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AMMAN — Jordan on Saturday commemorated the life of Her Majesty Queen Zein Al Sharaf, the late Queen Mother, who passed away 20 years ago.

Royal family members, including Their Royal Highnesses Prince Feisal, Princess Basma and Prince Raad, visited the late Queen’s tomb to mark the 20th anniversary of her passing.

Queen Zein was born on August 2, 1916, the daughter of Sharif Jamil Bin Nasser, governor of Huran and nephew of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali of Mecca, and Wijdan Hanim, daughter of Shakir Pasha, governor of Cyprus.

In 1934, she married His Majesty King Talal Bin Abdullah, and together they had three sons, His Majesty the late King Hussein, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Mohammad and Prince Hassan, and one daughter, HRH Princess Basma.

Queen Zein was a highly respected, much loved figure in Jordan who represented strength, wisdom and courage throughout many years, challenging times and pivotal events in the country’s history.

A pioneer of the women’s movement, Queen Zein’s own leadership qualities, combined with her strong Islamic values, made her an example for Arab and Muslim women everywhere.

In 1944, she created the first women’s union in Jordan, and in 1948 she was instrumental in establishing the women’s branch of the Red Crescent Society.

She also led national humanitarian relief efforts for thousands of Palestinian refugees who came to Jordan following the war of 1948.

Queen Zein is widely acknowledged to have played an important role in the political development of the Kingdom in the 1950s, also contributing to the drafting of the 1952 Constitution that gave full rights to women.

She was committed to helping young orphans, establishing the Mabarrat Um Al Hussein Orphanage in Amman, which still bears her name, and to which she remained dedicated until the end of her life.

Over the years, Queen Zein’s steadfast commitment to her country and her relationship with its people earned her the title “Um al Urduneen” — “Mother of Jordanians”.

Her passing away on April 26, 1994 marked the closing of an important chapter in the history of Jordan, but her memory remains a source of pride, close to the nation’s heart.

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh met with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro to discuss bilateral ties. 

At the meeting, which covered several regional and international issues of mutual concern, Tarawneh underlined Jordan’s commitment to boosting cooperation between Jordan and South American countries at all levels, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Tarawneh highlighted the Kingdom’s stances towards regional issues, particularly those relating to peace efforts between the Palestinians and the Israelis based on the two-state solution, as well as the Syrian crisis. 

The Royal Court chief also outlined the challenges Jordan now faces as a result of hosting a large number of Syrian refugees and the pressure this imposes on its already scarce resources. 

For his part, Almagro stressed his country’s keenness to develop cooperation with the Kingdom. 

Also on Thursday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh met with his Uruguayan counterpart to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. 

In addition, talks covered the possibility of benefiting from Uruguay’s experience in the field of renewable energy, especially since 50 per cent of its energy derives from renewable resources. 

The two sides agreed to increase the trade volume, establish mutual benefits from investment opportunities available in both countries and promote Jordan as a destination for medical and religious tourism in the South American country, according to Petra.

AMMAN — The Cabinet, in a session held on Thursday and headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, discussed ways to translate the Royal letter instructing the government to develop a clear future vision for the Jordanian economy in the next 10 years. 

Planning and International Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Saif provided the Cabinet with a preliminary vision to work on the
March 14 letter according to a comprehensive framework that reinforces the country’s financial and monetary positions, improves the national economy’s competitiveness and promotes values of productivity and self-reliance. 

His Majesty told the government in the letter that this difficult economic situation has led to an increase in the deficit and debt over the past few years. The implications of these difficult economic conditions have left their mark on the standard of living our citizens enjoy, he said. 

The King said in the letter to the government that the number one priority and foremost challenge citizens face is how to improve their living conditions and to secure better jobs that provide them and their families with a decent living, and hope for a better future. 

“These are concerns that I witnessed first-hand during my ongoing field visits. Price hikes and financial pressures our citizens face today are the hard realities we need to address. Accordingly, the state — in all its institutions — must provide socio-economic solutions and programmes to alleviate these burdens.” 

AMMAN — Interior Minister Hussein Majali briefed a Cabinet session, headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour Thursday, on the riots Maan Governorate has witnessed after recent gun assaults on Gendarmerie officers.

These officers were on duty guarding a court in Maan, 220km south of Amman, when they were shot by people with criminal records, the minister was quoted as saying by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 Majali said the assailants deliberately obstructed transferring an injured Gendarmerie officer to Maan Public Hospital. Moreover, they tried to halt transferring an officer in a critical condition to hospital by a medical helicopter, leading to clashes that resulted in the injury of five Gendarmerie personnel, one in a critical condition.

He added that on Tuesday night, suspects opened fire at a Gendarmerie Force from a building and a vehicle of some wanted persons while the force was searching for suspects in the court case.

Gendarmerie personnel had to fire back, which resulted in the death of one person.

The death of the young man, reportedly an innocent passer-by, triggered wider riots, with Maan figures accusing authorities of using excessive force in the campaign.

Rioters attacked public and private facilities including three banks, income tax offices and two schools, according to Majali.

Attacks also included throwing burning bottles on security forces who were trying to restore order in the city, which is inhabited by 50,000 people, and arrest the suspects.

