Jordan Times
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Bakhit stresses national
consensus ‘essential’ to face challenges
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday received a letter from the
premier in response to his directives issued last week regarding the
recommendations of the We are All Jordan Forum.
Local leaders in late July listed priority issues for the country to address as
it stands up to current and potential challenges. They produced the We are All
Jordan Document, which enumerates bills and suggestions to renew political life
in Jordan, boost human rights and push the economy forward.
In the letter, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit told the Monarch the Cabinet has
studied the outcome of the forum and compared its conclusions to the content of
the Letter of Designation and the recently drawn-up programme to implement the
National Agenda, and will place importance on recommendations common between the
three documents; in addition, it will take into account new ideas suggested by
the forum members, who represent parliamentary, official, opposition and civil
society spheres.
The government, Bakhit added, will be coordinating with the Parliament to
arrange for ultimately presenting the draft laws in question to Parliament.
The premier was also quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying the
recommendations of the forum will serve as guidelines for his government.
In his address to the July 12 preparatory meeting of the We are All Jordan
Forum, the King stressed that constitutional institutions will not be bypassed,
adding in remarks later on that the We are All Jordan Commission is a “Royal
advisory body” that would not transgress the jurisdiction of the legislature or
any other establishment.
In the reply letter, the premier said further cooperation from his team is
expected with civil society institutions and the private sector to translating
the recommendations of the forum into facts on the ground.
The premier commended the We are All Jordan initiative as “formula for a
national consensus... that is essential for the country to rise to the
challenges it is facing.”
This consensus and resolve is proof of Jordan’s ability “to draw the line
between reaction and response.”
“Response, as illustrated by the case of Jordan,” he added, “is a well-studied
and well-meditated interaction based on the principle of participation, dialogue
and in-depth analysis.”
In the Saturday letter to the premier, King Abdullah said, “[We] must work with
all our capacity to maintain the strength of Jordan and solidarity among
Jordanians. An impenetrable Jordan is the real support for the Arab nation and
its causes.”