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MANAMA — Hate speech has become an industry that generates income for a small group of people that only brings destruction to humanity at a time when the Arab and Muslim world is going through a difficult period, HRH Prince Hassan said on Monday. 

The prince, who is president of the Arab Thought Forum, made the remarks during the opening ceremony of a conference on inter-civilisation dialogue, which was held in Manama under the patronage of Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa. 

“Hate speech fuels sedition and leads to dispute and wars that result in division,” the prince said.  

He noted that one of the reasons for rejecting the annexation of Jerusalem is that it kills the spirit of pluralism that was the hallmark of the holy city’s history.

The prince added that the old city of Jerusalem was the home of Jebusites, Canaanites and followers of the Abrahamic religions. 

“Therefore, the systematic response to Zionism’s exclusion, or any other segregation that hails division and justifies aggression with religious pretexts, is moderation and commitment to our Arab and Islamic pluralism that strengthens society and unites it on mutual objectives that respect sectarian, religious and ethnic diversity,” he said.        

Prince Hassan noted that developing dialogue contributes to the creation of a political education enriched with pluralism and based on a humane and ethical system. 

On the other hand, he underlined that inter-cultural dialogue does not mean the annihilation of one culture over the other, or abandoning the specification of identities.

Prince Hassan called for a sound and successful inter-cultural dialogue that is based on believing in the other and respecting differences. 

Around 150 intellectuals and thinkers from more than 15 countries are taking part in the three-day conference along with 350 academic and religious figures.   

At the end of the event, participants will come up with recommendations that will be referred to King Hamad and named “The Bahrain Document”, which will then be submitted to the UN for adoption. 

Later on Monday, King Hamad met with the prince and other participants in the conference and stressed the significance of the event in building an alliance for all civilisations to face terrorism and extremism. 

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Abdullah Ensour on Monday underlined the “deep” ties Jordan and Greece enjoy at all levels, citing the European country’s “understanding” of regional challenges, especially the Palestine issue. 

He made his remarks during a meeting with Greek Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on the sidelines of the 10th Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX 2014). Ensour highlighted the security, economic and social problems facing the Kingdom due to hosting around two million Palestinian refugees, 1.3 million Syrians and 250,000 Iraqis, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Despite the challenges, the premier noted that Jordan ranks first regionally in terms of eradicating illiteracy, the number of university graduates and the quality of medical tourism. 

Talks also focused on prospects for further bilateral cooperation. 

Also on Monday, Interior Minister Hussein Majali met with Avramopoulos and discussed ways to activate mutual agreements, in addition to the latest regional developments, particularly in Syria, according to Petra.  

AMMAN — The 7th Edition of the Middle East Special Operations Commanders conference opened on Monday, on the sidelines of the 10th Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX 2014), which will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday. 

HRH Prince Feisal on Monday opened the conference on behalf of His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF).

During the ceremony, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben highlighted Jordan’s commitment to building partnerships with most world countries in order to overcome challenges and ensure the safety and well-being of the country. 

“We at the armed forces develop and apply measures that effectively address and respond to security threats… Jordan is interested in cooperating with other countries to face regional security challenges…,” Zaben said. 

He underlined the importance of King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre, which organises an annual international competition for special operations forces from around the world to enable them to exchange expertise, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

This year’s edition of SOFEX, titled “Special Forces at the Time of Digital Wars”, was organised by the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis and SOFEX management, with the support of the JAF and security apparatuses.  

More than 600 figures representing 52 Arab and foreign countries took part in the conference, including defence ministers, army chiefs, security and special operations officers.

SOFEX Managing Director Amer Tabbaa noted that the biennial exhibition is one of the “success stories” that brings international and regional armies and governments from around the globe together with defence industry experts in Jordan.

“SOFEX develops partnerships for the sake of peace and security for all our nations,” he said, stressing the need to seize the opportunity the event offers to unite all capabilities to bring about peace, security and prosperity to the international community.

Meanwhile, Commander of the US Special Operations Command Centre Maj. Gen. Michael Nagata highlighted the dynamic processes in the global environment, while his Italian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Maurizio Fioravanti, underlined main enabling elements of rescue and search operations.   

At the conference sessions, attended by Prince Feisal and mediated by Prince Sultan Bin Khalid Al Feisal, former chief of the Saudi special marine operations forces, participants discussed the role of the forces in combating terrorism. 

Discussions also covered the state-of-the art military products as well as issues related to training and rehabilitation of armies, Petra reported. 

The Monarch will on Tuesday inaugurate the SOFEX 2014 exhibition, which will run through May 8.

It will be held in a space of 75,000 square metres at the King Abdullah I Airbase near Amman, with local, regional and international companies showcasing the latest special operations and technology equipment. 

AMMAN — Participants in the Road to Jerusalem Conference on Monday issued the conference’s final communiqué, in which they called for continued efforts to defend Al Aqsa Mosque.  

In the final communiqué of the conference held last week, they called on Arab and Islamic countries to support housing projects of Jerusalemites, besides supporting social, economic and health committees working in the Old City (see full text of communiqué). 

