King says confident Jordan will come out of COVID-19 crisis stronger

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), on Monday commended JAF personnel’s important role in safeguarding the Kingdom’s borders and dealing with developments related to regional challenges.

During a meeting with combat support battalion commanders in the Northern Military Region at the 51st Royal Airfield Defence Battalion, attended by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, King Abdullah said Jordanians are proud of the role of JAF and security agencies in dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty commended the coordination and teamwork among state institutions to confront COVID-19, noting that Jordan is doing well compared with other countries in the region and around the world when it comes to countering the pandemic, with the Kingdom’s policy rooted in the principle that “our most precious asset is the individual citizen”.

The King called for planning for the upcoming phase, including how to reopen sectors by balancing combating COVID-19 with safeguarding the economy.

His Majesty pointed to key sectors that distinguish Jordan in the region, such as the medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors, voicing confidence that Jordan will come out of the current crisis stronger than before.

Quick recovery requires the public’s commitment to health guidelines, the King said, warning that failure to comply could set Jordan two steps backwards.

Stressing the importance of health awareness campaigns as new sectors reopen, His Majesty said they should promote health and safety measures to control COVID-19.

The King cited areas in the Kingdom that are COVID-19-free, noting that the goal is to expand that to all areas in Jordan for the benefit of the tourism sector once international air travel resumes.

His Majesty expressed confidence in the capabilities of JAF personnel to safeguard Jordan’s borders against the threat of terrorism, stressing the need to enhance the living standards of army personnel, and the infrastructure at military camps.

Commending the measures to merge security institutions while building personnel’s capacities, the King also touched on a number of domestic and regional concerns, including Jordan’s unwavering position on the Palestinian cause.

Speaking at the meeting, Maj. Gen. Huneiti thanked His Majesty for his directives to JAF, stressing that the army continues to work in partnership with the government and security agencies.

For their part, the battalion commanders highlighted JAF’s commitment to protecting citizens and preventing the spread of COVID-19 within Jordan.