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AMMAN – Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Sunday said Jordan succeeded in attracting the attention of the international community to the burdens Jordanians have borne over the past five years due to the influx of Syrian refugees. 

At a press conference, attended by a number of ministers, the premier said the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference, held Thursday in London, adopted Jordan's “holistic approach” to the Syrian refugee crisis that stressed the need to support the Kingdom to be able to offer decent living for both refugees and host communities. 

As the Kingdom is set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars pledged by donor countries, Ensour said authorities will start to draw up programmes and strategies to provide economic opportunities for both Jordanians and Syrians. 

On the details of the outcomes of the London donor conference, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury told reporters that the holistic approach Jordan presented at the conference included three pillars.

The first component, he said, is to shore up the Jordan Response Plan for the Syrian refugee crisis for 2016-2018 by supporting host communities in the Kingdom. He indicated that donors pledged $700 million a year for 2016, 2017 and 2018 to develop services and infrastructure in the fields of health, education, water and municipal services. 

The total amount of funds Jordan is expected to receive for host communities would be $2.1 billion in the coming three years, he said, adding that $1.5 billion would be spent on projects in the fields of sewage, education, health and infrastructure. 

The second pillar focused on bridging the financing gap the government is facing, the minister said, adding that donors pledged to offer concessionary loans worth $1.9 billion a year until 2018, which, Fakhoury said, would be cheaper than borrowing from local banks or bonds on international financial markets. 

“These cheap loans would reduce pressure on the Kingdom’s public debt and will help the country bring it to safe levels,” he added.

The concessionary funding would carry an interest rate of less than 1 per cent with a grace period of seven years or more and a payment period of up to 25 years, he explained. 

In addition to soft loans, Fakhoury said donors vowed to extend grants to Jordan worth $900 million over three years. 

The third pillar, according to the minister, is to streamline Syrian labour in the Kingdom by attracting investments to five development zones: Irbid, Karak, Muwaqqar, Maan and Mafraq. 

This component would enable the Kingdom to create job opportunities for Jordanians in addition to Syrians, who would be legalised and organised more efficiently, and will be allowed to work in sectors that do not harm Jordanian jobseekers. 

Under this pillar, Fakhoury said, the EU agreed to reconsider and simplify rules of origin on Jordanian exports for the next 10 years, describing this as a breakthrough that would generate investment opportunities in development zones and would create tens of thousands of jobs. 

Fakhoury said the government would start a plan immediately in a bid to reach an agreement with the EU in the summer of this year. 

As to simplifying rules of origin by the EU, Ensour described this step as the biggest achievement at the London conference as strict rules of origin imposed by the EU have limited the ability of the Kingdom’s private sector to enter the European market, noting that Jordan’s exports to the EU member states remained around $200 million a year, while imports from there exceeded $3 billion. 

Fakhoury said that London conference also focused on providing education for Syrians.

There are between 80,000 to 90,000 Syrian students who have not joined schools in Jordan, Fakhoury said, adding that donors requested Jordan to help them join schools. 

Donors expressed readiness to finance the cost of offering education to Syrian students, which he said would cost around $1 billion to build more classrooms and new schools to accommodate them. 

On the outcome of the London conference, the minister said it is still the beginning of a journey and a positive breakthrough, adding that Jordan would “fight aggressively” to make sure the international community would keep its promises. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed the importance of Germany's pivotal role in dealing with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis, especially in regard to the influx of Syrian refugees and supporting host countries, a Royal Court statement said. 

During a meeting with President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert at the Royal Court, His Majesty stressed the importance of the international community's support to countries affected by the crisis.

He also urged concerned parties' commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference in London.

The Monarch renewed Jordan's appreciation of the German support to the Kingdom as it hosts a large  and increasing number of Syrian refugees.

In regard to regional developments, particularly the anti-terror drive, His Majesty stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination among regional and international parties to face the danger through a comprehensive strategy. 

