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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday said the war of "our generation" against terrorism and to defend the values of tolerance, peace and freedom is "also our fight within Islam", according to a Royal Court statement.

In remarks at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, hosted in Paris, the King said: "It is a war we are reminded of every day, in Syria, Iraq, Mali, Egypt, Lebanon, France, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and more. Terrorism has no borders."

"Climate change cannot be addressed in isolation. No geographical region, no economic sector can protect itself from the impact of global threats," His Majesty added, stressing Jordan's commitment to contribute to international efforts to counter the phenomenon.

"To achieve the future we seek, there must be comprehensive, collective, sustainable global action — action that gets results. Jordan pledges our continuing cooperation, for our own people’s future, and the future of our shared world," said the King, who returned home later on Monday.

Following are the full remarks by His Majesty at the Paris 2015 UN Climate Change Conference:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,

Mr President,

Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates:

Let me begin by thanking you, Mr President, and the people of France, the people of Paris, for hosting this conference. 

Two weeks ago, your country suffered a national tragedy, indeed a global tragedy. In gathering here, world leaders affirm that we stand as one with you, against Daesh and all terrorism.

Our collective response is key to defeat terror. This is the war of our generation, the fight for peace, tolerance, freedom and humanity. It is also our fight within Islam. It is a war we are reminded of every day, in Syria, Iraq, Mali, Egypt, Lebanon, France, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia and more. Terrorism has no borders.

My friends,

The subject of this conference is also the fight of our generation. The entire planet is endangered by climate change. Responding to individual crises as they arise is not enough. It is simply impossible. We must act collectively, with foresight, responsibility and determination.

All countries have a stake. My country is on the receiving end of this challenge in many ways: Jordan is already the second water-poorest country on earth. We import more than 90 per cent of our energy. We are in a struggle to create jobs and provide opportunities, especially for youth, over 70 per cent of our population. Meantime, we remain a safe haven for refugees fleeing regional violence. Now, hosting 1.4 million Syrians — one for every five Jordanians — Jordan has one of the top two refugee populations per capita in the world.

My friends,

If global climate change continues on today’s trajectory, the challenges will increase exponentially. These harsh realities are why Jordan has been integrating energy and environmental approaches into a sustainable, long-term national development strategy. In 2013, we were the first in our region to produce a comprehensive, forward-looking National Climate Change Policy.

In the past year alone, we have made greater strides towards energy independence and enhancing energy efficiency than in the entire life of our country. This year we opened the largest wind farm in the Arab world. And we have taken the first steps in switching Jordan’s public-sector fleet to eco-friendly electric vehicles.

Jordan also looks to innovation for other solutions: meeting our rising water needs through desalination — advanced water management technologies — moving forward with the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, to provide fresh water while using brine to replenish and save the Dead Sea.

My friends,

Climate change cannot be addressed in isolation. No geographical region, no economic sector can protect itself from the impact of global threats. To achieve the future we seek, there must be comprehensive, collective, sustainable global action — action that gets results. Jordan pledges our continuing cooperation, for our own people’s future and the future of our shared world.

Thank you.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday met with UK Prime Minister David Cameron on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.

During the meeting, His Majesty expressed his eagerness to see the UK join coalition operations against Daesh in Syria as part of a wider strategy, including a political process and working with opposition forces on the ground in Syria already fighting Daesh.

The King and Cameron also discussed military cooperation between the two countries, in addition to the EU’s support for Jordan, especially within the framework of an international conference on Syrian refugees, which is scheduled to take place in the UK in early 2016.

Moreover, the two leaders discussed recent developments in Syria, a Royal Court statement said.

Also on the sidelines of COP21, the King met with several world leaders and heads of participating delegations.

His Majesty and King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf discussed bilateral relations, especially economic cooperation.

At the meeting, attended by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, the two leaders also discussed recent developments in the region, particularly in regard to the Syrian crisis and anti-terror efforts.

At a meeting with Peru’s President Ollanta Humala, discussions covered regional developments and means to increase cooperation between Arab and South American nations as well as enhancing Jordanian-Peruvian ties.

