His Majesty King Abdullah paid tribute to the principles and human ideals on which Jordan was founded under the wise leadership of His Majesty the late King Hussein.

“We will always be inspired by Al Hussein's profound belief in the ability of Jordan and Jordanians to achieve their goals and overcome challenges in their pursuit of a better future,” King Abdullah told Addustour daily newspaper in an interview on the 13th anniversary of the passing of the great King Hussein.

“We will always follow in the footsteps of our Hashemite ancestors while working for the country and its people and defending the interests of our Arab and Islamic nation,” King Abdullah told Addustour's Chairman Ameen Mashaqbeh and Chief Editor Mohammad Hassan Tal, on February 7.

The King stressed that Jordan was forging ahead with the comprehensive reform process and that all citizens were called upon to actively participate in the reform efforts. Collective work is crucial to drafting key legislation that provides solid foundations for reform and that reflects the goals of the process.

“There is no going back,” King Abdullah stressed. “We will not allow anyone to obstruct the reform process, under any circumstances.”

His Majesty said implementation of the reform roadmap set by the government  is progressing according to schedule, with the final objective of parliamentary governments accountable directly to the people.

The King said the current stage places “unprecedented” responsibilities on the executive and legislative authorities to achieve reform and meet the demands and aspirations of the people. He emphasised the importance of cooperation between the government and lawmakers to complete laws that pave the way for parliamentary elections within a fixed timeframe, stressing the significance of the coming polls for the country’s present and future. 

“Despite the challenges and difficult circumstances Jordan is currently undergoing, I am optimistic about the future. We will turn these challenges into real opportunities in 2012 and meet the aspirations of Jordanians.”

His Majesty underlined the considerable efforts being exerted to attract investments and improve the economic situation in the Kingdom. The economy is no less important than politics, he told Addustour, and various state agencies must spare no effort to combat poverty and unemployment and improve the developmental and economic situation in all regions, and especially in remote areas.

Within this context, King Abdullah pinpointed the opportunities available for the private sector in Libya, Iraq and other Arab countries, noting that the government is working on preparing the stage for the private sector to benefit from these opportunities.

His Majesty stressed his full support for all efforts aimed to fighting corruption and the corrupt. “No one is above the law, and the judiciary has the final say,” he said. “However, we do not want the anti-corruption demands to become a tool to undermine the image of the country and public sector institutions and thus adversely affect the economy and efforts to bring in investments.”

On the media, the King referred to the press as an instrument of progress that works away from personal conflicts and narrow interests. The interests of the country should be the top priority for journalists, he said, adding that professional media outlets are a key tool to monitor the performance of state institutions and ensure the highest degree of transparency in these agencies as they exercise their functions and duties. 

On the regional level, Jordan remains firm “on its constant and historical stands in support of the rights of Palestinians, including the establishment of an independent state on their national soil,” the King reiterated, noting Jordan’s efforts in this context. “As a Hashemite, it is my duty to protect the Palestinian people and support them in their struggle to regain their legitimate rights. We are working to achieve a just solution to the Palestinian issue.”

Also on the regional situation, His Majesty spoke about the need to give people more freedom and democracy so that they can have a greater say in decisions that affect their lives. He voiced in this regard concern over the developments and accelerated events Syria is witnessing.

He said the Arab Spring has provided Jordan with a precious opportunity to complete reforms.

At the start of the meeting, King Abdullah commended the professionalism of Addustour and the way it carries out its national mission, stressing that responsible journalism serves the country’s interests.

The meeting was attended by His Majesty’s Media Adviser Amjad Adaileh and His Majesty’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury.