Jordan Times
Monday, September 17, 2007
Jordan, US sign nuclear accord
By Linda Hindi
AMMAN - Jordan and the United States on Sunday signed a memorandum of
understanding pertaining to nuclear energy cooperation.
Meanwhile, the US provided the Kingdom with $78 million in additional assistance
for 2007.
Under the nuclear agreement, signed in Vienna, the two countries will work
together to develop requirements for appropriate power reactors, fuel service
arrangements, civilian training, nuclear safety, energy technology and other
related areas. The agreement was signed by US Secretary of Energy Samuel W.
Bodman and Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific
Research Khalid Touqan on the margins of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)
ministerial level meeting taking place in the Austrian capital, a statement by
the US embassy in Amman said.
Touqan is in charge of the Kingdom’s nuclear programme, which is meant to supply
Jordan with part of its energy needs.
The agreement specifies that all cooperative activities will be consistent with
the GNEP, an international initiative announced by President George W. Bush in
2006. Jordan was invited to join the meeting at the ministerial level.
Under the partnership, the US is working with other nations to develop
international consensus on enabling the expanded use of clean, safe and
affordable nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand.
Additionally, the partnership aims to demonstrate nuclear fuel cycle
technologies that will enhance energy security in a safe and environmentally
responsible manner while simultaneously promoting non-proliferation.
The US aid, a statement said, is mostly for security and military purposes.
Jordan is expected to receive it within two weeks.
“The US Congress recently authorised an additional $78 million in economic and
security-related assistance to Jordan to be disbursed no later than September
30,” the US embassy said on Sunday.
Out of the total sum, $67.7 million will be allocated for security assistance,
of which “$45 million will be offered as military assistance that would aid
Jordan in providing for border security and related needs,” a US press statement
read.
The statement did not specify which borders but Jordan, which is bordered by
Syria, Israel and Iraq, has been working on a strategy to reform its borders
with neighbouring countries, with focus on Iraq.
Interior Ministry Secretary General Mkhaimar Abu Jamous told The Jordan Times in
May that hosting Iraqi nationals is costing the Kingdom no less than $1 billion
a year and part of this cost are the additional security measures the government
undertakes as a result of Iraq war.
In addition, $22.7 million of military and security assistance will go towards
anti-terrorism training and equipment grants for the Public Security Department.
Most of the training will be conducted at the Jordanian International Police
Training Centre (JIPTC), according to the US embassy.
JIPTC is in a desert camp in the east of Amman that trains Iraqi police
officers, border guards, prison guards and provincial training officers.
According to JIPTC, 56,864 men have completed training and the site will close
at the end of the month.
The remaining $10.3 million in economic assistance is meant to help in the
country’s efforts to improve basic education and health services in communities
that have experienced a significant influx of Iraqi citizens, according to the
US statement.
The bulk of the economic aid will go to assist Ministry of Education to expand
basic education services to meet international standards and accommodate Iraqi
children.
The funding will also support the rental and renovation of school facilities to
avoid further crowding of public school classrooms.
Just before the school year began, the Education Ministry announced that all
Iraqi children will be allowed to enrol in public schools regardless of the
residency status. The move is expected to render huge burdens on the already
budget-strapped public school system.
Adding $454 million in appropriated funds and supplementary assistance for the
Kingdom this fiscal year, the total amount of US assistance for 2007 now tallies
$532 million.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Planning, non-military US assistance
to Jordan this year totals $255 million, of which $116 million will be allocated
to support the Treasury and help the government complete development projects
included in the 2007 state budget.
Meanwhile, $139 million will go to financing projects overseen by USAID in
various sectors, including water, environment, education, health and good
governance.