His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday ordered the allocation of JD10 million to enhance cultural activities in the country and support Jordanian intellectuals.

Under the plan, announced by the King at a Royal Court meeting with intellectuals, an independent fund will provide financial support for publishing, creative work, preservation of antiquities, establishing museums and creating jobs. The King also ordered the establishment of a cultural centre that would include an opera house, to be designed to accommodate more than 1,500 attendees, as well as a library, a museum and other facilities.

King Abdullah said he will lay the centre's cornerstone in June.

During the meeting, the King also ordered the government to promptly complete an Arabic language bill, which has been under discussion for 10 years.

“I wanted to meet with you today to listen to the challenges you face and I would like to tell you that I do appreciate your great role and that I support you,” the King told the meeting. “We will work with the government to support you and enhance the cultural sector, which plays a very important role in the society.”

Meanwhile, Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Monday received Jordanian poet Haidar Mahmoud.

Mahmoud, a former minister of culture, presented copies of his new poetry collection to the King and Queen. The collection includes poems on the King, Al al Bayt and the country.

The Jordan Times