Local

DEAD SEA — On behalf of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, and in the presence of HRH Princess Basma, Minister of Agriculture Khaled Huneifat launched the 11th Ministerial Cooperative Conference for the countries of Asia and the Pacific, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The conference saw broad participation from Asia, Arab states, the Pacific and North Africa, international organisations and global cooperative movements, with the presence of the President of the International Cooperative Alliance Ariel Guarko, President of the Asia-Pacific International Cooperative Alliance (ICAAP), Chandra Pal Yadav and the Board of the International Cooperative alliance Directors.

Delivering a speech, Huneifat said that the goal of the conference, held for the first time in the Middle East region since its inception in 1990, is to strengthen partnerships between governments and cooperatives through joint action to achieve sustainable development at all levels, economic, social, cultural and environmental, according to the statement.

He also said that the hosting of the international gathering by Jordan with the support of local and international partners is an opportunity to strengthen the Kingdom’s partnerships with all countries from the Asia-Pacific region and Arab states participating in the conference.

He also underlined the importance of sustainable development policies and a legislative regulatory environment conducive to the cooperative movements contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by opening prospects for joint cooperation among participating countries in the fields of investment within the cooperative sector, at all levels and related activities.

 He also referred to the UN General Assembly’s decision last year to declare 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives, the statement said.

Guarko also underlined the significance of the conference as a platform for cooperatives and governments to engage in meaningful dialogue on current and emerging issues.

Guarko stressed that fruitful partnerships between government entities and cooperatives should strengthen the cooperative and supportive environment by establishing legal frameworks and developing policies that recognise the value and importance of cooperative projects as essential components of the economy and society.

Director-General of the Jordanian Cooperative Cooperation Abdelfattah Shalabi said there is a need to strengthen the supportive cooperative environment, establish a clear legal framework and develop government policies and legislation that recognise the value and importance of cooperatives as a vital component of the economy and society by working together and building a strong partnership.

Yadav said, “During these years Jordan has witnessed great development in various areas and outstanding success in maintaining its security and stability despite the surrounding regional circumstances.”

He also emphasised that cooperatives were in fact institutions that changed people’s lives, equitably afforded opportunities for progress and well-being in the society in which they existed, but could not express their full potential unless they had the appropriate regulatory and policy frameworks, according to the statement.

States participating in the conference are Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Palestine, Libya, Syria, Morocco, and from the Pacific and North Africa region: Australia, China, Fiji, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, Netherlands, Argentina and United State.

AMMAN — Minister of Labour Nadia Rawabdeh discussed on Sunday with her Qatari counterpart Ali Bin Samikh Marri, the common relations and aspects of cooperation between the two countries.

This occurred on the side-lines of the 50th session of the Arab Labour Conference currently held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Rawabdeh focused on strategies to increase the number of Jordanian workers in Qatar and to provide the Qatari labour market with Jordanian expertise, as outlined in the Qatari initiative led by Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Thani.

Marri praised the Jordanian competencies and their role in the Qatari labour market, expressing the readiness of the Qatari ministry of labour to enhance this cooperation through the Qatari initiative.

The ministers agreed to arrange mutual visits between the two sides to follow up on the completion of the implementation of the Qatari grant to employ Jordanians in Qatar.

AMMAN — CARE Jordan’s 2023 Annual Needs Assessment was launched on Thursday, Amman, under the patronage of Marieke Zimburg, Austrian ambassador to Jordan, making it the twelfth iteration of a series of assessments aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable communities across Jordan, including Jordanians, Syrian refugees in urban areas and Azraq camp, as well as other minority refugees’ nationalities including Iraqi, Yemeni, Somali and Sudanese, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.  

CARE Jordan’s data collection efforts for 2023 reached into new areas of the Kingdom, including underserved regions in the South, such as Karak and Tafileh.

“The assessment highlights the general need to reduce aid dependency and intensify financial inclusion and income generation opportunities, as well as bolster social cohesion approaches between refugees and the host community, with resilience-based, cross-sectoral interventions.” Christine Fernandes, acting country director for CARE Jordan, said. 

Key findings from the 2023 assessment focus on insights across various thematic areas, particularly protection. While there have been improvements in the well-being of Jordanians and Iraqi refugees since 2020, many refugees in the camps have witnessed a decline.

Almost 17 per cent of refugees reported a higher sense of discrimination based on their nationality, race, or ethnicity, demonstrating an increase compared to previous years. Gender inequalities remain clear, with female respondents (21.1 per cent) experiencing a higher rate of discrimination compared to males (11.3 per cent).

Climate change worsens existing social and economic vulnerabilities, with water scarcity remaining a critical issue, especially in Azraq town and Mafraq. In particular, those surveyed had little awareness of early warning systems for climate-related risks, according to the statement. 

The assessment also says that the access to work permits continues to be a challenge in Jordan, with 47.0 per cent of refugee respondents expressing the need for work permits, reflecting an increase compared to previous years, while economic inactivity rates among individuals with disabilities stand at 75.1 per cent, representing an increase compared to previous assessments. 

