Local

AMMAN — The Jordan Interpol office this week received three “wanted suspects” who were arrested by Saudi Arabia’s Interpol, according to a Public Security Department (PSD) statement released Tuesday.

The suspects are wanted for fraud and scam cases, the statement said, adding that they had left to Saudi Arabia when Interpol and the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council issued an all-points bulletin for their arrest. 

AMMAN — Munther Shara, president of the Economic and Social Council, and Qatari Labour Minister Abdullah Saleh Al Khulaifi discussed on Tuesday cooperation in economic and social issues, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The discussions were part of Shara’s visit to the Gulf country in response to a Qatari invitation to continue talks between the council and the Qatari labour ministry, after the 42nd Arab Labour Conference in Kuwait last April.

Also on Tuesday, Jordanian Ambassador in Doha Zahi Smadi met with Khulaifi and discussed bilateral relations. Smadi said Khulaifi commended the skills and expertise of Jordanian expatriates in Qatar, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Public Sector Development Ministry on Monday held a workshop to introduce the regulatory and procedural guidebook for organisational units concerned with improving public sector performance.

It also introduced a guidebook on restructuring government departments, according to a ministry statement released Tuesday. Thirty-six public sector departments took part in the workshop.

AMMAN — Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni will chair the 31st session of the Arab Justice Ministers Council’s meeting which is scheduled to convene at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat in Cairo on Thursday.

Participants will examine ways to boost legal and judicial cooperation in the various fields at the meeting. They will also look into ways to foster democratic practices, reinforce human rights and combat corruption, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday commended the heroic conduct of Jordanians who assisted families during the recent rainstorm.

"I am proud of you. Your courage is a source of inspiration and pride for all Jordanians," the King told Rakan Dawaimeh, Ahmad Nobani and Amer Manasir, who rescued people that were stranded in the recent floods.

During a meeting with the three men at Al Husseiniya Palace, His Majesty said the courage they showed during the downpour was proof of their love for their homeland, a Royal Court statement said.

"You represent a model of bravery and courage," the King said, as he thanked them and expressed his appreciation of all those who risked their lives to rescue their brothers and sisters on that day.

During the November 5 storm, heavy rain flooded several streets and some buildings in the capital, endangering people's lives.

At the meeting with the three men, King Abdullah thanked them for assisting official departments and institutions by voluntarily engaging in rescue efforts, the statement said.

The King directed the government to draw up a mechanism, as soon as possible, to extend aid to families whose homes were damaged and who incurred losses during the storm, mainly those with limited income.

During the storm, Dawaimeh and Nobani rescued a family of six members whose home was entirely flooded in Hai Nazzal.

After water surrounded the house with the family inside, Dawaimeh and Nobani removed the window’s iron grill and saved the family.

Manasir, who works at the Jordan Customs Department, saved the life of an elderly man who was stranded in his car, which was submerged in floodwater in Abdali.

Manasir also helped several other citizens, with his co-workers following his example and also lending a helping hand, the statement said.

Dawaimeh, Nobani and Manasir said they were overwhelmed by the Royal gesture, noting that it will be an incentive for them to further serve the country and its people.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Manasir described what happened that day while he was at work at the customs department.

“After seeing the old man stranded in his car, I tied a rope around my body and pulled him with the help of my colleagues at work,” he said.

Nobani also told Petra about the rescue operation.

“We had to do something as the house was four metres below the street level and the children were scared.”

Dawaimeh said they were not afraid because they wanted to help others.

DEAD SEA — UNRWA continues to offer a safe haven for Palestinian refugees, despite operating at a time of regional turmoil that complicates its mission, the agency's commissioner general, Pierre Krahenbuhl, said Monday.

After surviving a "chronic" budget deficit this summer that threatened to affect its educational services — considered one of its most important contributions to the Palestinian refugee community — UNRWA is back "on its feet again", according to Krahenbuhl.

At a press conference held on the sidelines of the UNRWA advisory commission meeting, he noted that the $101 million budget deficit the agency suffered from earlier this year was completely closed thanks to the financial mobilisation and austerity measures carried out by the agency.

UNRWA projects an $81 million deficit in its 2016 $608 million budget of core activities, which include health, education, relief and social services.

"In 2016, the initial amount of projected shortfall was $135 million; we have managed to bring it down through internal steps to $81 million. This is a great step and now we are ready to turn to donors for support," Krahenbuhl told reporters.

Addressing refugee concerns over donor support, he underlined that "donors are not reducing their contributions, on the contrary, they have been increasing their support, but the needs of Palestinian refugees are growing [at a] much faster speed, causing financial gaps".

