Jordan's New Cabinet Vows to Reform Economy, Boost Peace Process

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Jordan's New Cabinet Vows to Reform Economy, Boost Peace Process

The newly-inaugurated Jordanian cabinet on Monday vowed to continue economic reforms and keep exerting efforts to promote the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

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The newly-inaugurated Jordanian cabinet on Monday vowed to continue economic reforms and keep exerting efforts to promote the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

The cabinet made the pledges at its first session late Monday, during which the ministers reviewed the dimensions of work for the coming stage, reported the official Petra news agency.

Mohammad Halaiqah, the freshly-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs and minister of administrative development, affirmed in a press statement that the government will continue to work on economic reform plans which "have gained a worldwide respect and admiration."

Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said the new government will keep the peace process a priority while following up developments in neighboring Iraq.

Meanwhile, reappointed Prime Minister Abul Ragheb called for "a genuine and transparent method in dealing with the Parliament to enhance a positive and constructive dialogue between the executive and legislative branches."

During the session, the cabinet decided to form a committee to draft a policy statement, which will be presented for the vote of confidence before the House of Deputies (lower house) during its extraordinary session next week.

The Jordanians elected the 14th Parliament on June 17. The biggest election in the kingdom's history saw the return of the leading Islamic party, but the majority of the 110 seats were won by pro-royal tribal leaders and independent candidates.

Jordan had been without its lower house since King Abdullah II dissolved it in 2001. He then put off the elections several times for fearing the pre-war Iraqi developments and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts would enhance the popularity of the Islamic parties.

The Jordanian constitution empowers the king to appoint prime ministers, approve laws and dissolve parliaments.

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US Sends Troops to Protect Embassy in Liberia: Spokesman

The United States was sending 41 Marines to guard its embassy in Monrovia, Liberia's war-ruined capital where the fighting between government troops and rebels is growing fiercer.

A total of 41 Marines from the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, departed from Spain overnight, according to Maj. Bill Bigelow, a spokesman at the European Command in Stuttgart, Germanyon Monday.

US President George W. Bush has repeatedly urged Liberian President Charles Taylor to step down and leave his country. Meanwhile, the United States is under pressure to take a lead rolein the peacekeeping force for Liberia.

Taylor, who became the country's strongest warlord in 1996, haspledged to resign and accept an offer of asylum in Nigeria -- but only after peacekeepers arrive to ensure an orderly transition.

The Liberian civil war, which lasted about 15 years and claimedat least 200,000 lives, flared up again in 1998 following attacks launched by the rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy in northern Liberia.

Civil war over the past decade has made Liberia among the most miserable places in the world and the latest unrest since 1998 hasforced some 300,000 Liberians to flee to neighboring countries andclaimed thousands more lives.

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Iran Vows to Be Committed to Non-Proliferation Treaty

Iran vowed to be committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on Monday, denying reports saying it would quit from the NPT.

Speaking at the weekly press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi clarified conflicting reports by foreign media about Iran's nuclear activities, its possible exit from the NPT or signing of the Additional Protocol to the NPT.

"The report of Iran's quitting from the NPT is not on the agenda, and Iran is committed to the treaty. Iran has no plan to quit the treaty," he stated.

Referring to the issue of signing the additional protocol to the NPT, Asefi said, "The issue should take place only after certain confidence-building moves by both the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran, and what we are pressing now is mutual confidence-building."

"We think all would benefit if the agency and other countries take strides to build mutual confidence and practice transparency through confidence-building," the spokesman added.

"The issue of whether Iran will sign the additional protocol will be a national decision which would be based on a consensus arrived at between the Supreme National Security Council and the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament)," he said.

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