The Peruvian president voiced his country’s readiness to offer scholarships for Jordanian students in the fields of agriculture and vocational education.

His Majesty also met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and discussed regional and international issues.

They voiced mutual interest in enhancing relations between Jordan and the European Union. 

King Abdullah renewed his appreciation of the EU’s support to Jordan to deal with the repercussions of the region’s crises, particularly the Syrian refugee influx.

His Majesty urged the international community to increase aid to help Jordan meet the demands of the services offered to Syrians.

Turning to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the King highlighted the importance of reviving peace negotiations to establish an independent Palestinian state.

In addition, talks covered facilitating commercial exchange between Jordan and EU countries.

The King also discussed bilateral ties with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, especially in the economic, commercial, energy and transportation sectors.

They discussed military cooperation and French support to Jordan in hosting Syrian refugees.

Moreover, talks covered France’s economic support to the Kingdom, especially in light of the partnership agreement between Jordan and the EU as well as activating the Agadir Free Trade agreement in order to increase chances for Jordanian goods to be exported to European markets.

The meeting also covered developments in the Syrian crisis and ways to combat terrorism.

Valls voiced France’s appreciation of Jordan’s role in ensuring security and stability in the region.

The Monarch also met with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and discussed bilateral relations and ways to combat terrorism.

In another meeting, His Majesty and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed regional and international developments.

Talks covered the war on terror and Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, and the importance of reviving them.

AMMAN — Census takers started making field visits to households around the Kingdom on Monday as the 2015 national population census got under way.

HRH Prince Feisal, the Regent, visited the Department of Statistics (DoS) and checked on the procedures followed in implementing the population tally.

Prince Feisal was briefed on the technical procedures followed in carrying out the census through using modern international methods, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

DoS Director Qasem Zu’bi presented a briefing to the prince on the department's communications centre, which handles the census' organisation and administration, in addition to following up on work progress, replying to citizens' queries and presenting technical support for the tablet devices used by census takers.

Prince Feisal also checked on the data centre, which is equipped with modern devices to receive incoming data from the field, storing and processing it prior to extracting the census' final results, Petra added.

The Regent, who was accompanied by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and several senior officials, visited the department's geographical systems section, which relies on electronic maps in carrying out the census.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat on Monday said there are 43 operation rooms in the field and at the ministry, in addition to 300 centres, all working on implementing the census, supervising census takers and receiving notes from the field, Petra reported.

The census is a legal requirement conducted every 10 years, Ensour said in previous remarks.

The last census was carried out in 2004, putting the total number of the Kingdom’s population at 5.1 million.

According to the Interior Ministry, Jordan’s population is estimated to have reached around 8 million by 2015, but other unofficial figures indicate that the population of Jordan stands at nearly 9 million, including 2.5 million foreigners.

DoS said around 22,000 field researchers are conducting the national census, preparations for which have taken six months.

AMMAN — Census takers on Monday said householders provided “good responses” to questions on the survey that involved “general” information. 

According to residents, some questions required “personal” information, with income and financial status highlighted as the “most sensitive” topics on the survey. 

As the national census started on Monday, around 22,000 field researchers and
schoolteachers were making field visits to the homes of Jordanians, residents and visitors to gather vital data from respondents, according to the Department of Statistics (DoS).

Mohammad Atef, a researcher covering Amman’s Abu Nseir neighbourhood, said the survey includes questions such as the number of family members in the household, level of education and degrees attained, income, the number of rooms in the house and the type of heaters used. 

“The families we visited so far have been cooperative and their answers were straight to the point,” he told The Jordan Times.

Ziyad Awad, a resident of Abu Nseir, said the questions were “fine”, with the exception of the last two or three, which were about the income of the family and whether its members face “financial difficulties”.

“I understand why they asked for the number of family members and about the ownership of the house, but inquiring about financial status is not related to the purpose of the census,” he argued.

DoS Jubeiha supervisor Ahmad Ajarmeh told The Jordan Times that each area has around seven field researchers to count its populace.  