"There is also talk that UNRWA has been reducing its services and this is absolutely untrue. We have never provided more services to Syria… we are saying to the international community that UNRWA is very much alive and active today. We have staff working every day amid unstable conditions," the commissioner general stressed.

On the other hand, the UN official said he “understands” where these concerns are coming from, particularly as the financial crisis hit the agency at the “worst timing possible”.

“The positive thing is that the strategy we used this summer to close the financial deficit was successful with the support of our donors and host countries, resulting in the opening of 700 schools for half-a-million students,” he added.

Donors and host countries at the regular two-day advisory commission meeting are discussing the agency’s operational and financial contexts, particularly the difficult situation the 5.2 million Palestinian refugees are facing today.

Participants at the meeting are also looking into ways to ensure that the financial crisis the agency suffered from does not happen again.

“The world today is very much focused and concentrated on the conflict in Syria, the situation in Iraq, Yemen, Libya and elsewhere... but... it would be of great risk for the world to neglect, overlook or forget the plight and fate of Palestinian refugees,” Krahenbuhl said.

Presenting a briefing on the “very difficult” situation of refugees in Syria and Gaza today, he noted that 15,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria have taken refuge in Jordan, 45,000 in Lebanon, 45,000 in Turkey and around 45,000 in Egypt.

The agency’s largest donor continues to be the US, which channelled $350 million to UNRWA this year, followed by the EU, the UK and Saudi Arabia respectively.

“For the first time, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE presented UNRWA with $50 million for its core services. They used to respond to our emergency appeals, but never to our core services. This is really great,” the commissioner general said, noting that the money covered half the agency’s deficit for 2015.

Underscoring that UNRWA’s mandate is “safe and protected”, Krahenbuhl said he presented his annual report to the UN General Assembly in New York last week, where he sensed “unprecedented” support for the agency — the only UN entity dedicated to serve a specific national community.

“I can tell you that the level of support to UNRWA and its mandate is overwhelming among the [General Assembly] member states, so I can tell you that UNRWA’s mandate rests safely today.”

AMMAN — More than 500 school students have participated in an ongoing initiative to donate olive oil to underprivileged families in Irbid, its founder, teacher Yousef Telfah said Monday.

The “Kaset zeit min kul beit” initiative, which translates into “a cup of oil from each house”, started around three weeks ago in Aydoun Elementary School in Irbid, Telfah told The Jordan Times.

Aydoun, a small town in Irbid, lies some 90 km north of Amman and has a population of around 80,000.

Telfah, who is a first grade teacher at the school, said the idea for the project originated from Kafr Abboush in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm.

The reason for initiating the campaign at this time of the year is because olive oil prices tend to increase during the first months of the harvest season and some families cannot afford to buy it.  

Students and teachers have so far collected around 60 kilogrammes of oil, which will be distributed among underprivileged students who go to the same school and families living in Aydoun, according to the teacher. 

“I saw the campaign’s success in Kafr Abboush and I thought of implementing it in Irbid, where many families reside, yet, cannot afford to buy necessities like olive oil,” Telfah said.

“Several families wait for donations of oil due to its high price,” he added.

Nidal Quran, another schoolteacher, told The Jordan Times that first and second grade students were the ones to participate in the first weeks of the initiative.  

“One hand alone can’t clap, and this is a simple initiative to show that good people are everywhere and can help others in need,” Telfah said.

Social media users on Monday commended the initiative, describing it as “humane” and “compassionate”.

“People like him [Telfah] bring back the good values of teaching. I wish the idea would spread around more governorates,” Mohammad Ramadan wrote on Facebook.

“What you love for yourself, love for others… You are a source of pride and God will reward you,” Noor Altamimi wrote, addressing the teacher.

“... If we didn’t help each other, who would? Never underestimate the simple things you do,” Huda Yousef commented.

Describing it as a “great initiative”, Jalal Al Muhtaseb voiced hope that it would be implemented on a larger scale, since “oil prices are increasing and not many people can afford it.”

Another Facebook user commended the teachers’ efforts, saying that teaching is “the most important job” as it helps “reform society” and “restore positive values”.

“I hope more schools and universities follow your lead, you are candles that light our way,” Heba Dawwd Alqaysi posted on Facebook. 

AMMAN — China has a major role to play on Middle East issues, especially as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said on Monday.

During a meeting in Amman with China's Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue Gong Xiaosheng, Judeh commended China's support for Jordan.

Talks covered bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region, especially in Syria, and the Middle East peace process, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

They discussed Jordan's efforts in support of a political solution in Syria, especially after the Vienna meeting, where Judeh stressed that the solution must guarantee the safety, security and unity of the state with the participation of all components of the Syrian community.

The two officials also discussed developments in the Palestinian territories, particularly the recurrent Israeli violations endangering peace negotiations.

