Jordan Times
Monday, December 20, 2004
Parliament backs King's reform plans
AMMAN (JT) — The Upper and Lower Houses of
Parliament on Sunday vowed full backing for His Majesty King Abdullah's plans to
enhance reform, development and security.
In their replies to the December 1 Speech from the Throne, Senate President Zeid
Rifai and House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali said they would continue their
cooperation with the government "to realise the ambitions of Jordan and
citizens, who should feel the outcome of the development process."
"Under Your Majesty's leadership, the construction of a modern state will be
complete. The Jordanian individual will enjoy security, stability, prosperity,
decent living and comprehensive development," Rifai said during a ceremony at
the Royal Court.
Majali, meanwhile, said the individual should be prepared to be an active player
in efforts to boost progression and modernisation.
In the Royal speech at the opening of the 2nd ordinary session of the 14th
Parliament, King Abdullah said the national march would continue till the
country completes the "build-up of the modern state and [achieves] comprehensive
development."
The King said this could be realised through "reform, modernisation and
development, as well as preparing and enabling the Jordanian individual to
actively participate in formulating the present and the future."
Highlighting the significance of building up the capabilities of Jordanians,
Rifai said authorities should continue their efforts to develop education and
training.
For his part, Majali echoed the King's remarks that the record growth rates
achieved by the country's economy have not yet reflected the lives of ordinary
people. Another problem that needs immediate attention, Majali said, is
corruption. He said endeavours directed at eliminating the phenomenon are "still
in the slogans' stage."
The King said in his Speech from the Throne: "And I am here to share with you
some of what I heard from those good honest people. A party member told me: 'We
have suffered all through our life from economic recession'; another citizen
said: 'Poverty and unemployment are a sword threatening our necks'; a third
citizen said: 'We heard a lot about development, but saw nothing of it'."
Both replies stressed the importance of entrenching the democratic approach, to
which, the King said, Jordan is committed as a path to a society of freedom,
pluralism, justice, equal opportunities and the rule of law.
The Senate and House agreed that investment is a key factor in the development
process, saying that they would cooperate with the government to implement the
King's vision "to encourage investment and maximise its contribution to
development through implementing reforms that would help attract foreign
investment, and at the same time encourage Jordanian investors."
Both sides said they support the country's political development drive, which,
they stressed, should go parallel with efforts to enhance security and
stability.
On December 1, King Abdullah said: "It must be born in mind that the priority
that comes ahead of all is Jordan's security and stability. Without security and
stability, development would not be possible, and applying the rule of law to
all is what guarantees the realisation of justice and equality."