The King and Lammert stressed the depth of bilateral relations and the importance of boosting them in various fields as well as sustaining coordination and dialogue over issues of mutual concern.

For his part, Lammert voiced his country's willingness to support Jordan and enable it to deal with the repercussions of the crises in the region, especially the Syrian crisis, underlining international appreciation of Jordan's role in hosting and serving refugees.

He also commended the King's efforts in dealing with regional and international challenges to preserve the security and stability of Jordan as a prosperous role model in the Middle East. 

AMMAN — Syrian refugees camped in no-man’s land on the Jordanian border came from Syria’s northeast, which  is controlled by Daesh terror group, and they arrived to the border area “smoothly” as they were “escorted”, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said on Sunday.

The ease with which they travelled through the war-torn country made Jordanian authorities “suspicious”, thus requiring them to carefully vet the newcomers before allowing them in, Ensour said.

“We have not stopped receiving refugees,” the premier said during a press conference on results of the London conference. However, he noted that the country has the right to vet refugees before allowing them entry.

“We do what the European countries do: they screen refugees, and this is what we do,” the premier said in response to a question on the status of the 16,000 Syrians who are camped in the border area between Jordan and Syria. 

The government said there are 16,000 Syrians in camps situated a few hundred metres from the Jordanian side in “no man’s land”, fleeing danger zones in northern and eastern Syria that are in fact closer to other neighbouring countries than to Jordan. 

According to a tweet by Andrew Harper, the UNHCR representative to Jordan, the number of Syrians who are in this camp has increased to 20,000.

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, Mohammad Momani, the government’s spokesperson, said Jordan allows the entry of an average of 50 to 100 vulnerable Syrian refugees from the “border camp” into the country daily, while the provision of relief aid and care is continuous.  

“Jordan maintains its open door policy…[but] we do have security concerns, and this group specifically came from the far northeast of Syria, areas that are controlled by Daesh,” Momani explained, adding that the country has intelligence suggesting that there are Daesh sympathisers and even members in this group. “We take this issue very seriously,” he said. 

AMMAN — There are no terrorist sleeper cells in Jordan, but rather some infiltrators who try to cross the borders, a senior government official stressed on Sunday.

“We do not have sleeper cells as some say… We just see some individuals try to cross the borders, but our security agencies are on alert,” said Minister of Interior Salameh Hammad at a press conference held by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and members of the Cabinet on the outcome of the recent London conference on the refugee crisis.

The minister also stressed that Jordan’s stability is a result of the “prudent leadership and the sound policy adopted in dealing with internal and external challenges”.

“Jordan does not interfere with any other country’s affairs and does not allow others to interfere in our affairs,” he said, adding that such a policy has contributed much to the Kingdom’s stability.

He noted that Jordan’s security agencies are closely following developments  in the region, and particularly in Syria.

Their understanding of the situation has helped the country provide “full” accurate information to Russia and other countries of the world about the situation in the neighbouring country.

On the domestic front, Hammad stressed that the Jordanian people’s “awareness of their duties towards the country” is also key to the country’s internal stability.

AMMAN — Conservationists have criticised the Lower House for a lack of discussion of issues concerning the environment, calling on MPs to appreciate its role in the Kingdom's sustainable development and economic growth.

Environmental issues, whether related to investing in the environment or protecting its elements, are always missing from the discussions and agendas of parliamentarians, according to experts in the field. 

Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) President Khaled Irani charged that the handling of environmental issues and problems at the Lower House is weak and disorganised.

"Sadly, the way Parliament handles the country's environmental challenges is always reactive, and most often, on the spur of the moment," said Irani, a former minister of environment as well as energy and mineral resources.

The current regional turmoil and its impact on the country's political, economic and security conditions also play a role in relegating environmental issues to the bottom of any parliamentarian's agenda, he told The Jordan Times.

"There are several economic and political concerns that overshadow the environment from the perspective of MPs," the former minister said.

Irani added that the environment is not a hot topic for the media, reducing pressure on politicians to address the issue.

