February 6, 2003 Jordanian Community Reception Around 220 Jordanians attended a reception at the Embassy of Jordan for the Jordanian community in Washington and Metropolitan DC on February 6th 2003. Ambassador Karim Kawar, in his first meeting with the community, addressed a variety of issues ranging from Jordan’s preparations for the possible war on Iraq to Jordan’s economic upturn in the past year. Ambassador Kawar discussed relations between Jordan and the United States stating that both countries enjoy a close relationship, which has been strengthened by the Free Trade Agreement. The Ambassador noted that trade between Jordan and United States has skyrocketed to 400 Million US Dollars in 2002 and that it is expected to increase next year. This past year alone exports to the US rose by 70%, making the United States Jordan’s second largest trade partner. This increase in trade contributed to unprecedented economic growth, which reached a rate to 5% in 2002. On Iraq, Ambassador Kawar said that chances for averting a war in the region are very slim now. He added that the embassy is in close contact with the US administration on ways to minimize the effects of the war on Jordan. He said that the Kingdom has also taken precautions to curb the effects of any attack on Iraq, citing the purchase of an oil tanker to store reserves in case the oil supply from Iraq is disrupted. In his first meeting with the Jordanian community, Ambassador Kawar reviewed the latest developments on the Palestinian Israeli front and highlighted the Jordanian government’s vigorous efforts in propelling the implementation of the "Road Map", based on the Arab initiative of the 2002 Beirut Summit . In response to some questions posed by Jordanians at the event, Ambassador Kawar said that the Jordanian government has expressed concern over the inclusion of Jordanians in the INS registration program. Ambassador Kawar also reviewed developments on the home front. He briefed the community on the "Jordan First" campaign which is part of the comprehensive program His Majesty King Abdullah has put in motion to better the lives of Jordanians and to encourage Jordanians living abroad to return to the Kingdom. In addition, the Ambassador pointed to the various programs designed to drive the Kingdom into the new millennium. These efforts include the e-government program, which aims to make all government officials and producers available on-line. This, he said will make it possible for Jordanians living abroad to have access to government services on the web. As for the parliamentary elections, the Ambassador said that His Majesty had directed the government to hold the elections early in the summer. In the past the government has postponed elections out of concern that the voting would be effected by regional events rather than Jordanian and local affairs. Ambassador Kawar emphasized that His Majesty King Abdullah views the elections as part of the democratic process that would insure a clear course for the future of the Kingdom. This process also includes the liberalization of the media in order to allow diverse opinions to be heard on the Jordanian governments airwaves. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Kawar encouraged them to join the newly established Jordanian online community. The online community web page www.jordan.intranets.com was established last month as a means to bring together Jordanians in the US to voice their concerns and ideas to the Embassy. Lastly, the reception proved to be a great opportunity to for the embassy staff to meet with Jordanians in the area, and for Jordanians to meet and connect with friends and fellow students who live in the area.