King meets Senate’s permanent office, reaffirms national interest comes above all else

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday met with the members of the Senate’s permanent office, which includes its president, deputies, and assistants, at Al Husseiniya Palace.

King Abdullah said Jordan is moving steadily and with clarity of purpose towards a qualitative leap in political life, stressing the importance of the upcoming phase in political modernisation, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty said political, economic, and administrative reforms are connected, and there can be no real progress without serious efforts on all of them.

Noting the importance of administrative reform and its impact on the political and economic aspects, the King called for moving ahead in coordination and cooperation between the two Houses of Parliament on the one hand, and the government on the other, as well as exchanging suggestions to serve Jordan.

Achieving progress demands teamwork among all state institutions and taking decisions that serve the national interest, which comes above all else, His Majesty said.

The King stressed that the state’s messages must be clear and unified, noting the important role of the government in clarifying any issue that could otherwise spur rumours due to lack of clarity or misinterpretation.

The meeting also covered regional and international developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, as well as efforts to bolster stability in the region.

For his part, Senate President Faisal Fayez said Jordan is strong under His Majesty’s leadership, noting the Kingdom’s key regional and international role and stressing that the challenges facing the country require dedicated efforts and bold decision-making.

Safeguarding the national interest is everyone’s responsibility, Fayez added, calling for resolving economic challenges and promoting investment.

Members of the Senate’s permanent office highlighted their viewpoints on domestic concerns and regional developments, commending His Majesty’s position in support of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people, as well as his ongoing efforts to advance Arab causes.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.