Critically, increased food prices have drastically changed household financial budgets and plans for families, with spending on food surpassing rent costs in 2023, highlighting a concerning shift from previous years, the statement said. 

This comprehensive assessment not only provides key insights but also serves as a critical roadmap for CARE Jordan’s future efforts in supporting and empowering communities. 

Established in 1948 in the wake of the Palestinian crisis, CARE Jordan today leads a unified humanitarian and development response to sustainably support vulnerable Jordanian and refugee populations, expand effective partnerships, and enhance empowerment programming, especially for women and girls. 

AMMAN — Under the slogan “No Silence, No Tolerance to Violence against Women and Girls”, a nationwide media campaign was launched on Sunday in the Kingdom.

The one-month national awareness-raising campaign is under the frame of the project “Improving Access to Comprehensive Gender-Based Violence Services in Jordan to combat Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Jordan.”

The campaign was launched at a press conference held at the Movenpick Hotel in Amman by EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), Justice Centre for Legal Aid, Children Villages SOS, Institute for Family Health and the National Council of Family Affairs.

The initiative is part of the project “Improving access to gender-sensitive prevention and protection services for vulnerable communities in Jordan”, with 4,000,000 euro funded by the European Union (EU) MADAD Trust Fund and implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, with the collaboration of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Senator Maysoon Otoom, who acted as patron to the event, underlined the importance of the campaign, which she said complements the ongoing efforts in Jordan to combat VAWG by both civil society and government institutions.

Also addressing the gathering with Spanish Ambassador to Jordan Miguel de Lucas González who stressed his country’s commitment to empower and support women worldwide.

“Spain is very proud to have feminist cooperation; that means including, not only all actions against VAWG, but the active promotion of gender equality as a cross-cutting principle in all our actions, recognising that democracy, peace, prosperity, and social progress require the full participation of women,” the ambassador stressed.

The Spanish ambassador praised the EU for “its trust in Spain with this project and for its important contribution to the fight against gender-based violence”.

“It is of utmost importance to address VAWG by fostering awareness and encouraging a change in sociocultural attitudes,” the ambassador added.

UNFPA representative in Jordan, Himyar Abdulmoghni, emphasised the urgent need to address gender-based violence with unwavering determination.

“This is crucial not only due to the profound impact it has on women and girls but also because it hinders developmental progress,” Abdulmoghni told the gathering.

Gender-based violence imposes significant social and economic costs on individuals, families, and nations as a whole, thereby slowing the wheel of development, Abdulmoghni added.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the National Council for Family Affairs Mohamad Miqdadi highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts in enhancing policies and services that protect families from all forms of violence.

“The country’s policies towards VAWG have focused on a participatory approach that brings together governmental and non-governmental institutions,” Miqdadi stated.

The country has made tangible progress in enhancing awareness and reducing violence, encouraging local communities to take action, strengthening preventive measures, and directing victims towards the services available to them, Miqdadi stressed.

The event served as a platform to unveil the campaign’s message and goal, and to further the national discussion on the need to raise awareness and change public attitudes towards VAWG, according to a press release by the organisers.

The campaign will also work to emphasise the need to break the silence surrounding VAWG by enhancing access to quality prevention and protection services for vulnerable communities, according to the press statement.

The initiative will also aim to address the challenges faced in combating VAWG, including gender stereotypes, social tolerance, impunity for perpetrators, victim blaming and the need for stronger protection mechanisms for victims, the press release said.

The campaign also seeks to engage local communities in taking preventive measures and informing victims of existing services, as per the press release. 

Sunday’s campaign will be followed by two additional campaigns in 2024 and 2025. Both will be organised by EFI, the press statement added.

AMMAN — The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), in cooperation with several other countries, on Sunday carried out six airdrops of relief aid to the north of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

JAF said that in a statement that the airdrops were part of Jordan’s sustained efforts to support the resilience of the Palestinians and mitigate the impacts of the war, the Jordan News Agency reported. 

The operation saw the participation of one aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force, one from Egypt, three from the US and one from Germany.

The JAF reaffirmed its commitment to continue delivering aid via an air bridge, through flights from Marka Airport to Al Arish International Airport, airdrops on the Gaza Strip, and land aid convoys.

JAf also said that this initiative is a testament to Jordan’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering faced by Palestinians in the besieged strip, particularly in light of the challenging circumstances imposed by the Israeli war on Gaza since October 7.

Since the onset of the war, the JAF has conducted 89 airdrops, in addition to 219 airdrops carried out in partnership with other countries.

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Sunday attended the opening of the special session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This high-profile event, inaugurated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, is a two-day forum aimed at addressing critical global economic issues,  the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The forum brings together leaders, officials, and experts from various countries with the objective of fostering collaborative solutions to urgent human, climate, and economic challenges, while also promoting international cooperation and sustainable innovation.

The forum will host a series of dialogues and discussion sessions aimed at enhancing international cooperation efforts and stimulating collective initiatives to develop sustainable solutions. The special meeting’s sessions will focus on several topics, including international cooperation, growth, and energy for development, to tackle current economic and geopolitical challenges.

