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The Speech from the Throne is customarily delivered by His Majesty the King at the opening of each session of Parliament, which occurs yearly. The speech is written by the government, in consultation with the king, and is addressed to Parliament as representatives of the Jordanian people. It outlines the domestic program of the government, the state of Jordan’s foreign relations, and addresses topical issues of the day. The 1997 Speech from the Throne was delivered at the opening of the Thirteenth Parliament, and was marked by the closer involvement of King Hussein in the drafting of the text.
Speech from the Throne Opening of the Thirteenth Parliament Amman November 29, 1997
(Translated from the original Arabic)
In the name of God the most Merciful, the most Compassionate, Peace and prayers be upon His Arab Hashemite Prophet. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings. In the name of God and with His blessings, I declare open the first session of the Thirteenth Jordanian Parliament. I praise the Almighty for having maintained the constant and stable legitimacy of this rule and protected its Islamic reference since the beginning, through the Great Arab Revolt, and until this day. God willing, it will continue until it achieves the high and noble objectives for which this Revolt was launched. It is the will of God Almighty that the meeting of your esteemed assembly coincides with the end of the twentieth century and the dawn of the twenty-first century. So it may—God willing—be a blessed model of our country in the new century, and an able vanguard to face the challenges it carries with all the required efforts and sacrifices. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, Your very House was born out of the honest determination of the sincere and faithful people of our country. It came as an expression of the free will of the voters in cities and towns, the countryside and the Badia, and the refugee camps, to become an embodiment of the nation's will to put you at the core of national responsibility and in the center of effectiveness and influence. While the government committed itself and delivered a free and fair election within the time specified by the law and the Constitution, the results of this election have taken us from a climate of full freedom and equal opportunities to a new stage of many duties and responsibilities, objectives and goals, which we trust you have the determination to face and the ability to achieve. And as we aspired from the outset to see everyone participate in that election, we will always be keen for the freedom of people to have their own opinions so that the difference of opinions remains a high-grade and healthy enrichment of our political life, along with the pluralism that garnishes democracy. Therefore, congratulations to those who won the confidence of the people and the voice of our nation, and felicitations to the nation for the allegiance and dedication of its sons. The family or the tribe in our country—as in every country—is one of the cells of society, which make up the entire people. It maintains society's lofty ideals, protects its noble values, and moves its beautiful traditions and generous customs forward. The family—like the tribe in this precious homeland—has always been a source of goodness and an aid of honor and pride. It has never been—may God forbid—a burden or a source of blemish, nor has it been a shortcoming or a censure. So joy to you for having come from those blessed sources, and joyous may the state be in you. Each one of your is from this homeland and for this homeland. The homeland is for every family, every tribe, and every citizen in the north, south, east or west alike. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, The basic support to the democracy we enjoy—and any other democracy—rests upon the sincere and continuous cooperation between the executive, legislative and judicial branches. This is followed by their cooperation with the political powers and civil society's institutions. Finally, a combined cooperation with the people collectively or the nation in its entirety. A modern society is one of complementarity, harmony, solidarity and mutual assistance. It is not a society of estrangement, alienation, severed relations, and crossing lines. Governments may come and go, parliaments may change or regenerate, and the judiciary may develop and change, but the state which flanks these powers under its wings is the one that remains. This is because the people—first and last—are everlasting and regenerating throughout time. All the undertakings of the government in every field are to the state and for the state. The media is that of the state, so is health, agriculture, and so on. Any such activity or effort should not be allowed to dwindle, retract or one day be belittled in a way that it becomes attributed to other than the state. Since the employee is government's main tool to fulfill its duties towards the citizen and the country, he is the one who should be loyal to the people's interest and concerns . . . faithful to their hopes and aspirations. The employee is the means to build the cornerstone and structures of the state. It is for this, that he must be the object of care and appreciation just as he should always be worthy of such care and appreciation. If bureaucracy is civil service's enemy number one, then corruption is the most destructive tool that demolishes the pillars of that service and destroys every hope of advancement. No one in the nation or the state should be more motivated to fight off these two arch enemies of progress and advancement than the employee himself, who is the core of sound management and the nerve of