Ajarmeh said the survey involved “general” questions about people and their houses and that he expected the public to cooperate.

Irbid resident Ibrahim Shehadeh said researchers did not reach his house yet, but he is willing to answer any questions related to social and economic subjects.

“I don’t find it a problem to answer questions about my financial status, I don’t mind any type of queries,” he told The Jordan Times.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said in previous remarks that the census seeks to identify all people in Jordan, including refugees, diplomats and tourists, even those who are in transit or visiting the country for one night.  

According to DoS, the census will continue until December 10.

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on Monday signed a $65 million grant agreement with Youssef Bin Ibrahim Al Bassam, vice president and board member of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), to contribute to funding the rehabilitation of the desert road.

The two sides also signed “a frame grant agreement” of $100 million relevant to Saudi Arabia’s contribution to supporting priority development projects in Syrian refugee hosting communities, a ministry statement said.

Finance Minister Omar Malhas and Bassam also signed a $53.3 million soft loan agreement granted by SFD to finance the fourth steam unit (combined cycle) of the Samra Power Generating Plant, guaranteed by the government of Jordan. 

Fakhoury thanked Saudi Arabia’s king, government and people for their continuous support to Jordan’s development efforts to face economic and social challenges.

He reviewed Jordan’s economic and financial conditions and the effect of regional instability on them, stressing that the Kingdom alone cannot bear all these pressures without the serious and firm support of the international community. 

In this respect, Fakhoury underlined the importance of Saudi Arabia’s support in helping Jordan face economic and financial challenges, continue to implement priority development projects and provide advanced services to its citizens and residents, especially under these circumstances, according to the statement.

Bassam hailed Jordan’s efforts to overcome the economic and financial challenges it faces, commending the reform programmes implemented to address those challenges. 

He stressed SFD’s readiness to stand by Jordan to support its development efforts and face relevant challenges.

Saudi Arabia has upheld its commitment to the Gulf Cooperation Council grant to Jordan during 2012-2016, the ministry said. 

The value of projects and programmes signed so far with SFD, the authority charged with administering the grant on behalf of the Saudi government, amounts to $1.219 billion. 

AMMAN — Further innovative UK-targeted campaigns to promote tourism in Jordan can encourage more British tourists to experience the country's "rich" tourist attractions, British Ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden said Monday.

Speaking at a session on tourism ties with the UK market, the ambassador noted that the Jordan Tourism Board's (JTB) recent campaign targeting the British, German and French markets has been "very successful", as it focused on central public areas and public transport.

Travel writers and active social media campaigns are two "effective" tools to attract British visitors, he said, adding that UK media outlets should ensure a "balanced" view when reporting news about this region.

While regional conditions may contribute to a decline in the performance of the tourism sector, Britons do not have a negative image of Jordan security wise, the ambassador said at the event, organised by the Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA).

Emphasising his country's interest in the prosperity of Jordan's tourism sector, as it enhances the country's resilience, Oakden added that British embassies are required to post "factual statements" on their websites to serve as "travel advice" and provide an accurate picture of the countries they serve in. 

Although British tourists usually visit Jordan for religious and archaeological purposes, there is a need to increase the number of tourists visiting resorts in Aqaba and the Dead Sea, he said, citing Jordan as a regional and international hub for medical tourism.

"Jordan can appeal to all age groups," Oakden said, explaining that pensioners seeking quality time and younger individuals seeking adventures find what they are looking for in the Kingdom.

For his part, Tourism Minister Nayef Fayez said further cooperation is required to provide incentive packages for low-cost air carriers, in order to increase and diversify local destinations for tourists.

Describing the UK as a "main traditional market for Jordan's tourism sector", the minister said all stakeholders must collaborate to spread the word on Jordan's safety and eliminate misperceptions that often originate from reporting on regional issues from Amman.

Also speaking at the meeting, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji highlighted Jordan's capability to enhance its resiliency against the regional unrest, which caused a 40 per cent drop in the number of tourists visiting Jordan in the first seven months of this year.

