Local

KUWAIT — Arab leaders on Wednesday rejected Israel’s attempts to end the Hashemites’ custodianship over Al Aqsa Mosque and held Israel accountable for the impasse in the peace process and continued tensions in the Middle East.

The Arab leaders voiced their rejection of Israel’s demand to be recognised as a Jewish state and denounced continued settlement activities by Tel Aviv and its attempts to Judaise Jerusalem and change the demographics and geographic situation in the holy city, according to the Kuwait Declaration released at the end of the Arab summit in the Gulf emirate.

“We call on the Security Council, the EU and UNESCO to live up to their responsibilities towards Al Aqsa Mosque,” Kuwaiti foreign ministry undersecretary, Khaled Al Jarallah, said as he read out the final statement issued following the two-day summit.

Last year, Jordan and Palestine signed an agreement under which the Palestinian side “reaffirmed” the status of His Majesty King Abdullah as the custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem. Under the deal, King Abdullah enjoys the “full right to exert all legal efforts to safeguard and preserve [Jerusalem’s holy sites], especially Al Aqsa Mosque, the main feature of Al Haram Al Sharif compound [or the Noble Sanctuary whose area is estimated at 144 dunums]”.

The Arab leaders stressed that reconciliation among the Palestinian factions is key to realising the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

The Arab leaders condemned the massacres committed by the Syrian regime against the defenceless civilians, including the use of internationally prohibited weapons.

However, they called for political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with the Geneva I Declaration.

“We stress our solidarity with the Syrian people and support their legitimate rights in freedom and democracy and establishing a regime where all Syrians enjoy the right to participate in all institutions without any discrimination because of race, religion or sect,” said the communiqué.

Arab leaders pledged to work to end rifts amongst them, according to the declaration.

“We pledge to work to put an end to the Arab divide through fruitful and constructive dialogue and to end all types of differences through transparency and honesty in words and deeds.”

Announcing the end of the summit, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah said discussions during the summit reflected the Arab leaders’ genuine willingness to enhance Arab ties to reach desired levels.

Fourteen leaders attended this year’s summit, which was held in Kuwait for the first time.

Next year’s summit is scheduled to be held in Egypt.

AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday denounced an attack that targeted a security checkpoint in the Yemeni governorate of Hadramaut, which claimed the lives of several security personnel.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani, who is also acting foreign minister, asserted Jordan’s rejection of all acts of violence and terrorism, regardless of their motives.

He expressed Jordan’s solidarity with the government and people of Yemen in facing terrorism and violence.

Momani called for strengthening national unity to confront terrorism, stressing the Kingdom’s support for the outcome of the National Dialogue Committee to boost security and stability in Yemen.

Momani extended his condolences to the Yemeni government and people, and the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

AMMAN — Border guards thwarted an attempt by two people to illegally enter Jordan from Syria on Tuesday, according to an official source at the Jordan Armed Forces.

As the two did not heed warnings, border guards shot at them, killing one and wounding the other who was taken to the nearest medical centre.

Meanwhile, 780 Syrian refugees, including nine injured people, entered Jordan in the past 24 hours through various illegal entry points.

AMMAN — Deputising for HRH Princess Sumaya, president of the Royal Scientific Society, Issa Batarseh, president of Princess Sumaya University for Technology, has honoured the winners of the sixth Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition, annually organised by the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship (QRCE), according to a statement released Tuesday.

The contest was aimed at developing the spirit of entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation among different segments of the local community in order to enable them to “transform their creative ideas into successful economic projects that can export products and services to regional and global markets”, the QRCE statement said.

AMMAN — The economic development ministerial committee on Tuesday discussed a report on the losses incurred by the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).

The report showed that NEPCO’s outstanding dues to the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC) stand at around JD558 million.

NEPCO’s deficit amounted to JD3.45 billion last year, while the amount of loans provided to the company by the Finance Ministry stood at around JD1.32 billion in 2013.

AMMAN — Al Hussein Society for the Habilitation/Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Health Ministry to improve the quality of services offered to people with disabilities.

Under the agreement, signed by HRH Princess Majida Raad, president of the society, and Health Minister Ali Hiasat, the ministry will provide the facility with doctors, especially those specialised in physical therapy.

AMMAN — Hugh Robertson, Minister of State for the Middle East at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, arrived in Jordan on Tuesday on his second official visit to the Kingdom.

During his March 25-27 stay, Robertson is scheduled to meet with several senior officials and visit UK-funded projects to help Syrian refugees in the northern region, according to a British embassy statement.

Speaking on arrival, Robertson said his talks will cover “cooperation on regional issues, particularly on the Middle East peace process and on Syria”.

“I will be talking to my Jordanian counterparts about the severe impact this crisis has had on Jordan, and paying tribute to Jordan’s generosity in hosting 600,000 people that have been forced to flee their homes to escape the violence in Syria,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.

KUWAIT — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday said Jordan does not interfere in the internal disputes of other Arab countries, and has strong relations with its sister states.

During a meeting with the Jordanian media delegation covering the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait, the prime minister said the region is going through a difficult phase, which calls for unifying pan-Arab efforts.

Regarding the issue of Syrian refugees and the burdens borne by the country in this regard, he said hosting refugees is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian mission.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Raad, president of the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), on Tuesday attended the national dialogue forum on the employment of people with disabilities.

Prince Raad underlined Jordan’s commitment to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, noting that the HCD coordinates with the concerned authorities to provide job opportunities to people with disabilities.

Also on Tuesday, Prince Raad presented work permits to graduates of a sign language interpretation training course.

AMMAN –– Amman residents will be exposed to the work of Jordanian and international photojournalists on Friday when the second version of Night of the Year by renowned international photography festival Rencontres d’Arles opens at 8pm.

The event is organised in cooperation with the Image Festival, which is held by Institut Français in collaboration with Darat Al Tasweer. 

The Night of the Year will mark the conclusion of the month-long Image Festival, which featured several photography exhibitions by Arab and French photographers around Amman.

The photographs will be displayed outdoors on eight screens set up on Jabal Amman’s Rainbow Street, according to Linda Khoury, the founder of Darat Al Tasweer.  

“We chose Rainbow Street because we wanted to bring photography to people instead of inviting them to come to one place,” she said. 

“Also, the street is pedestrian-friendly, so they can simply walk around and look at the photos, and the day is suitable for most people because it is the weekend,” she told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Khoury noted that Night of the Year is one of the most important photography events in the world. The Rencontres d’Arles has been holding such events in France since 2004.

“Jordan is one of a limited number of countries that host this event,” she added. 

The work by Jordanian photographers that will be presented in the Friday event is already on display in the current Image Festival. 

“The feedback of the audience was really good; people liked last year’s version,” Khoury said.