dignified and pulsating life. But our society, honorable senators and deputies, should not be one of "government jobs," where the chair is the nation, and the job is the cause. It is there where things lose their value and meaning, and where the people lose their ideals, dreams and hopes. Our homeland should collectively transform into a perpetual workshop. Each one of its sons should have his role and responsibilities. The writer and the artist, the laborer and the farmer, the employee and the professional. A workshop with no place for spectators and negligent people. The building of a homeland is like life itself: continuous and perpetual. And if the sons of this country did not build it, then they have no right to idly criticize and complain, nor to derogate or defame. They should have no right to expect others to build their country for them. Nation-building is an effort, dedication, loyalty, and belonging. Each one of you should give his best effort and all his potential to his country. And just as this applies to every citizen, it certainly should apply to all the branches of government and authorities. Any branch must not just watch the performance of another, but each must complement the work of the other. They must all move in harmony, and along with the people, they can all become like a magnificent orchestra that always performs one symphony: that of the nation. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, The work of the legislative branch emanating from this blessed citadel is as much a source of pride to the state as the work of the executive. Synonymous to them is the work of the independent judiciary that spreads the meaning of justice throughout the state, without which no rule is upright; it deep-roots the values of rightness, without which life is not worthy, and protects the reality of freedom, without which man's humanity does not materialize. And just as the member of the legislative branch should be a sincere and honest expression of the will of the people, every member of the judiciary should be a sincere and honest expression of the people's ideals, values, and virtues. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, It is because of all this and other state objectives that my government will present to your esteemed assembly a package of laws and legislation. Some will modernize and develop existing laws and legislation, while others will come to open new horizons of development and construction. Foremost among them is a new election law that takes into consideration the changes and developments of this age, establishes increased equality and justice among all the people, and maintains the constants of our national march. The government will also present to the distinguished assembly new legislation that aims at developing the political parties and professional unions laws in order to guarantee better performance, to regulate practices, and—God willing—to protect the rights of the people and the interests of the homeland. My government had presented the esteemed House with a Press and Publications Law, which was issued in its temporary form as a response to a wish by the previous Parliament. This came as the noble profession of journalism became afflicted with what its enemies and the enemies of this nation wished. It also came when some of those who intruded on the press took the profession of mourning the homeland, the state and the people, of challenging and defaming our values and ideals, and of transgressing public and private affairs and interests. That temporary law did not come to limit freedoms or gag mouths, nor did it come to belittle any real achievement by the previous law. Instead, it aimed at regulating the press sector, which is from the state to the state and from the people to the people. It also aimed at defining the rights and obligations of this sector. Because a fair and impartial judiciary that understands and reacts to changes is in the forefront of the firm basics of the state of law and institutions, my government will continue its efforts to upgrade the legislation and institutions of the judiciary. This is being done according to a plan that guarantees the best working conditions and resources. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, Our armed forces, the brave military establishment, will be as always an example of pride and dignity for the country and the people. Our forces have always been our companion through all our country's peaks of glory. They, along with our entrusted security establishment, have the distinguished role of protecting the country and the citizens, and maintaining society's safety and security. With great national awareness, true belonging, and unshaken loyalty, they have been an example of efficiency and discipline, and a model of refined manners and noble behavior in the region and the world at large. Their role was not restricted to home, but went beyond, reaching various international spots, where they contributed to keeping international peace in many countries and places. There, they have reflected the finest example of Arab morality and the refined Jordanian character and attributes. With my direct guidance, my government will provide all the support these two establishments deserve to develop their capabilities and advance their potential. This will be done in the framework of the best balance between experience, rehabilitation, and management of resources that will enable them to carry out their mission both at home and on every other level. My government will continue its support of the Retired Servicemen's Organization to help expand its vital activities and diversify its basic services as a means to fulfill its economic and social objectives, and in recognition for its members' great and honorable efforts in the service of their beloved country. