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AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday strongly condemned the two terrorist attacks on a mosque in northeastern Nigeria, which left 22 dead and dozens others injured.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani expressed Jordan's rejection and condemnation of all forms of terror, voicing the government's condolences to the families of the victims and its wishes of speedy recovery for the injured.

Momani also called on all countries around the world to unite in the face of terrorism, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN – HRH Prince Hassan, president of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies' board of trustees, on Wednesday called for emphasising the concept of “ethical administration” of institutions, industries and firms.

“We need a new spirit of values and ethics in the field of business and administration from a leadership perspective, because if we continue speaking in a traditional way: 'this is my religion and that’s yours', we will not be able to talk about religion in the public domain,” Prince Hassan said in a lecture at the German-Jordanian University on "Secrets of Successful Leadership", the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

"You are the students, the most important factor in serving public interest. You are the real investment above the ground, not underneath it,” he told students. 

AMMAN — A man in his fifties on Wednesday was found hanged in Zarqa's Nuzha neighbourhood, according to a security source.

The man was hanging from a rope tied to iron rods attached to the ceiling of his house, the source told the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Relevant departments started investigating the case to determine the cause of death, according to Petra.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah held talks with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Wednesday.

Sheikh Abdullah conveyed a message to His Majesty from Bahraini King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on means to boost bilateral relations. 

At the meeting, the King expressed keenness to enhance ties with Bahrain in the best interest of both peoples, according to a Royal Court statement.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Tuesday discussed regional developments with Special Representative of the Government of Japan for the Middle East and Europe Masaharu Kohno, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

They voiced interest in helping parties resume coordination and cooperation in regards to issues of mutual interest and discussed recent developments and efforts to revive Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. 

Judeh stressed Jordan's stance calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and within the June 4, 1967 lines, based on relevant international references and the Arab Peace Initiative.

He also reviewed the developments in Syria, stressing the importance of reaching a political solution to the Syrian conflict that guarantees the safety, security and unity of the state with the participation of all segments of Syrian society as stipulated in the Geneva I resolutions.

For his part, Kohno voiced his country’s appreciation and support for the Jordanian efforts, in dealing with the issues in the region to achieve security and stability. 

AMMAN — The Lower House on Tuesday passed a law prohibiting selling of land within the boundaries of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) to non-Jordanians.

MPs' decision to limit the sale and lease of immovable assets in Petra to Jordanians came after they approved a proposal by their colleagues Mahmoud Kharabsheh and Assaf Shoubaki through which their dispute over Article 5 of the PDTRA Law was resolved.

Under the two legislators’ proposal, only Jordanians can buy or lease land in Petra and this should be included in a by-law which should also specify Israelis as among those prohibited from buying assets in the district.

Earlier in January, the House referred the PDTRA Law to its administrative committee for more review following a dispute over the said article, which governs the issue of sale and lease of assets in the region.

The dispute began after some MPs raised concerns about the government's version of the law.

They perceived the bill as lacking guarantees to prohibit the selling of land within Petra to Israelis, especially since the issue was to be determined by a bylaw that would be later drafted and endorsed by the Cabinet without requiring lawmakers’ endorsement.  

Responding to MPs’ concerns at the time, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said that the government was keen on “not allowing even a square centimetre of Jordanian land to go to any [unwanted] party”.

Also on Tuesday, the House passed the Public Transportation Law, which was referred to the legislature in 2010.

Deliberating the law, MPs recommended that more incentives and exemptions be granted to investors and that the mandatory auto insurance system to be revisited, maintaining that such measures would have a positive impact on the public transportation sector.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday said the Syrian crisis has cost Jordan over $7 billion since 2011. 

Delivering the opening speech at the “International Conference on Refugees, Security, and Sustainable Development in the Middle East: The Need for North-South Dialogue”, Ensour said that in addition to the crisis’ financial effect, the Kingdom’s commerce, education and tourism sectors have also suffered.

During the conference, organised by the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Centre at Yarmouk University, the premier said the event is important, because it brings academics and students, rather than politicians, to discuss the refugee issue.

Ensour said 90 per cent of the Syrian refugees in Jordan live outside camps, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.

The premier added that the population doubled ten times during the past 55 years, especially since 2011 because of forced immigration from Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Palestine.

