Jordan Times
Monday, November 28, 2005
National Agenda our guide PM
AMMAN (JT) Following are excerpts of
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's reply to His Majesty King Abdullah's Letter of
Designation:
The government is committed to placing reform as a top priority. There will be
reform in every sense of the word. Reform will reach institutions and
infrastructures in line with a well-coordinated methodology applied in a
consistent manner, adopting a scientific approach that meets the needs of our
country, but at the same time, takes into consideration world developments at
large. Such an approach is meant to reinforce our previous achievements and
address the defects or mistakes.
The National Agenda will guide our way to implement reform programmes that Your
Majesty directed the government to carry out. And we will take into
consideration the basic elements and aspects that would help accelerate reform
and enhance democracy as a lifestyle, culture and practice.
The government will maintain a balance between safeguarding security and
preserving public freedoms. Security and stability will remain characteristics
of Jordan's image regardless of the terrorist attacks that targeted innocent
people in Amman. This has only added to our determination to go ahead with our
preventive war against terrorism and the culture of takfir that is alien to our
society.
The government is keen on securing Jordanians their constitutional rights, yet
with a sense of responsibility, loyalty and willingness to preserve national
accomplishments and security. This means that the government will embrace
dialogue and listens to other views. We will not seek to impose opinions on
others, but Jordan's higher interests will always remain a redline that no one
will be allowed to cross.
The government believes that addressing controversial issues in politics as well
as in socio-economic fields cannot be solely based on security grounds. Rather,
they should be tackled by intellectual, cultural and political means and
mechanisms, involving all Jordanians.
The government will immediately embark on drawing up quick and applicable plans
to alleviate poverty and unemployment in the medium and long terms, bearing in
mind that these two problems are hindering development and production.
The government will set a clear, transparent and computerised database on poor
families in the Kingdom to ensure that assistance goes to those who deserve it.
The government will also work out plans to include a wider section of citizens
under the umbrella of medical insurance. In addition, it will allocate
state-owned land for building housing units that will be sold at reasonable
prices to low-income segments, taking into consideration these people's living
conditions and financial status.
The government will also undertake the fight against corruption and the corrupt.
Such efforts will include finalising the enactment process of the
Anti-Corruption Law, now at the Lower House.
The government is also committed to proceeding with measures aimed at enhancing
investment climate, not only to win the confidence of Arab and foreign
investors, but also to attract further investments in terms of quantity and
quality.
This will be achieved through serious fieldwork to remove all bureaucratic
obstacles as well as simplify and modernise relevant administrative and legal
procedures.
The basic criterion that governs investment promotion is that incoming ventures
should be able to create jobs for Jordanian men and women. In addition, the
government will proceed with the privatisation programme in line with the set
timetable.
The government will support the youth, empower women and develop all
governorates within available capabilities. We will continue supporting
education programmes through completing the computerisation of curricula and
connecting schools via a network. Focus will be on specialisations most demanded
by Jordanian and Arab labour markets.
The concepts and values promoted by Amman Message will receive a special
attention and we will make sure that they will reach every Jordanian school,
university and household, so that our people will be part of this noble
mission.