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AMMAN — Intensifying its support for Jordan’s solar power programme, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a $22 million loan for the construction and operation of a 50 MW photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Risha region, 300km north-east of the capital, Amman, according to a statement from the bank.

The loan will be provided to Risha for Solar Power Projects PSC, a Jordanian company fully owned by the International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA Power). 

The EBRD loan is provided alongside parallel loans from the German Investment Corporation DEG and the Arab Bank, of $16 million each. The Arab Bank is also holding the onshore accounts and security on behalf of the lenders, the statement said. 

The new plant will be located next to an existing 150 MW gas-fired power plant, owned and operated by CEGCO, the largest generator of electricity in Jordan and a subsidiary of ACWA Power. The gas-fired plant was constructed in 1984 and is nearing the end of its lifetime, according to the statement.

“This project will progressively replace the ageing gas-fired plant with a new solar installation generating the cheapest power in Jordan, while using the existing transmission line. It is the eighth solar PV project financed by the EBRD in the country during the past four years, bringing the total installed capacity of power projects supported by the Bank in Jordan to more than 1,100 MW,” Harry Boyd-Carpenter, EBRD director for Power and Energy, was quoted in the statement as saying. 

“It demonstrates what can be achieved in an environment where the regulatory framework, the tariff design and access to finance allow for the successful use of renewable sources of energy and is a powerful symbol of Jordan’s energy transition,” he added. 

Rajit Nanda, chief investment officer of ACWA Power, said in the statement: “The Risha PV independent power producer [IPP] project makes us one of Jordan’s largest power generators [through the CEGCO, ACWA Power Zarqa and Mafraq PV IPPs], and is yet another demonstration of our commitment to the country.” 

“We are also proud to be associated with the EBRD in Jordan, building our continuing partnership, as the bank supports the development of renewable energy in the Middle East and North Africa region. The partnership with the EBRD for funding this project has been critical in helping us to support NEPCO by providing record low tariffs for renewable energy in Jordan,” Nanda added

This week the EBRD also signed financing agreements for the Shobak wind project.  Including the 50 MW Al Safawi solar plant, signed in September, the EBRD has financed 145 MW of renewable generating capacity in Jordan during 2017 alone. Since starting operations in the country in 2012, the EBRD has financed more than 1.1 GW of generating capacity across 12 projects, according to the statement.

Jordan became an EBRD country of operations in 2012. To date, the bank has committed over $1 billion to 41 projects in Jordan, concluded the statement.

AMMAN — Lower House Legal Committee President Hussein Qaisi on Monday reviewed the House’s decision to delegate the committee reconsider all the agreements signed between Jordan and Israel, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a meeting, attended by Justice Minister Awad Abu Jarad and legal experts, the committee demanded the government to provide all the documents signed with Israel, calling on the concerned MPs to present their proposals before taking a decision. The attendees commended the House move.

AMMAN — The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) in cooperation with the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) on Monday sent a humanitarian aid convoy to the Gaza Strip, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The convoy, the third from the Charity Association-South Africa this year, consisted of five trucks loaded with 100 tonnes of rice be distributed to the people living in the Gaza Strip. The total amount of aid sent by the charity this year through the Jordanian military field hospital and the Sahaba charity amounts to 300 tonnes.

AMMAN — A teacher at the Abdullah Bin Rawaha school in Mafraq on Monday was allegedly assaulted by two people, according to a statement from the Jordan Teachers Association (JTA).

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the association said that two people attacked the teacher as he was entering the school, noting that he was transferred to Mafraq Public Hospital. Education Minister Omar Razzaz said he was following up with Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi to take legal actions against the alleged assaulters who were both arrested.

Razzaz stressed that the ministry will not tolerate any assault against teachers, calling out on all segments of society to stand against this phenomenon.

AMMAN — The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two East European nationals for allegedly stealing $65,000 from a citizen’s car after tracking him, a statement by the Public Security Department (PSD) said.

The statement added that investigations were carried out after a citizen filed a complaint a few days ago about his car having been broken into and a large amount of money stolen.

According to the PSD, investigators were able to identify the suspects through the vehicle they rented to track the victim.

CID personnel arrested the two men at Queen Alia International Airport as they were trying to flee the country after the alleged theft.

Meanwhile, the Preventive Security Department personnel have arrested two suspects in possession of historical relics, after receiving information about people trying to sell the items for large sums of money, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon discussed boosting cooperation and the latest regional and international developments, a Royal Court statement said.

After his meeting with the King, the president visited the Prime Ministry, where Jordan and Tajikistan signed six agreements in various fields, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The agreements included an economic, trading, scientific and technical cooperation deal between the two governments, in addition to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the agricultural field.

Also, an agreement in the tourism field was concluded, in addition to one to boost the art and cultural cooperation.

The Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan also signed a deal to increase cooperation. 

Under another agreement, a joint Jordanian-Tajikistani business council will be established.

During their meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah and President Rahmon focused on the latest developments related to Jerusalem and US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise the holy city as the capital of Israel and moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to it.

The two leaders stressed the importance of intensifying Arab, Muslim and international efforts to protect the Palestinian rights in Jerusalem.

During an expanded meeting, attended by Prime Minister Hani Mullki and senior officials, the Tajikistani president stressed his country’s support for Jordan, under His Majesty’s leadership, who is the custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy shrines in Jerusalem.

Rahman expressed his country’s keenness on enhancing cooperation between the two countries in various fields including economy, trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, education, science, healthcare, sports and tourism.  

The two leaders attended the signing of two cooperation agreements in the fields of investment and to prevent double taxation and tax evasion. 