Judeh highlighted the importance of reviving peace negotiations to arrive at the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the June 4, 1967 lines, based on relevant international references and the Arab Peace Initiative.

In addition, talks covered ways to combat terrorism.

Xiaosheng commended the Kingdom’s role and its efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.

AMMAN — Five German films are currently being screened in Amman as part of Goethe Film Week with the aim of exposing the Jordanian audience to the German film industry. 

Günther Hasenkamp, director of Goethe Institut in Amman, which organised the event at the Rainbow Theatre, said the cultural centre chose films that are not only about Germany, but also have a universal meaning.

“We tried simply to select good movies. We don’t want to send a specific message. We are not preachers and there is nothing we want to preach,” he told The Jordan Times at the event’s opening ceremony on Sunday, when “The Cut” by internationally acclaimed director Fatih Akin was screened.

The film is set in Mardin, a small village in Turkey, in the year 1915. It tells the story of an Armenian blacksmith who searches across the world for his twin daughters after the deportation of Armenians from the Ottoman Empire. 

“When you talk to Jordanians about German movies or German cinema, the first [person] they will name is Fatih [Akin]. I was a bit surprised that he is so well known in Jordan, and in a way we felt that we should screen one of his movies,” Hasenkamp said.

Ahmet Servet Golbol, a lecturer at the German-Jordanian University who discussed the film with the audience after the screening, said German cinema regained its popularity over the last 20 years.

“But before that time we had a really very popular movement which has very famous directors because they tried to show realism in Germany, but then it completely vanished,” Golbol told The Jordan Times, in reference to the New German Cinema movement, which was popular between the 1960s and the 1980s and produced internationally acclaimed filmmakers such as Wim Wenders and Werner Herzog.

“It really took two decades until the German film business rose again,” he said. 

Golbol noted that after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, there was a new international interest in Germany and its art. 

“I can say that [German] films now have a good reputation internationally,” he added, suggesting that the film week’s selections present an alternative to “popcorn cinema”.

The content of the films is “a little bit more intellectually demanding”, the lecturer added. 

“Oh Boy” by director Jan Ole Gerster was on Monday’s agenda, while the 2004 documentary “Rhythm is it!” will be screened on Tuesday.

It depicts a project led by Berlin Philharmonic conductor Simon Rattle and British choreographer Royston Maldoom, which sought to popularise classical music and dance by giving 250 socially disadvantaged young people from Berlin state schools the chance to perform Igor Stravinsky’s ballet “The Rite of Spring”. 

The film “Barbara”, set in communist East Germany in 1981, will be shown on Wednesday.

Directed by Christian Petzold, the film follows the titular character, a doctor in a provincial hospital, as she tries to flee to the West amid persecution by state security.  “Home from Home” (Die Andere Heimat) will close the film week on Thursday.  

The four-hour, black-and-white film from director Edgar Reitz centres on Schabbach, a German village, in the year 1840, when its young people faced the decision of whether to stay or emigrate in search of a better life.

All screenings, held at the Rainbow Theatre in Jabal Amman, start at 7pm and entry is free. 

AMMAN — The government on Monday said the selection of Jordan to coordinate efforts to compile a list of terror groups in Syria is an international acknowledgement of the country’s clear vision regarding the war on terror.

“Jordan was asked to assume this role and approved this request,” Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani told The Jordan Times on Monday.

“Selecting Jordan for this task illustrates the international community’s recognition of Jordan’s capabilities and the efficiency of its military and security apparatuses,” noted the minister, who is also government spokesperson.

It is a testimony to the Kingdom’s strong relations with the rest of the world and its firm position and clear vision with regard to the war on terrorism, Momani said.

Jordan's security services will be coordinating closely with the states involved in the war on terror, he added.

Jordan is part of the international coalition that includes several Arab and Western countries fighting the Daesh terror group.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said participants at talks in Vienna on Syria have agreed that Jordan will coordinate efforts to compile the list of terrorist groups in Syria, Reuters reported.

"The work will be coordinated on supplementing the terrorist [groups] list, Jordan will be in charge of coordination," Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of a G-20 summit of world leaders in the Turkish coastal province of Antalya.

Taras Dobrovolskiy, press attaché and first secretary at the Russian embassy in Amman, told The Jordan Times that Lavrov held discussions with leaders of the BRICS countries on the sidelines of the G-20 summit on Sunday.

They agreed that Daesh and Jabhat Al Nusra groups are a “common enemy” for all, Dobrovolskiy said.

Leaders of BRICS — which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — agree on the need to prepare a list of terror groups, which will be an addition to the list of terrorist organisations identified by the UN, the diplomat added.

The new list, he said, will not include the groups already identified by the UN.