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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. 

AMMAN — Despite the advancements in technology and communications, radio journalism has not lost its importance in this day and age, University of Jordan (UJ) Radio Director Mohammad Wasif said on Thursday.

"Radio stations stand firmly in the third millennium and remain the most widespread media outlet for individuals worldwide," Wasif said at a conference on radio journalism organised by UJ and attended by HRH Princess Rym Ali.

Radio broadcasting, he added, is constantly developing to keep up with modernity.

Marking UNESCO's World Radio Day, which falls on February 13 every year, the conference highlighted the role of radio journalism in boosting democracy and social awareness.

"UJ Radio, which started broadcasting in 2008, joins the efforts of pioneering experts with the work of enthusiastic young Jordanians," Wasif said, noting that the vision of radio is to serve the student community and the entire society.

UJ President Ekhleif Tarawneh said UJ Radio is an embodiment of the university's mission in "communicating with the local community and discussing the needs of the Jordanian people".

It is the role of media to unite people, away from personal interests, he added.

The conference, which honoured several radio broadcasting institutions and figures, also included discussions on the role of national institutions in supporting radio journalism.

AMMAN — Almost one- third of women around the world have experienced one form of violence, and efforts should be exerted to combat this phenomenon, international and local experts said on Thursday.

Susanne Eberstein, first deputy speaker of the Swedish parliament, said no community is immune from this and the problem cannot be solved with silence.

The politician added that even in her country, women are still reluctant to report gender- based violence.

“We need more than a law to address the issue. It takes courage [too],” Eberstein said.

“Gender-based violence is not a family business, it is a crime and together we must challenges abuse,” Eberstein said at a roundtable discussion organised by the embassy of Sweden in Amman and Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Jordan.

In addition to its negative effects on society in general, violence against women has a harmful psychological impact on children who witness it.

Eva Abu Halawa, the executive director of MIZAN human rights group, noted that although Jordan has gone a long way in combating violence against women, some still justify it, and there are no accurate figures on women who are victims of abuse.

Despite having a law to protect victims of violence, shelters to host them and a police department to deal with their cases, the law is not fully implemented, Abu Halawa said.

Since 2010, out of 18,000 violence cases, only 10 were referred to reconciliation committees, she noted.

With violence being considered a “crime”, most abused women refuse to report cases because they do not want their husbands or relatives to be sent to jail.

A recent study conducted by the Department of Statistics in Jordan showed that 70 per cent of Jordanian women accept at least one reason as a justification for wife beating

The study published as part of the 2012 National Population and Family Health Survey showed that 65 per cent of women are most likely to agree that “if a woman has affairs with other men, it justifies wife beating,” while 2 per cent believe that a man has the right to beat his wife if she burns the food and 6 per cent if she argues with him.

According to the survey, 38 per cent of women agree that it is justified for a husband to beat his wife if she insults him, and 25 per cent believe that wife beating is warranted if a woman does not feed her husband.

AMMAN — The National Campaign for Defending Students’ Rights (Thabahtoona) has expressed its rejection of any potential decision to raise tuition fees at public universities as a measure to mitigate the financial hardships facing them.

In a meeting held at the Professional Associations Complex on Wednesday, Thabahtoona Coordinator Fakher Daas told The Jordan Times that increasing tuition fees will have “catastrophic” results on the output of education and the reputation of Jordanian universities.

“Universities are not corporations; they are not supposed to start seeking investments to obtain financial profit. Funding universities is the responsibility of the government,” he said.

According to Daas, the University of Jordan (UJ) froze a decision to increase tuition fees under popular pressure.

Higher Education Minister Amin Mahmoud told The Jordan Times earlier this week that no public university plans to raise tuition fees for BA students.

UJ, however, plans to increase tuition fees for postgraduate students, and international and parallel programme students, Mahmoud said.

Thabahtoona believes the budgets of public universities should be fully covered by the government, in addition to “other financial contributions”, Daas said.

“Students should pay symbolic fees to feel that they belong to their universities,” he said.

