Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Gov’t committed
to combating corruption — Bakhit
By Khalid Neimat
AMMAN — Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on Monday reaffirmed the government’s
determination to combat corruption despite all obstacles.
During the weekly press briefing yesterday, he said some cases had been brought
to the government’s notice, but they needed further investigation by the
prosecutor general and the intervention of the judiciary, as stipulated in the
Anti-Corruption Commission Law.
He pointed to cases currently under the judicial review, as an indicator of the
government’s commitment to tackle corruption with full responsibility,
seriousness and transparency.
Bakhit said the government would implement the Financial Disclosure Law by
establishing a new office, where ministers, including himself, would submit
their financial records.
“The recently-concluded extraordinary session of Parliament reflected the
democracy the country enjoys, and was full of fruitful discussions on the
submitted draft laws,” Bakhit said.
During the extraordinary session, which adjourned last Thursday, the Parliament
endorsed 28 laws out of 42 submitted by the government.
Among the endorsed laws, was the Anti-Terrorism Law, which would maintain
national security and restrict the ability of persons or organisations that seek
to destabilise the country, the prime minister said.
The Iftaa Law, also endorsed by Parliament during its extraordinary session, is
a very important component of Jordan’s approach, which was clearly expressed in
the “Amman Message,” Bakhit told reporters.
These two laws reflected the desire of the majority of deputies to strengthen
the role of mosques in educating young people according to the basic Islamic
principles, including tolerance, the premier said.
Bakhit voiced hope that Parliament would endorse the remaining draft laws in the
beginning of its next ordinary session. These include the municipalities,
political parties and press and publications bills.
Meanwhile, the premier said he met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmad Nadeef
during Sunday’s visit to Cairo, and discussed issues of mutual concern, adding
that they would head the meetings of the Jordan-Egypt Higher Committee, which
will convene in the Egyptian capital next month.
During the press conference, Bakhit dismissed reports in the local press, which
said the preferential price of the oil agreement with the Iraqi government was
$10 per barrel.
“This might be the cost of transporting each barrel under the current conditions
in Iraq,” he said, adding that the government has agreed on a specified price
with the Iraqi government, which is less than the international market. Under
the agreement, Iraq will supply Jordan with 30,000 barrels daily, with a
possibility of doubling the quantity, Bakhit explained.
He added that under the current circumstances, and due to technical reasons,
only 10,000 barrels a day would be imported initially, noting that the
Jordan-Iraq Land Transport Company would transport the oil.
Meanwhile, under His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives, “Jordan will ensure
that no individual or organisation in the country offends Iraq or its people,”
Bakhit told the press yesterday.
Referring to the government’s plan to combat poverty and unemployment, the
premier said the Council of Ministers was reviewing a report from various
concerned departments on progress on this front. He expressed satisfaction with
the implementation of this plan, saying its timeframe was coupled with an
established accountability system.