Parliament on Monday replied to His Majesty King Abdullah's Dec. 1 Speech from the Throne, concurring on the need to strike a balance between a friendly investment environment and an effective security strategy.



At meetings with members of both Chambers at Raghadan Palace, the King listened to the replies from the Senate and House.



Senate President Zeid Rifai said the strategy should address challenges posed by new developments, including an anti-terror law and plans to combat the culture of takfir.



House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali said the deputies were prepared to take swift legislative action on the law.



In opening the ordinary session of Parliament on Dec. 1, less than a month after the terrorist attacks in Amman, King Abdullah said “a security strategy capable of dealing with these changed circumstances and containing these challenges is in order.”



Rifai also said the Senate agreed with the plan to divide the Kingdom into regions where locally elected councils decide on development programmes for their communities.



Majali said the House also would support any measure to institute the regions plan.



Both Chambers also gave their full backing to the National Agenda as the document setting the terms of reference for development plans.

The Jordan Times