Local

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) council on Tuesday approved a tender of around JD12 million to a private company to import 100 passenger buses that can serve people with movement disability.

The decision included importing 40 big buses and 60 medium-size buses from a Turkish company, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh said that the new buses will be registered and owned by GAM, under a public transport company that the municipality council has recently approved, noting that the buses will start their service next August 

AMMAN — The Income and Sales Tax Department has urged taxpayers to update their online records and enter their IBAN in order to transfer refunds directly to taxpayers’ bank accounts, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

The department pointed out that an icon has been assigned on the website of the department (istd.gov.jo) for electronic services through which taxpayers can provide tax returns and obtain several other services.

AMMAN — Authorities have apprehended a group of people in Jerash Governorate, some 48km northwest of the capital, for uprooting a dozen of centennial olive trees for trade purposes, an official at the Ministry of Agriculture said on Tuesday.

Officials from the Jerash Agriculture Directorate stopped the vehicle that was transporting the Roman olive trees, according to ministry’s Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin.

“Some 12 uprooted Roman olive trees, which are over 100 years old, were found in the back of the vehicle, which was seized and confiscated while the violators were referred for legal action,” Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

The Forestry Department will replant the trees, which, if planted properly have a 100 per cent chance of living, according to the ministry.

Roman olive trees are usually sold for hefty amounts of money to hotels, resorts or companies for landscaping purposes.

The centennial olive trees are locally referred to as Roman olive trees, because some of them are over 1,500 years old, according to the ministry, which said that they are a cultural legacy and people must protect them.

Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat on Tuesday honoured the officials at the Jerash Agriculture Directorate who stopped the vehicle and prevented the loss of the trees. 

Ministry’s laws and regulations prohibit the uprooting of centennial fruit trees, which can only be allowed by obtaining official approval from the ministry.

Forestry lands amount to 1.5 million dunums, of which 250,000 dunums are bare, 400,000 dunums are natural forests, 500,000 dunums are planted forests and 350,000 are nature reserves, according to the ministry’s figures.

Under environmental regulations, those who cut down forest trees without a licence face a three-month prison term, a JD100 fine for each tree chopped down from state-owned land and a JD50 fine for each one from private land. In addition, their equipment is confiscated

AMMAN —  “Volunteering is not isolated from life, it is part of your contribution to a great circle”, said researcher Barik Mhadeen at an event organised by Mercy Corps to celebrate the youth working on the project “Youth Advancement for Peaceful and Productive Tomorrow [Peace Pro]” in Jordan. 

Every year on December 5, the United Nations commemorate the work of millions of volunteers across the globe under the motto “Volunteers act first. Here. Everywhere”. 

Peace Pro is implemented by Mercy Corps in the cities of Maan, Salt and Rusaifa after internal research showed that the youth in those areas are “most at risk”, according to Samer Zada, a project coordinator with Mercy Corps.

The project focuses on providing psychosocial support to youth aged between 12 and 19 years old, through different training courses delivered by young volunteer coaches. 

“First, we conduct a foundational training where we teach them how factors such as brain chemicals and hormones affect decision making,” Zada explained, noting that “this helps them understand the people they are dealing with”. 

“On the centres, we focus on building trust and team spirit, more than technical skills,” he stressed. 

The project coordinator stressed the need to work not only with the youth, but also with the families and communities. “If you only focus on the youth, you will not achieve what you are looking for, because they will always go back to a different world every day,” Zada told The Jordan Times. 

Peace Pro currently counts some 140 volunteers across the three locations, including coaches, coordinators, technical volunteers and mentors, all of them recruited from the local communities. 

During the event, speakers shared their personal experiences as volunteers answered the attendees’ questions. 

“Being a volunteer is a lifestyle, not something that you do on the side or to show off,” Mhadeen stressed, adding that “it improves your sense of belonging to a place and makes you feel that you are contributing positively to your environment”. 

The researcher encouraged young people to volunteer and actively find solutions to the problems in their societies. “There are a lot of things that need to be fixed, but I always think about that as a positive thing because it means that there is room for improvement,” he continued. 

“Volunteering showed me that what I want in my life is to be a person who spreads hope,” said Marwa Al Khawari, a volunteer from Salt. 

“Sometimes we do not recognise the many opportunities society gives us, but, when you start volunteering you can create your own opportunities, your own world,” she added. 

Volunteers were provided with a certificate honouring the work they do in implementing projects at the local level.  

“Without them, we would not achieve what we aim to in the communities. They do all the real work in the field,” stressed Zada, adding that “we took advantage of this day to gather all of them and recognise their efforts”. 

AMMAN — Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Jordan Azamat Berdibay said that Jordan and Kazakhstan share a common view on ​​interfaith dialogue, reconciliation, ethnic and religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence for believers of all faiths in the Middle East, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

During a seminar organised by the Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II School of International Studies at the University of Jordan titled “Kazakhstan in the Contemporary World”, the ambassador said that the participation of His Majesty King Abdullah in the 5th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in June 2015, is a clear message given to the international society that, if there are joint efforts made by political and religious leaders, challenges can be addressed effectively.

Regarding bilateral ties, Berdibay said that they are witnessing a remarkable development, praising the political will of His Majesty King Abdullah and President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday met with chief editors and columnists of daily newspapers at Basman Palace, according to a Royal Court statement. The meeting focused on local issues and the latest regional developments.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.

AMMAN  — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday received the credentials of newly appointed ambassadors to the Kingdom during a ceremony at the Basman Palace.

