Jordan renews request for $10 million Japanese loan

Jordan asked Japan to renew a proposal for a $10 million loan to finance the renovation and expansion of King Hussein Bridge connecting Jordan to the West Bank, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Jawad al Annani stated.

The loan was due to expand the wooden bridge, erected after the Arab-Israeli War in 1967, he added.

Jordanian engineers had prepared a design for the project, but needed the Japanese government to finance it, he told the reporters.

The plan included constructing a four-lane bridge instead of the recently-founded viaduct with one lane, he noted.

"The project was discussed with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat during his last visit to Jordan a week ago," Annani said, "We expect that Japan will respond positively."

Before the plan was set out, Jordanians were not certain with whom they had to negotiate about the project, Palestinians or Israelis. The Jordanians did not negotiate with Israelis.