A nearby ministerial reshuffle in Jordan
Jordan, Politics, 9/21/2000

The speaker of the Jordanian parliament Abdul Hadi al-majali announced on Wednesday that the parliament had approved to start a dialogue with the government over the election law draft, while the Jordanian minister of information Taleb al-Refae talked about a nearby Cabinet reshuffle.

In statements to the press following a meeting held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the parliament, included the prime minister Ali Abu al-Regheb, the speaker of the parliament and heads of parliamentary blocs, al-Majali said he had " discussed with Abu al- Ragheb the question of the elections law and the mechanism of discussing the law and the possible alternatives embodied in starting discussions of the current draft law at the legal committee of the parliament or drawing a new draft law."

The Jordanian government says it will not abrogate the principle of " one voice" in the next law. This principle is under great disputes between the government and several forces in the country including the parliament itself.

Since 1997, the opposition forces in Jordan boycott the elections because of the " one voice principle" and set as a precondition for its participation the canceling of this principle from any coming election law.

Meantime, al-Refae said on Wednesday in press statements that the " expected cabinet reshuffle in Jordan will be made very soon" noting that the reshuffle is linked to the release of a " royal will" and also to completion of studies by special technical committees to set up two new ministries which are the ministries of the Environment and the higher education.

Al-Refaa renewed Jordan's stand in backing the Palestinians in their negotiations with Israel. He added "Jordan knows that the current negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are very crucial and critical and have its many ups and downs," stressing that "Jordan values the sensitivity of the negotiations."

The Jordanian official denied that the Jordanian- Israeli peace treaty to include an item states to settle the Palestinian refugees in Jordan. He explained: "Talks about that is not true and Jordan's position towards this matter is clear and had announced for mor one time to various sides."

Concerning the call made over demarcating Palestinian borders with Jordan and Egypt, the Jordanian official said that " the issue of the border is one of the final solution negotiations topic. And we are in Jordan awaiting the foundation of the Palestinian state in order to reach a solution for this matter."

Previous Stories:
  Jordan's premier in Iraq: 1st visit of the kind in 10 years   (9/20/2000)
  Saudi Prince Salman leaves Jordan for Damascus   (9/20/2000)
  Al-Majali, al-Zanoun meet in Amman   (9/19/2000)

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