The newly appointed ambassadors are: Mohamed Barghathi of Libya, Abdullah Habibi of Afghanistan, Haruna Ungogo of Nigeria, Khalid Suhaili of Tunisia, Jilid Kuminding of Malaysia, Tracy Chamoun of Lebanon and Hidenao Yanagi of Japan.

The diplomats laid wreaths at the tombs of King Hussein, King Abdullah I and King Talal. Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attended the ceremony, according to a Royal Court statement.

AMMAN — “Give life a chance” is the theme of the 8th edition of the Karama Human Rights Film Festival, which is set to kick off on Tuesday at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman with the screening of Lebanese film “Tramontane”. 

This feature film, set to be screened in the presence of main actor Barakat Jabbour, portrays a blind boy getting started on a journey to find his own identity. 

Directed by Vache Boulghorgian and produced by Carolina Oliveira and Georges Choucair, the movie won several international awards, and was premiered at this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival. 

“We chose this film for the opening because it provides audiences with a better insight on life, reminding us that there is always another chance,” festival director Sawsan Darwazeh told The Jordan Times, expressing that “the protagonist might be blind, but he has a higher vision and that gives him the energy to overcome any challenges”.

“The way this film depicts life is in line with our theme this year,” Darwazeh continued, noting that the festival’s aim this year is “to bring a positive view, and to encourage youth to enjoy their lives in a world where the pressure of the current conflicts makes us forget the details that make our lives meaningful”.

The festival will run through December 10, featuring a total of 77 films, documentaries and animation from 25 countries which will be screened in the governorates of Amman, Madaba and Irbid, in addition to the refugee camps of Zaatari and Irbid.

A total of 33 films will be selected to compete for the Karama Feather Awards for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Short Film and Best Jordanian Film. 

Furthermore, this year’s edition of the festival will see the launch of the new Karama Feather Award for the Best Jordanian Short Film, and the ANHAR award for the Best Human Rights Film in the Arab region.

Over 35 international guests will be attending the festival this year, including film directors, producers, affiliates, activists and professionals in the fields of cinema and human rights. 

Lebanese artist Carmen Lebos, Iraqi director Al Baqer Jafeer, Syrian director Alfoz Tanjour and director of the One World Human Rights Film Festival Ondrej Kamenicky are some of the guests of this year’s edition. 

In addition, the festival will dedicate its “Empty Chair” recognition to the world renowned artist and human rights activist John Lennon, recalling his socially engaged artistic output through over 150 songs calling for life, social justice and human dignity. 

“This recognition will take place during the MusiKarama event on December 8 in remembrance of the day when the artist was assassinated,” Darwazeh explained, stressing that “with his art, John Lennon advocated for all the values that we support in Karama, calling on the humanity to ‘give life a chance’”.

The festival will conclude on December 10 with an observance of the Human Rights Day, which is expected to be attended by EU Ambassador Andrea Matteo Fontana and Rima Khalaf, former executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. 

AMMAN —  His Majesty King Abdullah is scheduled to visit Turkey on Wednesday, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During the visit, King Abdullah will hold talks with President Erdogan on bilateral relations and the latest regional developments.

The visit to the Muslim country and major regional player comes as US President Donald Trump is expected, on the same day, to announce recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and, consequently, moving the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem (Click to see separate stories). 

Turkey and Jordan are also share concern for the future of war-torn Syria, as the two countries have been directly affected by the seven-year conflict. 

Amman and Ankara are also concerned neighbours of Iraq, which is bracing for a new era after defeating terrorists that have occupied swathes of the country for three years.

AMMAN — Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi on Sunday discussed via a phone call with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson regional developments, particularly the Palestinian issue.

The development came in the light of reports that US President Donald Trump may announce a decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Trump is close to the decision on whether to recognise occupied Jerusalem as Israel's capital, his son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner said Sunday (Click to see separate story).

Safadi stressed on the importance of preserving the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem, pointing out the “grave consequences” of such a decision. 

The potential step is critical, he said, given the special religious, historical and pan-national status of Jerusalem not only for Palestinians and Jordanians but also for the Arab and Islamic world. 

He also underlined the adverse effects of the expected move on the efforts being exerted by the US to help achieve Palestinian-Israeli peace, which have been accepted by Jordan and all Arab countries, adding that the decision is likely to push the region into further tension.

He stressed that the issue of Jerusalem should be addressed in the context of final-status negotiations in accordance with all relevant international resolutions and terms of reference.

Safadi and Tillerson also discussed bilateral relations and a number of regional issues, emphasising the importance of security and stability.

Meanwhile, Jordan, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has called for two emergency meetings of the Council of the League of Arab States and the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to discuss ways to deal with the US’ looming decision.

Safadi has intensified contacts with counterparts to coordinate stances in light of the new developments.

The contacts have included Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubair,  Oman’s counterpart Yousef Bin Alawai, Egyptian top diplomat Sameh Shoukry and Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, as well as Moroccan and Iraqi foreign ministers, Nasser Bourita and Ibrahim Al Jaafari, respectively.

Safadi also contacted High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Secretary General of the OIC Yousef Bin Othaimin, Petra, reported.

Meanwhile, the minister is engaged in intensified consultations with Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation Saeb Erekat and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki over means to deal with the serious repercussions of the decision, if made.

During his last week’s visit to the US, His Majesty King Abdullah called for giving the peace process a chance to succeed, noting that moving the embassy must come within a comprehensive solution that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel.

Moving the embassy at this stage, the King warned, would have implications on the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim scene, and would threaten the two-state solution; it could be potentially exploited by terrorists to stoke anger, frustration and desperation in order to spread their ideologies.