He said the sector should build on the popularity of His Majesty King Abdullah in the international arena, as well as the efforts of Her Majesty Queen Rania to promote the real image of Jordan.

Jordanians should look forward to making their country a hub for the reconstruction of the region once political stability prevails, added Biltaji, a former tourism minister, citing emerging businesses and security as major assets for the country.

Foreign embassies can help the tourism sector by revising and softening the wording on their travel alerts, to help minimise the negative effect created by the media, JITOA Chairman Ghada Najjar said. 

Stakeholders must also address other challenges facing the sector, such as bringing new airlines to Jordan, which will decrease the travel cost from various destinations, she added.

Najjar also called for using social media as a "very effective" tool in reaching a greater number of people.

"We should understand the quickly evolving travel trends, and adjust our strategies and programmes to be able to fit within the many competitive destinations worldwide."

AMMAN — A group of Jordanian civil society organisations on Monday said it will refer its demand to increase the number of seats for women in the Lower House to the Legal Committee for consideration.

The campaign aims to reserve a seat for women in each of the constituencies that will be designated in the 2015 draft elections law, the organisers said at a press conference on Monday.

The organisations represented include the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and Al Quds Centre for Political Studies.

“We want to encourage more women to take part in the upcoming elections, because the ratio of women in the Lower House is currently 12 per cent, which is very low,” said the centre's director, Oraib Rantawi.

The campaign aims at increasing this percentage to 17 per cent, Rantawi told reporters.

As it stands now, he noted, there is only one woman MP each from Amman, Zarqa and Irbid, which are the three most populous governorates in Jordan.

Therefore, Rantawi explained, “we launched a campaign involving women leaders, activists, journalists, artists and public figures from the Kingdom's 12 governorates.”

“We collected 1,050 signatures that we plan to present to the Legal Committee at the Lower House when we submit our demand,” he said.

JNCW Secretary General Salma Nims said “the government disappointed the women’s movement because it committed to ensuring 20 per cent representation for women in Parliament by the year 2017.”

“The government is not committing to what it promised us and this was evident in the 2015 draft elections law,” she added.

Nuha Maaytah, a former senator and deputy, also held the government accountable for “not committing to women’s political rights”.

“Jordan has signed and complied with many conventions, but when it comes to conventions involving women, the government does not recognise or comply with them,” Maaytah argued.

Nadia Hashem Alul, former minister of state for women’s affairs, said such demands and comments on government commitments towards women’s rights should be sent to His Majesty King Abdullah.

“Civil society’s demands about increasing women’s political participation should be directed to the King as well, because we have witnessed several setbacks from decision makers when it came to increasing women’s representation in political life, especially the Lower House,” she stressed.

MP Najah Azzeh (women’s quota, Jerash) said she, with the support of other female deputies, secured the signatures of 64 deputies in support of the campaign’s demand when it is put through for discussion in the Lower House.

“We have the support of these deputies with regard to our demand to increase the ratio of seats for women to 17 per cent, and we will follow up with Al Quds centre and the JNCW to reaffirm the MPs’ commitments and maybe gain more signatures,” she said.

The elections bill is currently being examined by the Lower House Legal Committee.

Paragraph A of Article 8 of the elections bill reads: “The Kingdom is to be divided by a by-law into electoral districts for which 130 parliamentary seats will be allocated.”

In the government’s version of the draft law, the number of Lower House members was reduced to 130 from 150. The women’s quota of 15 seats remained the same.

AMMAN — As Jordan was ranked the second most competitive cellular market in the Arab world, Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) on Monday called for a revision of the regulatory and taxation system to ensure sustainability of investment in telecom networks.

“It is good news that competition is high in Jordan. This has positive implications for customers, results in very low rates, and prompts operators to continue to develop their services,” Jawad Abbassi, head of MENA region at GSMA, told The Jordan Times on Monday.

However, Abbassi called for revising regulations and taxes imposed on the industry to enable telecom companies to boost their investments.

