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AMMAN — Flower vendors have “very low” sales expectations regarding this year’s Valentine’s Day due to economic hardships and regional turmoil, a sector leader said.

Chairman of the Amman Flowers Bourse Mazen Ghalayini told The Jordan Times that turmoil in the surrounding countries and hard economic circumstances signal a “weak” season.

“Many find it inappropriate to celebrate love while people in neighbouring countries are being killed,” he said, adding that having Valentine’s Day on a Friday could even decrease sales.

Ghalayini noted that customers mostly buy red roses on Valentine’s Day; however, red tulips or any other kind of red flowers could do.

“We imported more than enough flowers and roses for this occasion from Ethiopia, Ecuador and Kenya, in addition to local production,” he told The Jordan Times.

The average price of a rose is between 70 piasters and JD1, but during Valentine’s season it might reach JD6, according to Ghalayini, who noted that all international flower markets witness such price hikes because of high demand.

On the other hand, Shahd Abu Tayeh, who works at a flower shop in the Jubeiha neighbourhood north of Amman, said the shop has advertised a price reduction in local newspapers to encourage customers.

“Almost all customers buy balloons or gifts along with flowers; therefore we offer very affordable prices to enable them to draw smiles on the faces of their loved ones,” she said, expecting most flower shops to remain open all night this Thursday.

Florist Amjad Sharayaa said he is not expecting many customers although prices of flowers will only increase by JD2 each.

“The demand for flowers last Valentine’s Day was very weak,” he said, adding that this year he is not doing any external decorations of balloons or flowers for his shop.

Jordanians interviewed by The Jordan Times agreed on their preference to buy “more useful items” than flowers.

Ahmad Mulla, said he has been saving money for the past few months to buy his fiancée a golden bracelet on this occasion.

“This gift might be of more value for her,” he told The Jordan Times.

Also, Um Omar is expressing her love to her husband by buying him a necktie and perfume.

“Love should be celebrated all year long, but Valentine’s Day is a chance to do something special for the loved ones away from daily routine,” she said.

Suhaib Nashashibi, on the other hand, said he is inviting his parents out for dinner because he has “no one” to celebrate Valentine’s Day with.

A worker at a restaurant in Jabal Amman, Ibrahim Hassan, said many reservations have been made during the past few days for Friday.

“We are expecting many couples and families, although we had more reservations for this occasion last year,” he told The Jordan Times.

Observed every year on February 14, Valentine’s Day originated as a feast to honour one of several Christian martyrs, St. Valentine.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday received a letter from Rajai Muasher, chairman of the Royal commission tasked with evaluating and following up on the implementation of the Executive Plan of National Integrity Charter.

In his reply to the King’s letter, Muasher pledged “relentless efforts to have the mission accomplished”.

He said the commission will maintain constant consultation and coordination with civil society organisations, political parties, professional associations, youth organisations and citizens to receive their suggestions on a better implementation of the charter’s guidelines and principles.

In a letter the King sent to Muasher assigning him to the mission, he described the charter as a landmark feature on the path of comprehensive reform which seeks to provide a better life for the people through boosting the democratic approach, fostering the values of justice, respecting citizens’ rights and safeguarding their freedoms.

The Executive Plan was endorsed by a national conference held last year, and in December, the King attended a ceremony to launch the National Integrity Charter and Executive Plan, where 2,000 officials, community leaders and representatives of various sectors were present.

The charter addresses major public concerns while its Executive Plan includes a detailed framework and timeline to complete a set of projects and laws to boost national integrity and prevent corruption.

The approved plans and programmes address financial corruption and set guidelines to safeguard public money and assets, uproot corruption in the wider sense of the word and improve services offered to citizens.

Members of the Royal commission are: Hamza Ahmad Haddad, the president of the Economic and Social Council, the president of the board of trustees of the National Centre for Human Rights, Abdul Majeed Thneibat, Abla Abu Olbeh, Wadah Barqawi and Bassem Tweissi.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday met with representatives of several leading American Jewish organisations and discussed ways to support the US-brokered peace efforts.

At a meeting in Washington, King Abdullah noted that the decades-old Palestinian-Israeli struggle constitutes the core conflict in the Middle East, adding that arriving at a just and a comprehensive solution is the responsibility of all, including Jewish organisations in the US.

The King urged the Jewish leaders to support peace efforts for the best of the region, its people and future generations.

Establishing an independent Palestinian state on national Palestinian soil, within the pre-1967 lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital is a regional and international interest, so everybody should shoulder this responsibility and carry out whatever is needed to achieve this goal, the King told his audience.

The King stressed the important role that the Jewish organisations and leading figures in the US can play, stressing the need for them to back the US administration in its efforts to push the peace process forward.

Final status issues between the Palestinians and the Israelis are at the core of Jordan’s interests, the King said, noting that safeguarding the Kingdom’s national interests comes at the top of the country’s priorities when discussing these issues.

King Abdullah highlighted the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which, he said, provides a historic opportunity to end the Arab-Israeli struggle, as it guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and provides security for Israel and a chance to make peace with 57 Arab and Muslim states.

Unless peace is achieved in the Middle East, there will be more tension and instability, and the entire region and its people will be pushed into the abyss, the King added.

King Abdullah warned against Israel’s settlement policies in Jerusalem and attempts to infringe on Islamic and Christian sites and to Judaise the eastern part of the city.

At the meeting, the Monarch shed light on several regional issues, especially developments of the crisis in Syria and Jordan’s relief aid for Syrian refugees.