In a statement made available to The Jordan Times, Thabahtoona says the financial hardships that universities face are due to two factors — the decrease of the government’s financial support and corruption at universities.

The government’s support to public universities covered 33 per cent of the universities’ income in 2002, but dropped to around 13 per cent in 2012, according to the statement, which added that tuition fees constituted around 70 per cent of university budgets in 2011.

In his remarks to The Jordan Times, Mahmoud noted that the government contributes JD57 million annually to all public universities, and the contribution varies from one university to another.

International standards set the ratio of academic to administrative staff at 1:1; however, in some public universities in the Kingdom this ratio reaches 1:4, which means additional expenses, the statement said.

According to Thabahtoona figures, the net profit of the parallel and the international programmes at UJ reaches JD12 million annually, while the graduate studies programme generates JD2.2 million annually in net profit.

The campaign says UJ should have found a means to reduce spending at the university’s branch in Aqaba.

Speaking at Wednesday’s press conference, Jordan Agricultural Engineers Association President Mahmoud Abu Ghneimeh said raising tuition fees will make education exclusive to the well-off.

“There should be no advantage for any party over another in access to education,” he stressed, noting that universities are allocating more and more seats to the parallel programme to gain more money.

Students whose General Secondary Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) scores does not qualify them to the specialty they seek to study at universities can apply to the parallel programme, where they pay higher tuition fees for majors of their choice within specific regulations.

Jordan Dental Association President Ibrahim Tarawneh said the public “does not demand free education”, but seeks reasonable and affordable tuition fees.

Deputy Mohammad Qatatsheh (Tafileh, 1st District), who is also head of the Educational Committee in the Lower House, said the committee seeks to reinclude the “university fees” item on electricity bills as part of the government’s contribution to budgets of public universities.

He noted that Jordanian professors at public universities are underpaid, so they end up taking more financially rewarding job offers at local private universities and universities in other Arab countries.

AMMAN — The potential for generating money from garbage is “huge” in Jordan, as several international companies have shown interest in investing in projects to turn waste into energy, officials said Thursday.

Officials called for facilitating more investments and public-private partnerships to enable the implementation of projects that turn waste into energy, thus creating jobs, preserving the environment and making profits.

In Jordan, each individual generates one kilogramme of solid waste every day, while 16,000 tonnes of solid waste are generated daily throughout the country.

“Many companies from Brazil, the US, Germany and France... come to us to invest in our waste to produce energy,” Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji said Thursday at a meeting held by EDAMA Association under the theme: “Waste to Energy: Challenges and Opportunities”.

“We want Amman to be a model when it comes to turning waste into energy… such projects will play a key role in creating jobs,” said Biltaji at the meeting, held with the support of USAID and ECO Consult.

Edama — Arabic for sustainability — is a local business association that seeks “innovative solutions for energy and water independence and productivity”, according to its website.

Highlighting the potential for business in this field, EDAMA Association CEO Hala Zawati said: “Jordan is a very poor country when it comes to resources, but in terms of waste, Jordan has plenty,” noting that this can be turned into an advantage.

About 32 companies have submitted bids to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to implement projects to generate energy from waste in the country’s 17 landfills, participants at the meeting said, calling for speeding up efforts to decide on these projects.

Official figures indicate that around 2.13 million tonnes of waste, and 18,000 tonnes of medical and hazardous materials, are generated annually in Jordan, according to experts and workers in the field, who say that waste increases by 3 per cent in Jordan every year.

Raouf Dabbas, senior adviser to the Ministry of Environment, said no significant efforts have been made in Jordan recently to tap into the potential in this regard.

“Management of waste and projects using waste to make energy help in supporting green economies. Clean energy and good money can come out of landfills, and the government needs to do more in this regard,” said Dabbas.

Hussein Mheidat, head of the local communities council at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, said a strategy is being drafted on how best to use the country’s 17 landfills and manage solid waste.

The strategy, which will include detailed procedures, is expected to be ready before the end of this year, he noted.