"There is no [public] demand for [protecting] the environment. It doesn’t sell in news and it doesn’t attract people's attention," the expert stressed, criticising Parliament for failing to question the government on its environment programme.

"You don’t see questioning of the government's environmental plans and strategies or where it stands regarding hot environmental issues, such as waste management and its lost opportunities, excessive fumes, environmental violations, proper inspection, forests or loopholes in governing laws," he said.

The environment must be linked to the Kingdom's sustainable development and economic growth in order for the Lower House to incorporate it in its discussions and agenda, according to Safa Jayoussi, head of climate and energy campaigns at IndyACT and Climate Action Network's Arab world coordinator.

"Less than 30 per cent of the parliamentarians at the Lower House see environment as a priority," Jayoussi said.

She highlighted that Parliament has been cooperative regarding issues that garnered public attention, such as construction of nuclear reactors or cutting down trees in Bergesh Forest for the construction of a military academy.

"I'm afraid that the majority of the parliamentarians care more about media buzz; they care about raising issues that get highlighted by the mainstream media," Jayoussi said.

The environmental activist highlighted that it is vital to raise the awareness of members of the Lower House on the importance of the environment and its role in supporting the economy and generating job opportunities.

"They need to understand that [protecting] the environment is not about hugging trees, it is very much linked to sustainable growth and supporting our economy," Jayoussi noted.

MP Raed Hijazin, who chairs the Lower House Health and Environment Committee, said the panel has not discussed major environmental issues.

"Environmental issues are usually discussed during sessions of unscheduled topics," Hijazin explained.

The committee, however, is currently in the process of discussing the draft environment protection law and its amendments, he noted, adding that the committee will also question the government on pollution in east Amman. 

AMMAN — An earthquake with the magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale hit the Wadi Araba area at a depth of 11km at around 2:35pm on Sunday, according to the Jordan Seismological Observatory (JSO).

No casualties or physical damage were reported, but residents of Wadi Araba, particularly the Risheh area, felt the earthquake, the JSO said.

"A seismic activity with such a magnitude is only felt by people but poses no threat," JSO President Mahmoud Qariouti told The Jordan Times, adding that the earthquake area is 25km north of Aqaba and 62km west of Maan.

Although he noted that it is difficult to ascertain if the earthquake will cause aftershocks, Qariouti said seismic activity is "normal" in the area and residents are "used to it".

Jordan lies along the seismically active Dead Sea Transform Fault, with estimates predicting a major earthquake every 100 years.

Seismic activity is normal in the Jordan Rift Valley area, which extends from northern Jordan down to the Dead Sea and is part of the Great Rift Valley that stretches from the Taurus Mountains of Turkey down to the Zambezi Valley in southern Africa.

In earlier remarks, the JSO said earthquake observatories around the world do not predict the timing of quakes, but conduct extensive examinations on their activity and frequency, which help countries impose sound building codes and be prepared when earthquakes hit. 

In August last year, an earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale was registered in the port city of Aqaba, 330km south of the capital, at around 5:15am, but no damages or casualties were recorded. 

The same month saw a 4.3-magnitude earthquake at the Dead Sea at a depth of 10km, felt by residents of Amman, Karak, Zarqa and Madaba, but again causing no casualties or damages, the JSO said at the time.

In June, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was registered in the port city, centred at a depth of 10 kilometres.

According to the JSO records, the last destructive earthquake to hit the Kingdom was in 1927.

About 300 people were killed in that quake, which hit Jerusalem and nearby Jericho.

A similar quake in 1837, measuring 7 on the Richter scale and with an epicentre in the Hula Valley devastated the town of Safad and killed some 4,000 people. 

AMMAN — Christian and Muslim religious leaders on Saturday stressed the role of the media in spreading a culture of tolerance, respecting the "other", and human dignity.

At a panel discussion titled "The Role of Media in Promoting Harmony and Enhancing Human Dignity", held at St Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Society in Amman to celebrate the UN's sixth annual World Interfaith Harmony Week, Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood said the harmony found in Jordan's diverse society is a model for the region. 

