AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday honoured Royal Medical Services (RMS) martyrs, retired directors, doctors who treated His Majesty the late King Hussein and excelling medics still in service.
They were recognised in a ceremony yesterday at the King Hussein Medical Centre on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the passing of King Hussein.
"This means a lot. Even though 50 years have passed since my father died, the King has not forgotten us... this shows how much martyrs are the focus of his care and attention," said Hana Harbi, whose father Awad Ahmad Harbi died in the line of duty.
Naifa Majali, whose brother Sayyah Majali was also honoured yesterday, echoed her sentiments.
"By honouring the martyrs, King Abdullah, like his father the late King Hussein, immortalises them," she told The Jordan Times following the ceremony.
Also on Saturday, King Abdullah, several Royal family members, senior officers and officials visited King Hussein's tomb and laid wreaths of flowers.
A direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, King Hussein was born on November 14, 1935 as the eldest son of King Talal and Queen Zein Al Sharaf.
He was proclaimed King on May 2, 1952 at the age of 18 and assumed his constitutional powers on May 2, 1953.
At the time of his death on February 7, 1999, King Hussein was the longest serving executive head of state in the world.
Throughout his five-decade rule, the late King worked hard to raise the living standards of his people and during his reign, infant mortality declined by 50 per cent and literacy rose by nearly 160 per cent.
He also struggled tirelessly to promote peace in the Middle East and help the Palestinian people regain their legitimate rights, playing a key role in the 1991 Madrid peace conference.
The late King's commitment to democracy, civil liberties and human rights helped make Jordan a model state in the region.
He believed that the key to a brighter future lies in joining together to work towards the goals of conflict resolution, peace, education for enlightened citizenship and leadership, and the values of community, mutual understanding and sustainable development.
February 7 also marks the day King Abdullah assumed his constitutional powers.
On the occasion, His Majesty received cables of congratulation from several officials and officers.
The Monarch has continued his father's legacy, placing great emphasis on improving the economy while promoting democratic institutions and political pluralism.
King Abdullah also focused on local development and enhancing economic activities in a way that reflects positively on citizens and improves their living conditions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Since King Abdullah assumed his constitutional powers, Jordan has witnessed important developments in various fields, represented by the endorsement of several laws and the signing of several agreements that opened new markets for Jordanian goods, according to Petra.
In addition, several laws protecting human rights and public freedoms were endorsed among other directives King Abdullah issued with a view to involving citizens in the decision-making process.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2009
