Jordan Times
Thursday, August 4, 2005
US aid hinges upon
Jordan's ratification of immunity agreement — planning minister
'The ratification governs the continuity of Jordan's receipt of US
economic and military aid'
By Jumana Ghneimat
AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Suhair Al-Ali said on
Wednesday that the ratification of an immunity agreement with the US is of
utmost importance to ensure the continued American economic and military
assistance to the Kingdom.
The agreement commits Jordan not to extradite any US citizen for trial at the
International Criminal Court. An overwhelming majority of the Lower House
deputies voted the agreement down last month but the Parliament's Upper House
approved it on Monday.
According to the minister, “the ratification governs the continuity of Jordan's
receipt of US economic and military aid.”
Senior members of the US Republican Party suggested additional aid be allocated,
but conditioned that the countries receiving it should sign the immunity
agreement.
Lower House deputies who voted against the ratification said it would jeopardise
the Kingdom's sovereignty on its national soil.
Al-Ali indicated that the US Congress agreed to provide the Kingdom with the
$250 million regular economic assistance for 2006, adding that the Congress
pledged to reconsider the possibility of providing the Kingdom with additional
grants during the coming year.
In a statement to Al Rai newspaper, she said: “The government presented the US
officials with two requests, asking that they look into the possibility of
offering additional assistance to the Kingdom for the next year and to increase
the Kingdom's share of regular assistance for 2007-2008.”
The planning minister did not specify the amount of additional assistance
requested.
“The Jordanian request for additional assistance is to help the country confront
the economic challenges facing its economy, mainly the rise of the oil bill,
declining grants, the increase in the poverty and unemployment rates and higher
indebtedness.”
During last year, the Kingdom received economic assistance totalling $597
million, of which the US assistance was $350 million including $100 million in
additional assistance. Loans were put at around JD277 million.
A portion of the additional economic assistance is usually channelled to support
the state budget while the remaining part is spent on development projects.