FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jordan, U.S. sign MOU on bilateral assistance

September 22, 2008, New York - Jordan and the United States signed today a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to help meet shared objectives and enhance US bilateral assistance to Jordan.

The document was signed by Jordan’s Foreign Minister Salaheddin Al – Bashir and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

The MOU, a first of its kind between Jordan and the United States, reaffirms the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries and builds on the strong bilateral relations.

The MOU will assist Jordan in addressing socio-economic and security challenges by pledging to increase the US assistance to Jordan over the period of 2010-2014 to $360 million per year in Economic Support Fund (ESF) and $300 million per year in Foreign Military Financing (FMF). These new assistance levels will be pending final approval by the US Congress and is contingent on availability of funds.

“We look forward to continue working closely with the United States to address the economic and security challenges Jordan faces,” said Salaheddin Al – Bashir. This MOU is testimony to our strong partnership and is an important step toward enhancing bilateral relations between our two countries,” he added.