Jordan Times
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
King calls for 'exceptional efforts’ to face future challenges
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday
said the challenges facing Jordan in the foreseen future, if they are to be
aptly addressed, need “exceptional efforts” by the We are All Jordan Commission.
During a meeting with members of the commission yesterday, the Monarch said he
would be meeting regularly with the heads of the commission’s six
sub-committees.
He also gave his blessing to the mechanism of work devised by a taskforce
comprising members of the commission, which was established in August to follow
up on the recommendation of the We are All Jordan Forum.
The forum, which brought together 700 experts, incumbent and former officials
and lawmakers, was held in July to set the country’s priorities within the
context of a national consensus over issues Jordan should address in order to
meet domestic, regional and international challenges.
Following the forum meetings, the King directed the government to establish the
We are All Jordan Commission, to follow up on recommendations set by the forum.
In the first meeting of the commission, King Abdullah issued directives to set
up a sub-committee to prepare the commission’s mechanism of work.
The commission is comprised of representatives of government and civil society
institutions.
Responding to the King’s directives, the government established the We are All
Jordan Youth Commission in October.
At the meeting yesterday, the Monarch urged close coordination between the two
bodies.
Abdullah Wreikat, the commission’s rapporteur, said the mechanism set by the
sub-committee was forwarded to the rest of the commission members for comments,
and amendments were made accordingly at a later meeting.
The official said the plan of action is based on respect for the Constitution
and the laws in effect. Elaborating on the structure of the commission, Wreikat
said it comprises six sub-committees as well as a follow-up committee and a
communications panel, supported by a general secretariat.
The subcommittees are dealing with issues that were discussed and defined as
national priorities in the July meeting of the forum.
The six panels are: the sub-committee on the Palestinian issue chaired by Senate
President Zeid Rifai; the sub-committee on political reform chaired by former
premier Taher Masri; the regional challenges sub-committee headed by former
premier Deputy Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh; the sub-committee on the solidification
of the internal front led by Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali; the
sub-committee on Economic Reforms headed by former minister Rima Khalaf; and the
Social Safety Sub-Committee, chaired by former minister and government
spokesperson Asma Khader.
Meanwhile, the Follow-Up Committee, which is charged with holding the forum
meeting regularly, is chaired by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit. The panel will
oversee the implementation of the forum resolutions, according to a set priority
scale, and report on progress made in the work of all the components of the We
are All Jordan Commission.
The Communications Committee, headed by former minister Nasser Lawzi, is tasked
with coordinating the work of the sub-committees with other state agencies.