His Majesty King Abdullah has said the next phase in Jordan's development should be an era of “implementation and actual achievement of programmes and plans that have matured”, and that reflect national popular consensus articulated in national forums and meetings such as the National Agenda and We are All Jordan.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, conducted by the agency's chief editor Ramadan Rawashdeh, King Abdullah said the next phase requires concerted efforts by all citizens, especially the legislative authority which “bears the greater responsibility in drafting and endorsing legislation that regulates citizens' lives, and in monitoring the performance of the executive authority within the framework of the Constitution”.
It also requires focused efforts to create job opportunities for youth who will be joining the workforce and to arm the younger generation with the best education and training so that they become an effective and productive element that contributes to the quality leap the country needs as it pursues growth.
Providing a social safety for citizens across the Kingdom by securing housing, healthcare, education and transport is a top priority and this is especially important for the limited-income groups, the King said, adding that the government has been directed to develop a comprehensive social safety network and to adopt a new mechanism that would tie citizens' income to inflation levels in order to alleviate the burdens of price hikes.
On the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November 20, King Abdullah said: “I have emphasised on more than one occasion that the government is required to conduct free, fair and transparent elections that guarantee wide voter participation and I hope that citizens will participate and exercise their right to choose the candidate that is most efficient and capable of conveying their voice and of placing the national interest ahead of all other considerations.”
Regarding the Middle East peace process, His Majesty said Jordan's priority is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian soil, and “we will spare no effort to help the Palestinians achieve this goal through peaceful negotiations”.
King Abdullah said he has sensed seriousness and great concern from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to drive the peace process towards a conclusion.
“We also heard from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert two days ago that there would be an opportunity to realise real achievements, including a two-state solution, before the end of US President Bush's term," he said. "These are positive signs that we hope will be followed by further measures to render the upcoming meeting a success.”
On the other regional key issues, the King reiterated that Iraq remains an integral part of the Arab and Islamic worlds, and its security and stability reflects on its neighbours.
Regarding Iraqis in Jordan, the King said, “Jordanians share with them their livelihood, and they are here among family. We are committed to providing them with all facilities until they are able to return to their country to participate in its reconstruction.”
As for the political crisis facing Lebanon, the King renewed the Kingdom's support for the constitutionality of Lebanon's presidential election, which, he said, should necessarily be free and legitimate.
King Abdullah said coordination with Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Gulf states has resulted in unified stands on several challenges facing the Arab nation.