The event was organised by the Lower House’s Palestine Committee, the Arab Parliament and the World Islamic Sciences and Education University.

They also called for forming a media committee to draw up a plan to defend Jerusalem and its holy Islamic and Christian sites. 

Among the 18 recommendations made by the conference, participants vowed to exert efforts to achieve the unity of the Arab and Muslim nation, or work to ensure a consensus over the “constants”, highlighting the protection of Islam’s holy sites as a major point of agreement among Muslims and Arabs.

They also vowed support for the Palestinians and the Palestinian leadership’s pursuit of the right to establish their independent state.

They held the US “responsible for the continuing arrogance that Israel has displayed, and for the aggression committed by Jewish extremists against the Blessed Al Aqsa Mosque and Muslim and Christian holy sites”. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday asserted the brotherly relations between Jordan and Iraq as well as the Kingdom’s support for all efforts to boost Iraq’s security and stability and to arrive at national reconciliation among the various segments of the Iraqi people. 

The King made the remarks during a meeting with President of the Iraqi region of Kurdistan Massoud Barzani at Al Husseiniya Palace during which the two sides reviewed the latest regional developments and issues of mutual concern, according to a Royal Court statement.  

The King and Barzani discussed ways to foster relations between Jordan and the region of Kurdistan, especially in economic, investment and tourism areas, as well as means to help the region benefit from Jordanian expertise, especially in the area of capacity building. 

Barzani, who started a several-day visit to the Kingdom on Monday, hailed Jordan’s stand in support of the Iraqi people, stressing his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the Kingdom and the region, in a manner that serves the interests of both sides, the statement said. 

Kurdistan’s president expressed his appreciation of the continued efforts of King Abdullah, who, he said, represents the “sound of reason, moderation and peace” in dealing with challenges facing the region and in fostering peace and stability, noting that “His Majesty and the Jordanian people have a special place in the hearts of all Iraqis”. 

HRH Prince Feisal, King’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, King’s Adviser and Rapporteur of the National Policies Council Abdullah Saleh Wreikat and  the  delegation accompanying Barzani were present at the meeting. 

AMMAN — Police are searching for suspects who reportedly broke into the house of a judicial official in Maan and stuck a dagger into his pillow on Sunday night, according to an official source.

“No one has been arrested so far and the assailants remain unknown to us,” a police official told The Jordan Times on Monday.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted the Interior Ministry as saying that “threatening the prosecutor general with death is part of similar threats that the judicial branch in Maan was subjected to recently by unknown individuals”.

Last week, the vehicle of a Maan judge was stolen and a criminal prosecutor was assaulted by hooded men in the central market of the southern city, some 220km south of Amman, Petra reported.

The incidents follow a period of unrest witnessed in Maan two weeks ago during which one person was killed, and several others were injured, including policemen who were guarding a courtroom. 

Some government properties, shops and banks were also targeted and vandalised by angry residents who also blocked some roads using burnt tyres.

Maan Mayor Majed Sharari claimed that the dagger-pillow incident was “staged by the government to use as an excuse to re-enter the city”. 

“They [authorities] just want an excuse to stir things up since the situation is still tense in the city, although it is calm now, to enter again,” Sharari told The Jordan Times.

The government has not arrested any of the 19 wanted men that Interior Minister Hussein Majali said were targeted recently.

“The government said they are looking for some wanted individuals but no efforts were made by anyone to arrest them,” Sharari charged. 

AMMAN — Jordan and the US on Monday signed the second sovereign loan guarantee agreement, which will allow Jordan to access affordable financing from international capital markets.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that the $1.25 billion agreement was signed by Finance Minister Umayya Toukan and Beth Paige, USAID mission director to Jordan. Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and US Ambassador in Amman Stuart Jones signed the declaration related to the deal.

In a statement, the US embassy said that the agreement ensures that Jordan can continue to “provide critical services to its citizens as it enacts transformative economic reforms and hosts 600,000 refugees who have fled the violence inside Syria”. 

“The signing of this loan guarantee agreement fulfils the commitment made by President [Barack] Obama during his meeting with King Abdullah in California on February 14, 2014. At that meeting President Obama noted that, ‘we have very few friends, partners and allies around the world that have been as steadfast and reliable as His Majesty King Abdullah, as well as the people of Jordan’.”

Pursuant to the loan guarantee agreement, the United States would guarantee repayment of principal and interest on the issuance of up to a $1 billion, five-year Jordanian sovereign bond. This follows the US guarantee for a $1.25 billion issuance last year. 

The embassy said last year’s guarantee was “very successful in reducing Jordan’s borrowing costs and supporting its reform efforts during a time of regional instability”.

The difference in the interest rate on the borrowing would save Jordan $200 million, according to Petra, which said that the previous issuance saved the Treasury $300 million, as the country is able to borrow at 2.5 per cent interest rate, the same rate paid by the US government for external loans. 

