Jordan Times
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
King confident in new gov't
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday
expressed his confidence in the newly-formed government of Prime Minister Marouf
Bakhit and its ability to shoulder responsibilities.
During a visit to the Prime Ministry Monday, King Abdullah said he was satisfied
with the makeup of the government, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.
“I sensed relief among ordinary people... This means that this government will
be up to the challenges facing us,” the King said.
Bakhit's 23-member Cabinet, which was sworn-in Sunday before the King, is a
mixture of technocrats and politicians, including nine ministers who served in
the former government of Adnan Badran, four public figures who previously held
ministerial posts and 10 newcomers representing public and private sector as
well as the civil service.
The Monarch reiterated the need to work “in full partnership and a spirit of
teamwork to achieve the higher national interests.”
He particularly pointed out to responsibilities shouldered by the economic team
in the Cabinet to help alleviate poverty and unemployment.
“This team's role is important,” he said. “I think we are on the right track to
achieve a solution for poverty and unemployment.”
In light of the rise in the prices of commodities, the government should “pay
attention and support citizens,” King Abdullah told the Cabinet, expressing
“absolute confidence in the government's ability to improve the situation and
secure a better future for Jordanians.”
Key appointments indicate that the government's list of priorities entail
overhauling the public sector and pushing forth with the country's National
Agenda, that is to set the course for the Kingdom for the next 10 years.
During the meeting, King Abdullah described Jordan's ties with Arab countries as
“very important and in their best shape.”
“We will build on these good relations and draw plans to strengthen them,” he
said.
The King, meanwhile, stressed the importance of striking a balance between
reform and security.
“Our policy is clear: We will not be deterred by the bombings that occurred in
Amman to move forward,” he said, adding that it is very important to protect the
Kingdom, while at the same time develop the country politically and
socio-economically.
“The evil terrorist attacks on our beloved capital Amman will increase our
determination to move forward in our preemptive war against terrorism and the
culture of apostasy,” Bakhit, 58, said in a letter to the King following the
swearing in ceremony.
But the new premier — a retired major general — said the government would
maintain a balance between security and freedoms saying “we will not allow one
to dominate the other.”
King Abdullah also said Jordan needs feasible and clear strategies and policies
for the coming “one, two or three years,” stressing that the National Agenda
will be helpful as a future action programme.
“If we don't have clear strategies and programmes, we will not succeed in
developing Jordan,” King Abdullah said.
Bakhit said his team will immediately set up ministerial committees to work on
various aspects of reform. Priority will be given, he said, to drafting vital
laws governing elections, political parties and municipalities.
The government also needs to work as soon as possible on other important laws on
the budget, combating terrorism, professional associations and fighting
corruption.
According to the premier, “the government will follow in the King's footsteps
and reach out to people everywhere.”