He said Jordan’s population amounts to 9.5 million, according to the 2015 population census, and Syrians constitute 20 per cent of that population, amounting to 1.266 million.

There are 5.5 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, 1 million in Germany and 8 million internally displaced, the prime minister said, noting that this crisis “is like no other” because it is not only an issue of refugees but it endangers neighbouring countries that host them and is bringing chaos to the region. 

Noting that UN studies revealed that refugees spend an average of 17 years in host countries, the premier said the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through a political solution accompanied with firm international commitments to reduce its effects. 

The Jordan Response Plan (JRP) 2016-2018 was developed with the international community and the UN, Ensour said, with $8 billion required to cover the needs of Syrian refugees over this period.

Saudi Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who attended the conference, said Jordan is a role model to follow when it comes to hosting refugees. 

For his part, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said Jordan’s stance towards the Syrian crisis has been the most realistic and strategic one, which focuses on a political solution.

The government spokesperson stressed that the Kingdom continues to receive all those in need of help and security, adding that the world should act as one to resolve the crisis and support host communities.

AMMAN — During a nine-day stay in Jordan, five Czech doctors successfully performed 17 orthopaedic surgeries for Syrian and Jordanian patients, under a mission with the Czech government’s MEDEVAC programme that concluded on March 11, according to a statement released by the Czech embassy on Tuesday.

The majority of patients were Syrian children who have taken refuge in Jordan with their families after fleeing from the war in Syria.

The Czech embassy in Amman contributed to the pre-selection process, and stressed that the Czech government will continue to provide assistance to refugees, particularly in countries highly affected by the regional crisis.

The team from Hospital Hospital Na Bulovce comprised Jiri Chomiak, Stepan Magersky, Zuzana Bonhomme Hankeova, Dana Kafková and Filip Kaufman, the embassy said.The medical team was the first one out of five teams that will operate in the first half of 2016 in Jordan, the statement added. 

Jordan hosts around 1.3 million Syrians, the majority of whom live outside camps among host communities.

AMMAN — Women empowerment means strength and power, and sustainable development entails effecting balanced changes in the economic, social and environmental fields; thus the two are interrelated and influence each other, Social Development Minister Reem Abu Hassan said Tuesday.

Abu Hassan made these remarks at the opening of the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women held by the UN in New York, according to a ministry statement. 

The Jordanian delegation also includes women MPs, and representatives from government and civil society organisations.

Abu Hassan added that women empowerment in Jordan — according to educational, economic and political indicators — has witnessed clear progress, citing educational studies that put the illiteracy rate at 6 per cent — 8 per cent among females and 4 per cent among males.

The studies also revealed close rates between the two genders in the elementary and secondary education and bachelor’s degree, while males are dominant in the master’s and PhD degrees, said Abu Hassan, head of the Jordanian delegation to the event, which concludes on March 24.

Outcomes of the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination show that female students achieve the highest scores in the academic streams each year, said the minister.

As for economic participation, studies reveal a wide gender gap, with women’s participation not exceeding 15 per cent, Abu Hassan noted.

The conference provides an opportunity for policy makers, women’s rights advocates, researchers and activists to draw up policies and set new initiatives aimed at enhancing gender equality and women empowerment, the statement added.

AMMAN — Interior Minister Salameh Hammad on Tuesday chaired a meeting for Maan’s Security Council, and showcased his ministry’s plans and strategies to face regional and international developments, and their repercussions on the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Hammad highlighted the Kingdom’s stability and security amidst a turbulent region, commending Jordanians’ awareness.

The minister said the government is working the development of governorates and resolving issues facing the public in regards to sustainable development through creating targeted programmes and initiatives.

He explained how the conflict in neighbouring countries affected the Kingdom’s economic condition as export and import operations stopped, but added that Jordan will keep trying to “achieve what is best” and improve economic opportunities. 

Hammad also talked about security campaigns and raids conducted by the ministry and security agencies to arrest suspects, and maintain law and order around Jordan, highlighting how those raids reduced smuggling operations, drug and weapon dealing, and vandalism of public property and water and electricity resources.

The biggest danger facing the world at this level is terrorism, the interior minister said, stressing the importance of raising a generation that shuns violence and extremism, and has the necessary tools to deal with the dangers in the region.