In his remarks at the ceremony, Ensour voiced appreciation for the US administration’s support, which, he said, would boost Jordan’s reform drive and empower it to maintain “growth momentum”. In addition, he said, the agreement would also help Jordan continue its humanitarian support for the Syrian refugees. 

He also thanked Washington for allocating $270 million in additional assistance to Jordan this year.

Toukan announced that the bond issuance is slated for June 23 in New York, to be managed by Citibank and J.P. Morgan. 

The minister noted that Jordan’s indebtedness stands at around JD21 billion, constituting more than 82 per cent of the GDP.

Paige said that the loan guarantee agreement signals that Washington has great confidence in Jordan’s economic reform to guarantee a loan of this size.

AMMAN — Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) agents have foiled an attempt to smuggle five kilogrammes of cocaine into Jordan through Queen Alia International Airport, official sources said on Monday.

The illegal drugs, which were destined for a neighbouring country, were in the possession of a South American man coming from Brazil via a Gulf country last week, according to a senior AND official.

“We have instructed our border agents to carefully search all passengers coming from countries known to be sources of illegal drug trafficking,” the official explained.

When the South American passenger arrived at the airport, AND agents conducted a thorough search of his luggage and “discovered the illegal narcotics hidden in secret pockets”, the official told the Jordan Times.

“The passenger tried to delude us by coming via a Gulf country, but we had a very good idea where he was coming from so we decided to search him carefully,” the official said, adding that the South American told investigators that he was planning to deliver the shipment to three men, two Jordanians and a Turkish national, in his hotel room.

“We escorted him to his hotel room and arrested the men when they arrived to receive the shipment without any major incident,” the official noted.

The four suspects were referred to the State Security Court prosecution for further questioning, according to a statement released by the Public Security Department.

The official estimated the price of the seized cocaine to be between JD60,000 to JD80,000.

In January, AND agents destroyed 12 kilogramme of cocaine that were seized by the department during a six-month span in 2013.

DEAD SEA — Motorcycle riders from across the Arab world travelled 290km around the Kingdom over the course of three days, to get a firsthand look at Jordan’s diverse landscapes.

The motorcycle tour, spanning 15 villages from the south to the north, concluded on Saturday.

Most of the 232 participants are businessmen from 11 countries who are members of the Riders Network.

The network, which consists of 12 countries, held its annual meeting in Jordan this year ahead of the motorcycle tour. After the “fruitful” results of this year’s meeting, the organisers said they plan to convene in Jordan every year.

The rally was only to test the riders’ skills, the organisers said late last week, adding that there were no winners or losers.

It took the government, in cooperation with the Public Security Department, Traffic Police, the Jordan Traffic Institute and the Civil Defence Department, four months to prepare for the event. 

“Riding motorcycles had been growing on me for 15 years, so I took lessons and silenced everyone who said I was ‘getting too old’ to starting a new adventure,” said Mariana Mirza, a 44 year old who is one of the few Jordanian female motorcyclists.

According to Riyadh Riders’ captain Ahmad Jan, 20 riders from the Saudi capital participated in the rally, with their ages ranging from 28 to almost 40. 

Meanwhile, only four participants out of 50 from the Lebanese team were “able to cross the Syrian border and enter Jordan to join the rally”, Lebanese participant Mohamed Mohn said.

Haroun Khajah, a Kuwaiti rider, said five of his compatriots participated, three of whom are women. 

“People in Kuwait encourage females in particular and males to be more involved in these types of activities to represent their country abroad,” Khajah said.

Egyptian team media spokesperson Hossam Sharaf said the event was well organised.

“Everyone is following the rules of the rally and the safety precautions were taken care of,” he told The Jordan Times last week.

AMMAN — Jordan is expected to sign an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell before the end of June to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to a terminal in Aqaba, a senior official said on Monday.

“The Council of Ministers approved signing a final agreement with Shell to supply the LNG terminal in Aqaba… We previously signed a memorandum of understanding with the energy giant and we will start looking into the final details of the agreement,” Energy Minister Mohammad Hamed told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The minister added that a specialised committee will meet with Shell officials in the next few weeks to draft the final agreement, which is expected to be signed next month.

Under the five-year agreement, the company will supply the $65 million terminal with LNG, according to the minister.

Shell will provide 590 million cubic feet of LNG gas per day to a floating storage re-gasification unit that the government recently rented and then the gas will flow into the terminal.

Liquefied natural gas is expected to start flowing into the terminal at the end of 2014, according to Hamed, who noted that construction work on the Aqaba terminal is going as scheduled and that the facility is expected to be operational in November this year.

Jordan, which annually imports about 96 per cent of its energy needs, seeks to diversify its energy sources following repeated cuts in natural gas supplies from Egypt, which forced the Kingdom to buy heavy fuel and diesel for power generation.

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, the minister explained that although importing liquefied natural gas is more expensive than the natural gas Jordan used to get from Egypt, LNG remains 30-35 per cent less expensive than diesel and heavy fuel.