Jordan: reforms should stem from an internal will

The spokeswoman for the Jordanian government Asmaa Khuder said that Jordan emphasizes that democratic reforms should stem from an internal will, but did not declare a decisive position on accepting or rejecting the American plan concerning the Greater Middle East intitiative.

The official spokeswoman said in a press conference she held on Monday "we are looking forward to have the reforms in the Arab states stem from the ambitions and wills of the Arab nation," adding that any change or reform which does not stem from a local people's will can not be accepted."

Replying to a question on Jordan's position to accepting or rejecting this initiative, the spokeswoman confined to saying "we did not receive this initiative officially yet to accept or to reject it. What we heard is just local demands that already started to be implemented." She continued "the introduction of reforms is a needed matter, and many areas are under continuous reforms, however, the Jordanian position concentrates on that the reform should be internal and stems from local will."

The Greater ME initiative which the US tries to implement aims at supporting reforms and establishing democracy in the Middle East. It might be launched at the G-8 summit in June.