The relationships between the followers of different religions should move beyond dialogue, Dawood added at the event, organised by the Arab Media Council in cooperation with the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media (CCSM).

“People should be aware of the aim of creation: to preserve nature, take care of each other and respect humanity, which all religions demand, and especially Islam, which calls for human dignity and respect to all regardless of people’s colour, religion or race,” he added.

Dawood highlighted that religious platforms are "tremendously" important in spreading harmony and coexistence, as well as guiding others.

“In the almost 6,000 mosques around the Kingdom, 2 million men and women attend to listen to the imams’ preaching. Imams, for their part, should be prepared to send a clear message, conveying Islamic ethics that do not divide or discriminate, and surely should not instigate
hatred,” he said.

The minister stressed that the killings, displacements and attacks taking place in the surrounding region do not represent any religion, but must be attributed to the individuals committing such acts.

Father Rifat Bader, director of CCSM, said media and social media should abide by ethics and values and aim to be an effective tool for spreading harmony among the people.

“Social media outlets have a huge effect on people and thus should aim at spreading the speech of moderation and tolerance against hate speech, terrorism and extremism,” he said.

Father Mohammad George Sharaiha, speaking on behalf of Archbishop Elie Haddad of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Sidon, agreed that the media is an effective tool and should enhance the culture of dialogue and coexistence, educating people as to the true meaning of harmony.

At the end of the event, a committee was formed to draft recommendations from the panel discussion to be submitted to decision makers at a later date.

In another event, celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week, marked from February 1 to 7, on Saturday evening, Majeda Omar, director of the Royal Institute of Inter-Faith Studies, said harmony between the followers of religions is essential since humanity “brings us together”.

Religion plays a role in building peace, achieving unity and coexistence, she said at the event, organised by the Community Ecumenical Centre of the Lutheran Church.

“There is no joy or stability in our existence without spreading the spirit of brotherhood, solidarity and coexistence, regardless of religion and the diversity of cultures," she added.

Samer Azer, pastor of the Lutheran Church in Jordan, said conflicts between moderation and extremism are constant and present in all religions; and therefore, it is the responsibility of the different segments of society to stand for humanity.

World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010, by His Majesty King Abdullah.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour is scheduled to hold a press conference on Sunday at the Royal Cultural Centre to explain the outcomes of the London donor conference to support Syrian refugees and host communities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said Saturday.

Under pledges made at last Thursday's conference, Jordan will receive $2.1 billion in additional grants over the next three years to help it cope with the consequences of the influx of Syrian refugees and create jobs in the country, according to a top government official.

The Kingdom will obtain an annual $700 million over three years as additional grants, of which a minimum of $1.5b will be allocated for investments in host communities, in line with the requirements of the Jordan Response Plan for 2016-2018, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said in a statement made available to The Jordan Times.

The minister said His Majesty King Abdullah, in his remarks at the London conference, explained that Jordan continues to shoulder substantial burdens and has reached its limits.

“His Majesty conveyed the voice of each man and woman in Jordan to the London conference on Syrian refugees. It should be clear that focus should also be given in parallel to hosting countries, governments and communities, especially the Jordanian people who have borne tremendous burdens over the past five years,” Fakhoury noted in the statement.

The international donor community conference in London pledged a record $10 billion, according to a statement on the UN website.

More than half of the pledged amount is earmarked to meet immediate needs in 2016 in a country where a nearly five-year-war has killed over 250,000 people, sent over 4 million fleeing Syria, displaced 6.5 million internally, and put 13.5 million people inside the country in urgent need of humanitarian aid, the UN statement said.

In Jordan, there are 1.3 million Syrians, according to the latest population census results announced by the Department of Statistics earlier this month.

Jordan’s proposal in London for the international community to provide support is part of a holistic approach to dealing with Syrian refugees, as the Kingdom recognises that the protracted Syrian crisis does not have quick solutions, Fakhoury said.

