On the Jordanian delegation being prevented travel to Syria for Palestinian conference

A statement issued by the Jordanian Minister of the Interior Nayef al-Qadi on Sunday at the Jordanian parliament noted the prevention of 50 invitees from heading for Damascus to take part in the "Palestinian national conference."

In his statement, the Jordanian minister accused Syrian security forces of being behind the conference, which was called upon by Palestinian opposition groups. He said, "We have been receiving information for weeks on the intention of circles surrounding our country to carry out moves and activities that would obstruct the peace process and undermine the results of the Wye River agreement and to condemn the efforts made by his Majesty the King to make the said agreement a success." Al-Qadi explained that, "The security forces of these circles (in remarks to Syria) had organized a conference for the Palestinian opposition to which were invited certain Jordanian and Palestinian figures."

Al-Qadi added that his government resorted to " a preventive method" in preventing the invitees from heading for Damascus in order to " protect our citizens from being dragged behind stances and instruments that do not permit them to be on its lands only for a need."

The prevention decision was strongly objected by the Jordanian opposition. The secretary general of the Democratic People's Party, Salem al-Nahhas, who was prevented from the travel to Damascus said the prevention decision "is in contradiction with what had been stated in the Jordanian national charter which considers the cause of Palestine as a Jordanian national cause." In a statement they released, the persons who were prevented from heading for Damascus said, "The decision contradicts with the supreme national interests of Jordan."