Jordan military committed to defending all Arab causes — King

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday underlined the inseparability of Jordan's national security from the security of the entire Arab world, vowing the army's commitment to defending all causes of the Arab nation.

Inaugurating the 17th Parliament's second ordinary session with a Speech from the Throne, the Monarch stressed that the military is called  "The Arab Army" not as merely a "slogan or by coincidence" but as a testament of its commitment to defending the Arab causes and soil.

"I tell you, brave soldiers, the motto that you wear on your uniforms, ‘The Arab Army’, is not just a slogan, nor did it came by coincidence. It is a testament of this army’s commitment to defend the causes of the Arab nation, its soil and security against all threats. Jordan’s security is part and parcel of the security of brotherly Arab countries. The Arab Army, and their comrades in security institutions, will remain — as always — ready to confront all threats to our national security and the security of our neighbouring brothers because Arab security is indivisible.”

The King also linked the advanced level of liberties, and political and social progressiveness in the Kingdom to the security and stability achieved and preserved by the Jordanian Armed Forces and security agencies (see full translation).  

"The advanced level of liberties and progressive environment of political and social participation, which Jordan uniquely enjoys amidst a tumultuous region, is the result of security and stability gains, which our comrades in the armed forces and security agencies have made many sacrifices to preserve."  

On the rising radicalism and fundamentalism in the region, the Monarch expressed abhorrence to terrorist organisations that embrace extremist takfiri ideology and kill children and women in the name of Islam, saying that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. 

"Our region is suffering from a number of organisations that embrace an extremist takfiri ideology, and are murdering Muslims as well as innocent women and children in the name of Islam, but Islam has nothing to do with this. Islam is a faith of peace, tolerance, moderation, acceptance of the other and respect for the rights of all to live in peace and dignity, regardless of colour, gender, religion or belief. These organisations are waging war against Islam and Muslims above all else."

The King also underlined the need for a firm and decisive approach to eliminate terrorism and all terrorist groups killing innocent people in the name of Islam, stressing that the global war on terror is also a war of Jordan as the country is targeted by terrorists and has the right to defend itself. 

"The war on these terrorist organisations and their radical ideology is our war because we are targeted and we must defend ourselves, Islam, and the values of tolerance and moderation by fighting extremism and terrorists. Everyone who supports this extremist takfiri ideology or tries to justify it is an enemy of Islam, the homeland and all noble human values." 

The Monarch also stressed the centrality of the Palestinian question over all the region’s dilemmas, underlying the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting Jerusalem and helping the brotherly Palestinians achieve their aspiration to statehood on the basis of the two-state solution according to international terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative.

“The Palestinian cause remains our principal cause and is a higher national interest. Jerusalem, whose soil is watered by the blood and sacrifices of our martyrs, is a responsibility that lies in the depth of our conscience. Jordan will continue to confront, through all available means, Israel’s unilateral policies and measures in Jerusalem and preserve its Muslim and Christian holy sites, until peace is restored to the land of peace.”

On Syria, the King renewed Jordan’s unaltered stance that advocates a comprehensive political solution to the ongoing war there that can safeguard the war-torn country’s territorial unity and end the large-scale suffering of its people. 

Concerning internal issues, the King expressed pride in Jordanians’ firmness in addressing the regional challenges and their determination to protect their country’s security and stability, underlying that Jordan will move ahead steadily with its reform endeavour and the democratisation process.

The King also explained that reform in Jordan has not come as a response to the regional transformations but as a genuine, homegrown aspiration centred on the goal of achieving a better future for Jordanians.  “For we have never regarded reform as a reaction to difficult circumstances. For Jordan, reform is a homegrown national aspiration, which consolidates national unity, pluralism, moderation, widens participation, deepens democracy and enroots our parliamentary government system.”

The Monarch also outlined steps taken to combat poverty and unemployment and improve the living conditions of citizens, which included the endorsement of the National Employment Strategy to generate jobs for the youth, and the establishment of the Governorates Development Fund. 

On the larger economic scale, the Monarch also said that several mega-projects have been achieved, mainly the Disi Water Conveyance, the development of Queen Alia International Airport and the Aqaba Containers Terminal in addition to other projects in progress, such as terminals for general cargo, oil and liquefied gas, renewable and alternative energy projects, as well as developing a railway network.

On political reform, the King said: “The government has started formulating a detailed and gradual plan to activate the role of the Ministry of Defence so that it pursues political, economic, social and logistical tasks related to national defence. This entails activating the role of the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management.”

The Monarch also explained that local governance is a major step towards achieving the envisioned political reform, which requires completing the municipalities and decentralisation laws and then moving on to the Elections Law.