According to the minister, Jordan’s approach is based on three components, of which the first is to rebuild host communities and infrastructure in the fields of health, education, water and municipal services. 

“We asked the international community for [an] adequate funding of grants for this component in the Jordan Response Plan,” he said in the statement. 

The second component is providing Jordan with concessionary funding to help it bridge the funding gap that it is facing according to the recently adopted budget (2016-2018).

The third component, the minister said, would enable Jordan to attract new investments to the development zones, providing them with full support and benefits, while the EU will adopt simplified rules of origin. 

These moves, he stressed, would attract new investments that would enable Jordan to create new job opportunities for Jordanians, and — at the same time — reorganise the labour market which has been regressing in the past few years because of illegal and irregular Syrian labour.

Under the plan, irregular labourers would be legalised and organised more efficiently, and will be allowed to work in sectors that do not harm Jordanian job seekers. 

Therefore, Syrian labourers would substitute guest labourers in specific sectors at development zones.

EU rules of origin

Fakhoury added that the EU announced that in principle it would simplify the rules of origin. 

It said that in the next few months, it will start negotiations with Jordan over a transitional period of 10 years in which the rules of origin will be simplified to attract investments that can create hundreds of thousands of job opportunities for Jordanians. 

Economic opportunities will also be allowed for guest workers in accordance with Jordanian laws, provided that Syrian refugees are employed in certain categories, according to Fakhoury.

The minister noted that the holistic approach will also enable Jordan to secure funding worth $1.9 billion for 2016, 2017 and 2018 through soft loans.

“This means $5.7 billion as concessionary funding for the period of 2016-2018 that offers soft loans instead of the costly borrowing. In addition to this, there are grants of $300 million over the next three years ... a total of $900 million,” he explained.

Jordan, according to the minister, seeks to safeguard Syria’s future generations to be able to go back home when political circumstances allow for rebuilding their country and ensuring its stability. 

This is done, he said, by expanding educational services afforded to refugees on condition that the international community cover the cost of their education, borne at the moment by the Jordanian government.

Fakhoury added that there is a commitment to provide some $1 billion in additional expenditures for providing education services to Syrians in Jordan, as a compensation for the Treasury. 

The minister expressed optimism over the outcomes of the London conference, describing it as a turning point that requires close follow-up.

Jordan’s commitments are linked to the international community fulfilling its obligations, he noted. 

“At the same time, we will work incessantly to attract new investments and follow up [on] the implementation of all mutual commitments between Jordan and the international community, which will bring benefits and added value to our economy and country,” Fakhoury said. 

Employing Syrians, he noted, will be a temporary measure that is annually renewed until the refugees are able to return home.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah returned home on Friday evening after concluding a working visit to the UK and Ireland, during which he met with several world leaders and attended the London donor conference.

On Friday, the King met with Ireland President Michael Higgins and discussed bilateral ties and the latest regional developments, a Royal Court statement said. 

During the talks in Dublin at the presidential palace, His Majesty voiced hope that the visit will contribute to strengthening Jordanian-Irish relations.

During bilateral and, afterwards, expanded talks, the King stressed the importance of sustaining coordination and dialogue between the two countries on regional and international developments and ways to deal with them, enhancing security and stability. 

He highlighted the importance of finding a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis and intensifying international efforts to mitigate the suffering of Syrian refugees and host countries. 

The King also noted that Jordan is hosting a large number of refugees, which adds more pressure to its service sectors. 

The two leaders stressed the importance of intensifying regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and extremism as well as the importance of reviving Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations to reach a two-state solution. 

During the talks, attended by senior officials from both countries, Higgins welcomed King Abdullah and stressed the importance of the visit as an opportunity to build relations and increase cooperation. 

He commended His Majesty’s vision in dealing with the different regional issues, especially in regard to combating terrorism to instil security and stability in the Middle East.

The Irish president described Jordan as a role model in the region.

Also on Friday, His Majesty held talks with Ireland Taoiseach Enda Kenny on regional and international issues.