The talks were followed by a communiqué in which the two sides declared their plans to bolster cooperation in several fields, agreement on forming a Jordanian-Tajikistani parliamentary friendship committee, and boosting political relations through coordination between the countries’ foreign affairs ministries and embassies.

King Abdullah and President Rahmon said that they encourage visits by the two countries’ citizens to further improve ties between the two Muslim nations.

AMMAN — Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi announced on Saturday that Jordan would host an "extraordinary" Arab summit as the chair of the current Arab summit session.

He did not specify the date, but said Arab League Council will meet again in about a month to discuss political developments in the light of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday. 

Safadi’s remarks came during a press conference at the conclusion of the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers, held on Saturday upon Jordan's request. The press meeting was attended by Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Aboul Gheit, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki and Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, president of the current session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level.

Meeting upon Jordan's request, the Arab foreign ministers voiced their rejection of the US decision as illegal and in contradiction with international legitimacy, Safadi told reporters. 

He pointed out that the Arab Peace Initiative Committee, headed by Jordan, will form a delegation from its members to work with the international community to address any negative consequences of the Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

They will also highlight the graveness of this decision and its impact on the national, historical and religious status of occupied Jerusalem.

He noted that the meeting’s final statement entailed a number of resolutions that deal with the situation as it is now, and in a month they will meet to assess progress and decide the next steps accordingly.

Safadi underlined the Arab initiative as a reference framework for the negotiations that have been committed to by all the Muslim and Arab countries to preserve the Palestinian rights. 

The Arabs have not abandoned UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, whose implementation will remain pursued by Arabs in their quest for peace.  

In his remarks at the emergency meeting in Cairo, Safadi outlined a five-step strategy for Arabs to deal with Trump’s decision, which will be followed by relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The five-point plan, which Safadi described as “impactful and programmed” calls for “taking action, in coordination with the international community to rescind the decision and taking steps to prevent other countries from following the steps of Washington. This necessitates forming an Arab delegation to visit influential world capitals to push for the two-state solution to the Mideast conflict”, Safadi said, adding that the entire world should then recognise the emerging independent Palestinian state, within the pre-1967 lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital.   

Amman also urged Arab states to adopt an effective approach to explain to the rest of the world the risks inherent in altering the status quo in Jerusalem or its character.

The meeting’s final communiqué said: “The US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is invalid and constitutes a dangerous breach of international law and UN Security Council resolutions,” the published final communiqué read, as carried by Anadolu news agency. 

“In line with UN Security Council resolutions, foreign ministers of Arab states reject any kind of unilateral steps intended to change the internationally accepted status of Jerusalem,” the ministers of the bloc agreed to say.

The move demonstrates that the US has chosen to “waive its status of a sponsor and mediator in the Middle East peace process”, it added.

AMMAN () — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday received a phone call from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, in which they discussed the latest developments on Jerusalem, in the light of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and transfer their embassy to the occupied city, according to a Royal Court statement. 

His Majesty stressed the importance of supporting Palestinians in their quest for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and intensifying Arab, Islamic and international efforts to protect the rights of Palestinians, both Muslims and Christians in the holy city, which is “the key to peace and stability in the region”.

AMMAN () — Jordan on Sunday welcomed announcement of the Iraqi Cabinet that the country’s military has fully liberated all of Iraq’s territories from the Daesh terror group.

In a statement, Minster of State for Media Affairs Mohammed Momani praised the efforts exerted by the Iraqi armed forces in countering the “heinous group” and sparing the country of its criminal acts. 

Momani, who is also the government’s spokesperson, voiced Jordan’s constant support for Iraq in its fight against terrorism and reiterated the Kingdom’s firm stance against terrorists, who “target Iraq, the entire region and the world as a whole”.

He stressed the need to coordinate the regional and global efforts to fight the global phenomenon and tackle its root causes at all levels, including funding, ideology and security.

Meanwhile, the minister underlined the recent US decision to recognise occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, stressing that the absence of justice creates a fertile soil for radical groups to promote their extremist ideologies.

Momani’s remarks came following the Iraqi prime minister’s official announcement that his country had wrapped up the campaign to “evict” Daesh, which has taken control of swathes of Iraqi

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday tasked its Legal Committee with poring over Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel and its pursuant agreements, and come up with proposals to address the Israeli violations to the provisions of the 1994 pact.

The panel will examine all Israeli violations against its commitments under the deal, and compile a detailed report to be forwarded to relevant Arab and international organisations.

The committee’s mission was decided by the House during its Sunday’s oversight session, which, upon MPs’ request, was dedicated to discuss President Donald Trump’s recognition of occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital rather than the legislative matters on the meeting’s agenda.

Citing the “non-stop” Israeli violations to the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty, a group of 14 deputies signed a memorandum requesting that deal to be annulled. 

The said article stipulates that a minimum of 10 senators or deputies can propose any law, to be referred to the committee concerned at the House for its views. 

If the House has the opinion that the proposal should be accepted, it will refer it to the government for drafting it in the form of a bill, and to submit it to the House either during the same session or in the following session.

The 14 signatories listed the US-Israeli “plotting” to move Washington embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem under Trump’s declaration as the major violation of the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty.

In another memorandum, initiated by Palestine Committee President MP Yahya Saud, more than 40 lawmakers requested changing the names of streets near the US and Israeli embassies in Amman to Jerusalem and Palestine, respectively. 

Sunday’s session saw a heated discussion of Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem with some MPs calling for closing Tel Aviv’s embassy in Amman while others went further as calling on Palestinian factions to give up the “peace illusions” and adopt the “armed resistance” to end the Israeli occupation.

Other MPs described Trump’s decision as a breach to the international law and UN resolutions, while others described it as a serious challenge to the Arab and Muslim worlds.