“As the market is developing, regulations in the sector need to develop and be in line with market trends,” he stressed, adding that the telecom market in Jordan is one of the fastest-growing in the region in terms of penetration rates and services.

Saudi Arabia ranked first in the Arab Advisors Group’s Cellular Competition Intensity Index 2015, followed by Jordan and Palestine. These top three countries maintained their rankings from 2014.

Saudi Arabia scored 85.08 per cent, followed by Jordan (75.92 per cent), Palestine (75.19 per cent), Iraq (69.76 per cent), Bahrain (65.33 per cent) and Egypt (64.48 per cent). 

Tunisia maintained its seventh-place ranking from 2014 with 62.45 per cent, followed by Kuwait (61.43 per cent). Morocco, Oman and Algeria saw drops in the ranking with 61.52 per cent, 61.21 per cent and 60.23 per cent respectively. 

Yemen was in 12th place with a score of 57.97 per cent, followed by Sudan (57.39 per cent), Mauritania (56.31 per cent), United Arab Emirates (51.32 per cent), Qatar (50.80 per cent), and Lebanon (41.83 per cent). 

Libya and Syria were at the bottom of the list, with scores of 35.20 per cent and 34.99 per cent respectively.

The Arab Advisors Group devised the Cellular Competition Intensity Index to rate and examine the intensity of competition in the Arab world’s cellular markets relative to one another. 

The index takes into account the number of operators, packages, and services available in each of the 19 countries covered by the Arab Advisors Group. 

The categories include the number of licensed and expected mobile network operators in 2015, the number of working operators, the market share of the largest operator, the number of prepaid plans available and the number of postpaid plans, as well as the availability of smartphone plans, corporate offers, third or fourth generation services, and operational international long distance competition.

AMMAN — UNHCR is not using the G4S company to provide security services; it is using a local security company, an agency official said on Monday. 

Andrew Harper, the UNHCR representative to Jordan, stressed that the UN agency is using a local company called Shark, not the UK-based G4S, which Jordanian activists have criticised for providing security services to Israel. 

Harper's comments came after a number of Jordanian women and men gathered outside UNDP premises on Sunday, calling on the UN agency to revise its contract with G4S. 

A statement sent to The Jordan Times by the event's organisers said that five UN agencies — UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOPS and WFP — use G4S services, but Harper stressed that they are using a different security company. 

Shark is a local company that provides its clients in Jordan and the Middle East with security solutions, according to its website. 

The G4S official website showed that it is providing security services for a number of clients, including UN offices in the Kingdom. 

In a statement released on Sunday, US-based grass-roots activist group CODEPINK said the UN purchases “more than $22 million in G4S contracts each year”.

“Today, on November 29, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Palestinian human rights organisations joined by over 220 solidarity groups, trade unions, human rights organisations and migrant solidarity groups from around the world renew the call and urge the UN to cancel its contract with G4S,” the statement said.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan on Monday said that education is the only tool to understand and consequently tackle human, economic, geographical and environmental concerns.

Delivering a speech at a UNICEF-organised conference titled “Quality Learning Through Life Skills”, the prince explained that humanitarianism is a basic orientation towards the interests and welfare of people.  

“It encompasses respect for human life, a responsibility toward future generations and the human environment,” he said.

“If we are going to bridge the gap between education and the labour market, we need to look at human beings as capabilities and not merely as numbers and digits,” the prince added.

Prince Hassan, who is president of the Arab Thought Forum, also noted that education systems that place human dignity at their core enhance citizenship merits. 

“From a policy level, life skills education means preparing a citizenry capable of facing the challenges of life as a society comprised of diverse individuals,” he noted.

“We need to formulate a value-based education for citizenship that can be a catalyst for social positive transformation,” the prince said in his speech, a copy of which was sent to The Jordan Times.

He explained that values of tolerance and coexistence are built primarily through dialogue. “Dialogue can build bridges of cooperation between different cultures and faiths by unmasking stereotypes and clarifying misconceptions.”

“Education must become our highest priority.  More than classrooms, textbooks and qualified teachers, it means access to the latest available technology and appreciation of its human and social impact.”