15 March 2010
Amman -- Prime Minister Samir Rifai said that His Majesty King Abdullah's recent visits to Britain and Russia as well as the visit of the US Vice President Joe Biden to Jordan came as a complement to efforts exerted by King Abdullah to resolve the Palestinian issue.
In an interview with the London based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, Rifai said that talks dealt with means to enhance bilateral ties with Britain and Russia, especially in economic fields.
As for Biden's visit, the premier said that Biden's visit came as part of his regional tour which included Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Biden's visit is not an alternative to the visit of U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell, Rifai said, stressing the need to stop the Israeli unilateral actions including settlement activities and attempts to change the identity of the holy city.
He also added that such Israeli practices undermine peace efforts.
Rifai added that talks with Biden touched on efforts exerted to overcome obstacles to peace to realize the two- state solution.
Rifai warned that there is no way to avoid peace as the alternative would be a "regional disaster".
Rifai also stressed Jordan's contributions to fighting terrorism, highlighting the Amman Message and its aims.
Jordan is targeted by terrorism due to its geographic location and its moderate stances towards Arab and Islamic issues.
On the Jordanian - Saudi ties, Rifai said that the two countries maintain deep and exemplary relations, adding that Amman and Riyadh are exerting efforts to defend the Arab world issues and realize peace and stability in the region to ensure a better future.
He also stressed Jordan's keenness to enhance ties with Saudi Arabia in various fields to achieve the interests of the two peoples.
The premier underlined the key role of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz to promote cooperation and solidarity among Arab states, project the true image of Islam, and create a unified pan Arab stance towards various issues.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia adopted a unified stance to face attempts to throw the region into chaos and conflicts.
On the Jordanian- Saudi economic ties, Rifai said that Saudi Arabia is Jordan's major trade partner.
Figures show that Jordan's exports to Saudi Arabia in 2009 stood at JD377.5 million while imports reached JD1.729 billion, the premier noted.
He also stressed that Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest investors in Jordan, noting that Saudi Arabia launched investments in industrial, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, hospitals, tourism, energy, logistics, financial, trade and media fields.
Saudi investments in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority account for 80% of foreign investments in the area, Rifai said, highlighting privileges extended to investors in the Kingdom.
He added that the Joint Jordanian- Saudi Higher Committee held its meetings in Riyadh between Jan.
13-14, 2009 and discussed scopes of bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic, trade and investment domains.
The two countries also agreed to remove obstacles facing bilateral trade exchange, he added.
" The Kingdom does not deal with factions or groups, but with governments and through official diplomatic channels " Rifai responded to a question on the relationship with Hamas.
He added that the government deals with the Palestinian National Authority and its President Mahmoud Abbas to achieve the two-state solution and arrive at a viable and independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He stressed that the Palestinian internal rift has adverse impacts on the Palestinian issue.
Rifai added that King Abdullah II had already warned Israelis of adopting the "fortress" mentality which will not bring about peace and stability.
The whole world backs the two-state formula and credible terms of reference, Rifai added.
Regarding the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, Rifai said that withdrawing the initiative would offer Israel the justification to proceed with its stubbornness towards peace.
He added that the initiative won an Arab consensus and provided an opportunity to realize peace in accordance with international ambitions and legitimacy.
At the local level, Rifai stressed the government's commitment to hold parliamentary elections by the last quarter of the current year, noting that preparations are underway to issue a new election law.
He also stressed the government's keenness to hold free, fair, and transparent polls, highlighting directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II in this respect.
The government seeks to ensure a wider participation in the elections, the premier added.
On the economic situation, Rifai said the government has adopted a number of important measures to face economic challenges.
The government has drawn an executive plan to indentify priorities and tackle economic challenges, said the premier, adding that the government seeks to reduce expenditures to protect the national economy.
Amman -- Prime Minister Samir Rifai said that His Majesty King Abdullah's recent visits to Britain and Russia as well as the visit of the US Vice President Joe Biden to Jordan came as a complement to efforts exerted by King Abdullah to resolve the Palestinian issue.
In an interview with the London based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, Rifai said that talks dealt with means to enhance bilateral ties with Britain and Russia, especially in economic fields.
As for Biden's visit, the premier said that Biden's visit came as part of his regional tour which included Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Biden's visit is not an alternative to the visit of U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell, Rifai said, stressing the need to stop the Israeli unilateral actions including settlement activities and attempts to change the identity of the holy city.
He also added that such Israeli practices undermine peace efforts.
Rifai added that talks with Biden touched on efforts exerted to overcome obstacles to peace to realize the two- state solution.
Rifai warned that there is no way to avoid peace as the alternative would be a "regional disaster".
Rifai also stressed Jordan's contributions to fighting terrorism, highlighting the Amman Message and its aims.
Jordan is targeted by terrorism due to its geographic location and its moderate stances towards Arab and Islamic issues.
On the Jordanian - Saudi ties, Rifai said that the two countries maintain deep and exemplary relations, adding that Amman and Riyadh are exerting efforts to defend the Arab world issues and realize peace and stability in the region to ensure a better future.
He also stressed Jordan's keenness to enhance ties with Saudi Arabia in various fields to achieve the interests of the two peoples.
The premier underlined the key role of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz to promote cooperation and solidarity among Arab states, project the true image of Islam, and create a unified pan Arab stance towards various issues.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia adopted a unified stance to face attempts to throw the region into chaos and conflicts.
On the Jordanian- Saudi economic ties, Rifai said that Saudi Arabia is Jordan's major trade partner.
Figures show that Jordan's exports to Saudi Arabia in 2009 stood at JD377.5 million while imports reached JD1.729 billion, the premier noted.
He also stressed that Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest investors in Jordan, noting that Saudi Arabia launched investments in industrial, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, hospitals, tourism, energy, logistics, financial, trade and media fields.
Saudi investments in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority account for 80% of foreign investments in the area, Rifai said, highlighting privileges extended to investors in the Kingdom.
He added that the Joint Jordanian- Saudi Higher Committee held its meetings in Riyadh between Jan.
13-14, 2009 and discussed scopes of bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic, trade and investment domains.
The two countries also agreed to remove obstacles facing bilateral trade exchange, he added.
" The Kingdom does not deal with factions or groups, but with governments and through official diplomatic channels " Rifai responded to a question on the relationship with Hamas.
He added that the government deals with the Palestinian National Authority and its President Mahmoud Abbas to achieve the two-state solution and arrive at a viable and independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He stressed that the Palestinian internal rift has adverse impacts on the Palestinian issue.
Rifai added that King Abdullah II had already warned Israelis of adopting the "fortress" mentality which will not bring about peace and stability.
The whole world backs the two-state formula and credible terms of reference, Rifai added.
Regarding the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, Rifai said that withdrawing the initiative would offer Israel the justification to proceed with its stubbornness towards peace.
He added that the initiative won an Arab consensus and provided an opportunity to realize peace in accordance with international ambitions and legitimacy.
At the local level, Rifai stressed the government's commitment to hold parliamentary elections by the last quarter of the current year, noting that preparations are underway to issue a new election law.
He also stressed the government's keenness to hold free, fair, and transparent polls, highlighting directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II in this respect.
The government seeks to ensure a wider participation in the elections, the premier added.
On the economic situation, Rifai said the government has adopted a number of important measures to face economic challenges.
The government has drawn an executive plan to indentify priorities and tackle economic challenges, said the premier, adding that the government seeks to reduce expenditures to protect the national economy.
© Jordan News Agency - Petra 2010