During bilateral talks followed by an expanded meeting at the government’s headquarters in Dublin, attended by senior officials from both countries, the King and Kenny discussed the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.

His Majesty said Jordan is looking forward to the results of the “Supporting Syria and the Region Conference” in London and the assistance it will bring to the Kingdom.

King Abdullah and Kenny also discussed combating terrorism, bilateral relations and the importance of exchanging expertise. 

During his London visit, the King met with British lawmakers and intellectuals and highlighted Jordan’s refugee burden at the donor conference.

On the sidelines of the conference, His Majesty held meetings with several world leaders and senior officials, which focused on the developments in the Middle East; particularly the Syrian crisis, its repercussions on the Kingdom and the role of the international community.

AMMAN — The influx of more than 630,000 Syrian refugees into Jordan has cost the Kingdom over $2.5 billion a year, according to the World Bank's estimates.

The estimated cost amounts to 6 per cent of Jordan's gross domestic product (GDP) and one-fourth of the government’s annual revenues, said the World Bank’s latest Quarterly Economic Brief (QEB), which was sent to The Jordan Times on Friday. 

Jordan and Lebanon — which, along with Turkey, are bearing the global responsibility of hosting Syrian refugees — are facing tremendous fiscal pressures, the QEB said. 

The World Bank announced last week that it plans to offer $200 million in concessional financing to Jordan and Lebanon in response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

According to the report, countries bordering conflict zones, many of which are already in fragile situations, are facing tremendous budgetary pressure. 

The World Bank said the Kingdom’s estimates show that each refugee costs the Jordanian government $3,750 (JD2,500) per year. 

“The influx of more than 630,000 Syrian refugees is thus estimated to have cost Jordan over $2.5 billion a year,” the report said. 

“Under this situation, government debt is accumulating fast — estimated at 90 per cent of GDP in 2015,” the report added.

According to the latest population census conducted late last year, 1.26 million of Jordan’s population are Syrians, but only 50 per cent is registered as refugees.

The World Bank’s QEB indicated that unemployment rates in Jordan increased to 12.5 per cent in the first half of 2015, compared to 11.4 per cent during the same period in 2014. 

It added that increased insecurity and uncertainty have lowered foreign and domestic investments in Jordan and Lebanon as well.

In Jordan, it explained, investment as a share of the GDP declined to an estimated 27.4 per cent in 2015, from its peak of 28.1 per cent in 2013.

“These factors are expected to keep growth between 2.5-3.8 per cent in 2016 and 2017 for both countries [Jordan and Lebanon], well below their potential.”

Remittances have also taken a hit in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan that rely heavily on flows from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and others. 

“Jordan is in the same situation with growth in remittance inflows dropping from 4 per cent in 2013 to 2 per cent in 2014 and 2015,” the report said.

The Syrian war has also affected the standard of living in neighbouring countries, with per capita average incomes lower by an estimated 1.1 per cent in Lebanon and 1.5 per cent in Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan, relative to the levels that could have achieved had the war been avoided, the report stated. 

For Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, the opportunity costs of foregone trade integration are larger than the direct costs, the World Bank added.

In Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, more than 700,000 Syrian refugee children are unable to attend school because the current educational infrastructure cannot cope with the additional load, or — in the case of Turkey — because of language barriers.

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times, the World Bank said the QEB for the Middle East and North Africa has revised estimates of economic growth at 2.6 per cent in 2015, falling short of expectations from the 2.8 per cent predicted in October. 

Constrained by war, terrorism and to some extent cheap oil, short-term growth prospects remain “cautiously pessimistic”, the statement said, adding that the report examines the different ways in which civil wars are affecting the economies of the region, including the important channel of forced displacement, which has become a crisis. 

It also explores how economic fortunes will turn around if there is peace.

“Five years of war in Syria and spillovers to the neighbouring countries — Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt — have cost close to an estimated $35 billion in output, measured in 2007 prices, equivalent to Syria’s GDP in 2007,” the statement said.