Leading American Jewish figures lauded the King’s continued efforts to achieve peace and his vision to build a better future for the region’s people. They valued the King’s “wisdom and moderation”, commending the way he puts issues forward and the way he approaches challenges in the Middle East.

In an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, President and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs Steve Gutow said they are viewing the peace process with optimism and His Majesty pushes everybody to be optimistic about achieving progress in the peace process.

His Majesty is a leader of a special kind, he added.

Gutow stressed the two parties, Palestinians and Israelis, should be aware of the importance of mutual confidence and adopting ways that make the Palestinians feel they will have a state and which make Israel see it will live in security, he said, noting that all this can be done through the peace process and believing in it.

Treasury and IMF

Also on Thursday, King Abdullah met separately with

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and US Treasury Secretary Joseph Lew.

At his meeting with the US Treasury secretary, the King discussed cooperation between Jordan and the US in various areas, mainly regarding financial and economic cooperation.

King Abdullah expressed Jordan’s appreciation of the US government’s support for Jordan, especially for its recent issuance of $1.25 billion in US-guaranteed eurobonds.

The US official asserted his country’s continued economic assistance to Jordan to help it address the repercussions of the Syrian conflict.

At his meeting with Lagarde, discussions focused on the country’s relations with the IMF and the technical assistance that it provides to guarantee the implementation of the Kingdom’s economic correctional programme, which started around two years ago.

The meeting also covered financial and monetary developments in Jordan, mainly under the programme, which will continue in 2015.

The King stressed that the programme implemented by the Kingdom and the IMF should take the issue of protecting the poor and the middle class brackets into its consideration and ensure that they are not affected adversely.

King Abdullah and Lagarde also discussed the high-level conference on “Building the Future: Jobs, Growth, and Fairness in the Arab World”, which the government, in cooperation with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the IMF, will host in Amman on May 11-12.

In a statement that was issued by the fund following the meeting, the IMF said the meeting was an opportunity to discuss recent global, regional and domestic economic developments, including the toll taken by the Syrian conflict, and its impact on the Jordanian economy.

The IMF managing director noted the good progress made by the authorities in moving forward on the economic reform programme under the Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF, and reiterated the IMF’s commitment to continue supporting Jordan’s efforts to put in place home-grown policies that promote macroeconomic stability, inclusive growth and higher employment.

At the Senate

On Wednesday, His Majesty met with leaders of the US Senate and discussed developments in Middle East peace talks and the Syrian crisis, in addition to ways to enhance bilateral ties.

The King, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, met separately with Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and other panel members; and with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), chairperson of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and other members.

King Abdullah also met with US Senate majority and minority leaders, Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Mitch McConell (R-Kentucky) respectively.

Discussions covered ways to lobby for US economic support to the Kingdom to enable it to face the impact of regional challenges on its economy, especially the Syrian refugee crisis.

His Majesty voiced appreciation for the assistance provided by the US to support Jordan’s economic reform and comprehensive development programmes, the Royal Court said.

On regional issues, he stressed the need to resolve the Palestinian issue, which lies at the heart of the Middle East conflict, calling for an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Monarch also called for finding a solution that would end the bloodshed and suffering in Syria, highlighting the burdens carried by Jordan in hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees.

He also reviewed the Kingdom’s reform steps, which have been taken gradually and within a balanced approach that meets the aspirations of all Jordanians.

The leaders of the US Senate called for increasing international and US support for Jordan in facing the Syrian refugee crisis with its limited resources, expressing their country’s commitment to maintaining coordination with the King and heeding his counsel on ways to address Middle East developments.

In an interview with Petra after the meetings, Menendez said the discussions were fruitful, adding that the Senate will increase the financial assistance allocated to Jordan to enable it to address economic challenges.

Jordan is a strong strategic ally to the US, the senator added, noting that Washington will continue cooperating with the Kingdom.

His Majesty was due to meet with President Barack Obama in California late Friday.

AMMAN –– The controversy that erupted over the gas cylinders imported from India ended on Thursday after the government decided that the shipment should not remain in the Kingdom.

Over the past two weeks, the issue of the 250,000 gas cylinders bought by the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC) from India triggered a public debate and grabbed headlines as the Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) categorically refused to allow them into the local market saying the cylinders do not meet domestic safety standards.

Abdel Karim Alawin, chief executive officer of the JPRC –– the company that imported the controversial shipment –– told The Jordan Times that the cylinders will be re-exported after the government’s decision.

Asked on whether the cylinders will be returned to the manufacturer, Alawin responded: “The most important thing is to get the shipment outside the country.”

Commenting on whether the manufacturing company would refund the JD5 million –– the cost of the cylinders –– or part of it, he said that the JPRC will take legal measures to protect its money.

The JPRC said in a statement that it had received a letter from Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour saying that JISM is the only authority with the power to make a decision regarding the cylinders, which means they should be re-exported without the need to make other tests by international institutions.

“The issue of gas cylinders has become a public concern… and we confirm that we had never and will never import cylinders that do not meet domestic standards,” the refinery said in the statement, adding that public safety is JPRC’s top priority.

In remarks to the Ammon news agency, a local news website, JISM Director General Haydar Al Zaben said that the JPRC has three days to ship the cylinders –– currently being kept at Aqaba Port –– outside the country.

“I’m ready to go to Aqaba to supervise and ensure that the cylinders are re-exported,” Zaben told Ammon.

This week, the Lower House Integrity and Transparency Committee held separate meetings with Zaben and Alawin to discuss the issue.

The committee’s rapporteur Deputy Motaz Abu Rumman has said previously that the gas cylinders cost the refinery JD5 million, adding that the money paid to purchase them from India cannot be refunded as the manufacturer claims that the cylinders meet local technical standards.