The agenda for Monday includes a crucial session focusing on the Israeli war in Gaza and the coordinated humanitarian efforts. The session will feature the participation of Khasawneh, his Egyptian counterpart Mustafa Madbouly, and UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag. The prime minister is also scheduled to meet with political and economic leaders participating in the forum.

During the inaugural session, WEF President Borge Brende underscored the significance of holding such a meeting during a critical period characterised by adverse impacts on regional and international cooperation, as well as numerous geopolitical challenges, including the situation in Gaza and the alarming statistic of 111 million displaced people worldwide.

Addressing these interconnected global challenges, Brende emphasised the urgent need to explore ways to provide energy and electricity to approximately 800 million people around the world.

Khasawneh also met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum. 

The meeting, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and Jordan’s Ambassador to Riyadh Haitham Abu Al Foul, centred on enhancing bilateral relations between Jordan and Malaysia. They also discussed regional developments, with a particular focus on the Israeli aggression on Gaza,  the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Khasawneh expressed Jordan’s keen interest in fostering mutual cooperation with Malaysia across various sectors, underscoring the importance of convening the inaugural meeting of the Jordanian-Malaysian Trade Committee to explore opportunities for trade, economic, and investment collaboration between the two countries.

Khasawneh also expressed the Kingdom’s interest in attracting more Malaysian students to study in Jordanian universities, which currently host around 2000 students.

The prime minister also briefed his Malaysian counterpart on Jordan’s efforts, led by His Majesty King Abdullah, to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, emphasising the urgent need to protect civilians and provide sustainable and immediate humanitarian and medical aid.

Khasawneh reiterated Jordan’s warning that any military operation in the Palestinian Rafah would intensify the humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Gaza. He also stressed the imperative of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution.

The Malaysian prime minister affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance bilateral relations and expand mutual cooperation with Jordan in all fields, expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the King in promoting security, stability and peace in the region.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on Sunday discussed the implementation of the two-state solution and the recognition of an independent Palestinian state, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

During a meeting, on the sidelines of the Riyadh-based World Economic Forum's special meeting, both sides discussed the latest developments in Gaza, efforts to put an end to the war, ensure the protection of civilians and facilitate access to humanitarian aid throughout the Strip, as well as initiatives to de-escalate regional tensions.

Safadi emphasised the necessity for the international community to take tangible steps towards implementing the two-state solution, beginning with the recognition of the Palestinian state.

He also commended Borrell’s efforts to cease the aggression, mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, uphold international and humanitarian law, and support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the framework of the two-state solution, which is the sole way to achieving security, stability and peace in the region.

Both Safadi and Borrell underscored the urgent need to intensify efforts to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and to ensure unhindered humanitarian access. They also reaffirmed the strong friendship between Jordan and the European Union, highlighting their shared commitment to enhancing relations across all sectors.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, along with members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit to address the developments in Gaza, on Sunday held a meeting in Riyadh chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud. 

A joint statement was issued following the meeting, which outlined the following:

"The Saudi foreign minister chairs a meeting of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on the developments in Gaza.

Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Bin Abdullah, Saudi minister of foreign affairs, on Sunday in Riyadh chaired the meeting of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on the developments in Gaza, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein Al Sheikh, and State Minister at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al Khalifa.

The meeting discussed strategies to intensify joint Arab and Islamic efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensure civilian protection in accordance with international humanitarian law, and provide adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid throughout the strip. 

The committee also discussed ongoing efforts to gain international recognition of an independent Palestinian state, reflecting the aspirations of the Palestinian people. They also discussed the implementation of the two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine as a state within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant international resolutions.

They affirmed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory,  expressing their unequivocal rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land or any military operation in Rafah.

The ministers also urged the international community to impose effective sanctions on Israel, including a halt to arms exports, in response to its violations of international law and international humanitarian law, and the war crimes it commits in Gaza and the occupied West Bank,  emphasising the need to activate international legal mechanisms to hold Israeli officials accountable for these crimes and to take a firm stance against settlers’ terrorism.

The ministers also expressed their concern about the actions taken against peaceful protesters in Western countries who are demanding an end to the war in Gaza and the serious Israeli crimes and violations against Palestinians."

AMMAN — First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House Abdulrahim Azaideh on Sunday said that Jordan is making significant progress in enhancing its democratic process.

In a meeting with the Pakistani Ambassador to Jordan Muhammad Iqbal, Azaideh said that the Royal directive to conduct parliamentary elections is a testament to the strength of the state and its unwavering commitment to progress in modernisation and development, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Azaideh expressed his appreciation for the relations between Jordan and Pakistan, emphasising the need to strengthen these ties across various sectors, particularly in the parliamentary, economic and tourism fields.

The lawmaker also underscored the importance of supporting His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts to stop the war in Gaza, calling for the mobilisation of international efforts to establish a political framework that ensures the possibility of achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution and relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.

Iqbal hailed the existing relations between the two countries and expressed his country’s keenness to further develop ties with the Kingdom across various sectors.

He also noted that the positions of Pakistan and Jordan align regarding the Palestinian issue and the Israeli war on Gaza,  stressing the urgency to amplify international efforts to cease the war and deliver relief and humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.