30.
The final tally, read out by former minister of information Asma Khader, showed 15 issues.
The second in importance, according to the majority, was the state’s sovereignty and protecting the national interest, followed by national security, good governance, independence of the judiciary, alleviating poverty, human rights, the fight against terror and takfiri ideology, and educational development.
The list continued with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, financial stability, healthcare and comprehensive health insurance, political party development and attracting investments.
Participants put the unity and sovereignty of Iraq as the last of the 15 priorities.
Many participants noted that fighting corruption was not among the issues listed in the 30 items. At some tables that issue was voted the country’s most urgent priority.
Among the few women participants, several said they were disappointed that empowering women was not voted a priority.
Yesterday’s event was part of the “We are all Jordan” initiative launched by King Abdullah, who in his opening speech defined the preliminary meeting as the organisation of “the national priorities of our people.”
The participants, among them Cabinet ministers, senators, deputies, private sector, media and civil society principals, political party leaders and youth, are to meet again on July 26-27 to draft a plan of action that leads to the realisation of these priorities, King Abdullah said (see the official translation of his speech).
Noting that some earlier efforts to translate his vision for the country’s future into workable plans failed, the King said there was now a need for a majority to “agree on an action plan that will guide everyone — government, Parliament, the private sector and civil society organisations — towards a renaissance in Jordan, making the future we aspire to and facing internal and external challenges which you are all aware of.”
“We are all Jordan” is not aimed at bypassing any other institution in Jordan, the King told the audience.
“Before accusations and rumours start rolling, I would like to emphasise that these meetings are unofficial, and that they do not transgress any of the state’s institutions, which I protect and safeguard in accordance with the Constitution. What we desire from these meetings is a unified concept and a single vision, in one spirit, that we are all Jordan, and that we all want to work for Jordan in an organised way, free of personal agendas or desires, or personal or party interests.”
Participants were divided into 70 groups, each of which elected a moderator.