Earlier on Thursday, Majali held two meetings with security leaders in Maan to examine the situation, Petra reported.

Attendees of the meeting stressed that “the security operation in Maan will continue, targeting a limited number of outlaws and wanted individuals”, in addition to those proven to be involved in assaults on gendarmes, riots, vandalism and “terrorising citizens”.

Majali stressed that there is “no security campaign in Maan”, but rather measures to arrest a number of outlaws and restore security in the restive city.

The Interior Ministry, he added, is in contact with residents and tribal leaders of Maan to cooperate with them to complete their mission.

“The state and its security apparatuses are capable of enforcing their authority and restoring law and order by bringing an end to any attempts to disturb the peace and threaten the security of citizens,” Majali told the Cabinet.

Any measures that are taken will only be aimed at arresting those behind the unrest and referring them to court for “justice to take its course”, Majali stressed.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday said all authorities and entities of the public and private sectors should join efforts towards improving the living standards of citizens and their economic conditions. 

Addressing economic challenges facing the Kingdom, including poverty, unemployment and the budget deficit is “at the top of our priorities” in order to guarantee a decent life and a better future for our people, the King told members of the Lower House’s Watan (homeland) bloc during a meeting at Husseiniya Palace.

The Watan bloc, chaired by Deputy Khaled Bakkar, comprises 18 deputies.  

At the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, King Abdullah underscored the role of the Lower House as a legislative and oversight body in support of the country’s reform drive, noting that programme-based parliamentary work is the way to enhance the House performance. 

In this context, he stressed the importance of institutionalising the work of parliamentary blocs so that they act on the basis of a clear and well-defined vision, and, consequently, suggest answers to the country’s woes that can help the government draw up strategies and determine priorities. 

The King commended the House’s recent endorsement of amendments to its by-laws, describing the move as “a step towards increasing the efficiency of the Lower House”. 

The Monarch stressed the importance of maintaining coordination and consultation between the House and the government, within the framework of partnership and complementing roles. 

Discussions also addressed the latest developments at the regional level, especially in relation to the Middle East peace process and efforts exerted to arrive at a comprehensive political solution for the Syrian crisis. 

King Abdullah reaffirmed Jordan’s positions regarding these issues, noting that the country remains well-informed of all the details of the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, in a manner that safeguards Jordan’s higher national interests. 

The lawmakers expressed appreciation of the King’s continued contacts with the House members and blocs, and listening to their views vis-à-vis different national issues and House performance. 

Briefing the Monarch on the House accomplishments during the current ordinary session, which is scheduled to end on May 3rd, they said the House has endorsed around 30 laws pertaining to political, economic and legal reforms and held four joint sessions. They called for supporting the Jordan Armed Forces and security bodies, stressing the need for enforcing the rule of law across the Kingdom.  With regard to development, they asked for more fair distribution of projects across the country, especially in rural areas to mitigate the problems of poverty and unemployment. 

Ensour highlighted the government’s commitment to maintaining contacts with the various brackets of the community and to build real partnership with the Lower House. 

Regarding economic issues, he said the government seeks to foster the role of industrial estates in all governorates to create jobs for local residents and address economic difficulties.    

The meeting, that was also attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, is part of a series of encounters the King is holding to maintain contacts with lawmakers over issues of national interest. 

AMMAN — An international conference on means to “unite the Arab world” through communication, titled “Power to connect in a changing world”, concluded on Thursday.

The three-day conference, organised by the faculty of foreign languages at the University of Jordan, featured representatives from more than 13 countries.

Discussions covered issues of interconnectedness within the framework of change in language, thought and culture, in addition to the study of linguistics, literature and translation.

Participants looked into ways to keep communication successful in an “ever-changing” region.

The conference was held in cooperation with the Association of Professors of English and Translation at Arab Universities.

AMMAN — Baroness Patricia Scotland, a member of the UK House of Lords, on Thursday commended the work of the Ministry of Social Development in providing protection and support for women who are subjected to domestic violence.

During a visit to the Dar Al Wifaq Osari Home, accompanied by Social Development Minister Reem Abu Hassan, she toured its various facilities and met with several beneficiaries.

The baroness, who has experience in combating domestic violence, suggested the possibility of cooperating with the Global Foundation for the Elimination of Domestic Violence, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts to provide better lives for women worldwide.

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben on Thursday met with Catherine Gendre, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jordan.

Discussions covered ways of boosting cooperation between the Jordan Armed Forces and the ICRC.

AMMAN — Border guards have received 756 Syrian refugees over the past 48 hours, a source said Thursday.

The majority of the arrivals, who entered through illegal crossing points along the 376-kilometre border, were children, women and the elderly.

Border guards received the refugees and transferred them to shelters set up by the Jordan Armed Forces.

MAFRAQ — Mafraq Civil Defence Department (CDD) personnel on Thursday rescued a four-year-old child who was stuck in a washing machine in the Msheirfeh area in Mafraq, some 80km northeast of Amman.

The CDD said its personnel managed to free the child with the use of specialised equipment.

The child received first aid before being transferred to Mafraq Public Hospital, and was reported to be in fair condition.