No serious security threats in Jordan — Majali

AMMAN — There is no internal threat that could lead to security chaos in the Kingdom, Interior Minister Hussein Majali said Tuesday. 

At a discussion session with members of the Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF), Majali was quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying that the ministry has plans to establish a unit specialised in protecting strategic facilities, with the possibility of private sector funding for the project. He did not elaborate.

Majali also said that Jordan has managed to overcome hard times, noting that the Kingdom’s geographical location has recently negatively affected it, citing the impact of the refugee waves on its economy and infrastructure. 

In terms of the repercussions of the so-called Arab Spring, the minister noted that although investors may be reluctant to implement projects in the region, Jordan remains a safe haven for investments as it has maintained its stability and security despite the upheaval. 

On the performance of the role of police in executing judicial orders related to cases tried in the Kingdom’s courts, Majali said that more than 215,000 cases have been referred to Judicial Execution Police Department, and it has so far responded to 93.3 per cent of them. 

In this regard, he noted that the department has opened two offices at Queen Alia International Airport to deal, in particular, with cases of a financial nature. 

JSF Chairman Omar Razzaz said the forum seeks to create a strong national economy and a strong private sector that can provide jobs for Jordanians, pay taxes, contribute to sustainable development and shoulder its responsibility towards the community. 

Razzaz also referred to investors’ fears due to the security conditions in neighbouring countries. 

He also stressed the importance of partnership between the government and the private sector, calling for distributing burdens among different parties. 

Ghassan Nuqul, a JSF member, said the unrest in neighbouring countries has affected local businesses, especially after the hike in transportation and insurance costs to Iraq.