29 March 2011
Amman - His Majesty King Abdullah II reiterated on Tuesday that national unity is sacred and said that there is no alternative to dialogue to forge consensus on the basis of a comprehensive reform that meets aspirations of all Jordanians.
Addressing a Royal Court audience with the National Dialogue Committee, the King said the absence of rational and logical dialogue would prompt people to take to the street and open the door for tension, adding: We don't fear reform and will respect the committee's recommendations on any constitutional amendments to the elections law and other legislation related to partisan and parliamentary life." The electoral law, he said, should ensure representation to all Jordanians across the country, adding that "allegiance and reform are of equal importance to us as we all go on the same path and seek the best future to Jordan, a fact that should be laid obvious to all." "We are serious about reform and we back freedom of expression as a fundamental right to every citizen and that we should proceed with reform firmly and courageously and without hesitation," said the King, warning against vandalism and chaos, which he stressed are "rejected and a red line." King Abdullah condemned the violence that took place at Jamal Abdel Nasser Circle on Friday and the subsequent harm done to national unity, calling on all groups "not to remain hostage to what had happened, think about the future, open a new page whose essence is dialogue and protect the national fabric." His Majesty said he is keen on free expression, but simultaneously stressed that public life and people's interests should not be disrupted and warned against resorting to acts that would trigger chaos.
He urged the committee to work with utmost seriousness as a team and come up with "comprehensive recommendations that will be in the interest of all people", noting that reform is a demand by all Jordanians who are part of the national march.
"A golden opportunity lies before us to uplift Jordan, and I have repeatedly stated that we have nothing to fear in our endeavour to fulfill reform and national goals and aspirations," he said, calling on all parties to place the country's interest, security and stability above any other considerations.
The King told the committee to reach out to all Jordanians across the social spectrum and to go to the various governorates with a focus on issues of youth, who constituted the largest segment of the population, noting that 70 percent of Jordanians is under 30 years of age.
King Abdullah put his weight behind the recently-formed committee, tasked with launching a comprehensive national dialogue to update legislations regulating political life, and told members:" You, as a committee, play a very important role to take Jordan to a new era whose title is reform, modernisation and development, and I'm the guarantor of any outcome your dialogues will yield."
Amman - His Majesty King Abdullah II reiterated on Tuesday that national unity is sacred and said that there is no alternative to dialogue to forge consensus on the basis of a comprehensive reform that meets aspirations of all Jordanians.
Addressing a Royal Court audience with the National Dialogue Committee, the King said the absence of rational and logical dialogue would prompt people to take to the street and open the door for tension, adding: We don't fear reform and will respect the committee's recommendations on any constitutional amendments to the elections law and other legislation related to partisan and parliamentary life." The electoral law, he said, should ensure representation to all Jordanians across the country, adding that "allegiance and reform are of equal importance to us as we all go on the same path and seek the best future to Jordan, a fact that should be laid obvious to all." "We are serious about reform and we back freedom of expression as a fundamental right to every citizen and that we should proceed with reform firmly and courageously and without hesitation," said the King, warning against vandalism and chaos, which he stressed are "rejected and a red line." King Abdullah condemned the violence that took place at Jamal Abdel Nasser Circle on Friday and the subsequent harm done to national unity, calling on all groups "not to remain hostage to what had happened, think about the future, open a new page whose essence is dialogue and protect the national fabric." His Majesty said he is keen on free expression, but simultaneously stressed that public life and people's interests should not be disrupted and warned against resorting to acts that would trigger chaos.
He urged the committee to work with utmost seriousness as a team and come up with "comprehensive recommendations that will be in the interest of all people", noting that reform is a demand by all Jordanians who are part of the national march.
"A golden opportunity lies before us to uplift Jordan, and I have repeatedly stated that we have nothing to fear in our endeavour to fulfill reform and national goals and aspirations," he said, calling on all parties to place the country's interest, security and stability above any other considerations.
The King told the committee to reach out to all Jordanians across the social spectrum and to go to the various governorates with a focus on issues of youth, who constituted the largest segment of the population, noting that 70 percent of Jordanians is under 30 years of age.
King Abdullah put his weight behind the recently-formed committee, tasked with launching a comprehensive national dialogue to update legislations regulating political life, and told members:" You, as a committee, play a very important role to take Jordan to a new era whose title is reform, modernisation and development, and I'm the guarantor of any outcome your dialogues will yield."
© Jordan News Agency - Petra 2011
