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AMMAN – Jordanian industrialists expect a decision to be taken by Iraqi authorities this week to open the border crossing with the Kingdom, Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) President Ayman Hatahet said Saturday. 

The Turaibil/Karameh crossing has been closed since mid-July under a decision by the Iraqi authorities until further notice due to security reasons and ongoing fighting with extremists in the Anbar province. 

"Internal measures by the Iraqi government to open the border are expected this week," Hatahet told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Commenting on the issue, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said in remarks to The Jordan Times that the move was yet to be confirmed by the Iraqi side. 

“We hope so, but there is no confirmation yet,” he said.

The JCI president described Iraq as Jordan’s largest market as around 20 per cent of the nearly JD6 billion overall volume of exports goes to the eastern neighbour. 

Since the closure, he said, Jordanian exports to Iraq have come to a complete halt, except for limited goods that have a long life span, noting that some industrialists ship their products through Kuwait, which is a costly alternative for the majority of Jordanian exporters.   

“Opening the border with Iraq is the only workable solution for Jordanian exports to recover,” Hatahet said, adding that due to instability in Syria and Iraq, industrial exports have retracted by 10 to 15 per cent in recent years. 

He indicated that several industries were established in Jordan just for the Iraqi market such as food processing, detergents and wood. 

“Such factories, dozens of which are based in Jordan, have been idle for a while,” the sector top representative said. 

Not only is the industrial sector suffering because of instability in Iraq and Syria.  

The two neighbours were major importers of the Kingdom’s fruits and vegetables; in addition, they have served as transit corridors to key markets such as Turkey, Lebanon and East Europe. 

AMMAN — Names of students admitted to public universities for the 2015-16 scholastic year under the Unified Admission List will be announced Wednesday or Thursday, a senior official at the Higher Education Ministry said on Saturday.

The Higher Education Council has decided to accept 28,275 students in the regular programme at public universities.

AMMAN — Sunday marks the 13th anniversary of the passing away of Prince Zeid Bin Shaker.

The prince held several leading posts at the domestic level, including prime minister, defence minister, Royal Court chief, chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and His Majesty King Hussein’s military adviser.

In February, 1996, King Hussein bestowed on him the title of prince.

AMMAN — The Goodwill Campaign on Saturday, in cooperation with the Inner Wheel Club’s Amman branch, distributed stationery and sportswear to 540 students in Dalagha village in Maan.

The aid is aimed at reducing the financial burdens of families of the area before the beginning of the academic year, and targeted all students in the village, from kindergarten to 12th grade.

AMMAN — Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh on Saturday said Jordan, its people, security institutions and the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army all work together to achieve peace and security.

Kalaldeh made his remarks while deputising for Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour at the conference “Jordan Amidst a Changing Regional Environment — Scenarios of the Next Phase”, organised by Al Quds Centre for Political Studies and the Applied Science University.

He said the region’s future will be characterised by a continuation of civil and sectarian wars, and refugee crises. All these developments have all caused a decline in the interest in the region’s central issue — the Palestinian cause, Kalaldeh said.

AMMAN ––US Ambassador to Jordan Alice Wells visited the American University of Madaba (AUM) on Thursday and met with AUM President George Hazboun, Vice President Muneer Dababneh, and the deans.

During the meeting she listened to a brief update on the university’s progress and its academic accomplishments, according to a statement issued by the university. AUM is graduating its first class this year. Many of its graduates have already received job offers, said the statement, adding that Wells toured the campus.

AMMAN — Basil Tarawneh, the government’s coordinator on human rights, on Saturday launched the second report issued by the Tourism Ministry, which shows its most significant achievements in the field of human rights.

Tarawneh said the ministry is committed to implementing international and local laws on the safety of tourists in terms of accommodation and freedom to practise their faith. He said these reports are issued quarterly by ministries and public institutions to clarify government measures to offer the best services to the public.

IRBID — Irbid Mayor Hussein Bani Hani said Saturday that the most significant achievements of the municipality during the past two years have been opening the King Abdullah II Park, and paving and renovating streets at a cost of more than JD16 million.

At a press conference, Bani Hani said Irbid Municipality cadres worked “round-the-clock” during the past several months to complete work on streets, yards, garages and sidewalks surrounding and within the King Abdullah II Park, inaugurated by HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani on Saturday denounced acts of terrorism targeting Bahrain.

Momani, who is also the government's spokesperson, strongly condemned the terrorist blast that occurred in Karana village on Friday, during which a policeman was killed and others were injured. 

He said a global effort is needed to confront terrorism, which poses a threat to global peace and security.

The minister stressed Jordan's solidarity and support for the Bahraini government and people in confronting attempts to undermine Bahrain's stability and security. 

He also stressed Jordan's unwavering position rejecting all forms of terrorism and violence.

 Momani extended his condolences to the Bahraini government and people and the family of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. 

AMMAN — Thousands of participants in the fifth “Labayka ya Aqsa” (at your service, Aqsa) Festival, organised by the Muslim Brotherhood in Nazzal and Yasmine on Friday, condemned the “frequent Zionist attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque”.

Hammam Saeed, the overall leader of the Brotherhood group, called on officials to perform their duties in protecting the mosque.

Talal Madi, former senator and secretary general of the Unified Jordanian Front Party, highlighted the need for Jordanians and Arabs to defend Al Aqsa and support Palestinians’ resilience against the occupation, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times.