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, Peace was never but a strategic choice for us and for our brethren in the great Arab homeland. We, in Jordan, have wanted—and still want—a comprehensive and permanent peace built on justice and based on international law and obligations. In this context, peace is not just a Jordanian choice, but also the choice of all other parties. It is the choice of peoples as much as we hope it to be the choice of leaders. The peace process has faltered recently as a result of the Israeli government's obstinacy and stubbornness. But we remain in firm belief that people's determination in the choice of peace will finally overcome all the obstacles until the entire region enjoys the dream of progress and prosperity. We have provided the Palestinian Authority with all brotherly and sincere support throughout different times and stages. We will continue to support our brothers, today and in the future, towards attaining the Palestinian people's legitimate rights and establishing their independent state on their national soil, with its capital in Jerusalem. We have maintained our eagerness, as we have always been, for continued coordination with our brothers in the Arab World, particularly with Egypt, in the service of the peace process on the Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese tracks. Because cooperation and coordination with the Arab brothers is a basic cornerstone of Jordanian thought and practice, I have exerted great efforts in that direction by means of direct meetings with Arab leaders and officials. This was complemented by activating agreements and joint committees, and by commitment to the various Arab decisions and resolutions. The suffering of the brotherly Iraqi people has been a source of deep agony to us and to many people around the world. And from here, we stand with all our capabilities for the lifting of our people's suffering within the framework of maintaining and preserving the national territorial integrity of that brotherly country. The Arab state of affairs, at this moment of modern Arab history and beyond, requires great cooperation and understanding. This state of affairs, in clarity and truthfulness, more than at any other time, is not conducive to proper dealings and to building relations. It certainly, in light of the true Arab interest, lacks a way out of the circle of slander and vilification, and the patterns of accusations and condemnations. It also lacks logic, wisdom and the means to build friendships as well as positive and fruitful relations. As for Israel, a distinction should be drawn between the position of the government and the position of the people. We must stop serving the current Israeli position through our old and worn out ways and means. By that, we stand to win or lose. Our nation has had enough of the patterns of defamation and curses. It is time for some of its sons to grow up and fear God in the affairs of their people and the destiny of their nation, particularly at this time, which is characterized by the establishment of unions, agreements, and groupings. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, My government has followed up on the efforts in the economic and financial spheres, completing the biggest part of legislation and basic arrangements, particularly those aimed at liberating the national economy from administrative constraints. It laid down a carefully studied program for privatization, as well as joining the World Trade Organization and the European partnership, and creating an Arab free trade zone. The government continued its efforts in the areas of industrial development, increasing exports, and developing trade zones and major joint projects, as well as transforming Aqaba into an investment-attracting free trade zone. My government also continued to implement the economic adjustment program, which helped raise growth levels and hard currency reserves, in addition to maintaining monetary stability. It continued to develop the social security package and create employment opportunities for the Jordanian labor force, both at home and in brotherly and friendly countries. The private sector has always had a leading role in building our country and serving our national economy. National capital has always been a source of pride in our dearest Jordan. Because of the constantly growing role of this important sector, the government will do its utmost to boost that role in the framework of full cooperation and joint effort. Furthermore, the government has accomplished intensive and well-planned progress in restructuring public sector services like transport, telecommunications and energy, with the aim of elevating its efficiency and developing its production. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, The role of women today has become more important and crucial than at any other time. The Jordanian woman has excelled in the field of education and succeeded in different professions and contributions in the various organizations. Her support of official efforts to serve society and develop the countryside has become stronger. She also began to take part in the political life, becoming an important pillar of the democratic structure. This is why we must all pay serious attention to some of the dangerous phenomena that remain a source of women's suffering, and which—unfortunately—constitute an inhuman violation of their basic rights. The most serious and dangerous of those is the visible and hidden violence, which was the focus of many international conferences. This does not befit our Arab and Islamic society: the society of solidarity. It is a flagrant contradiction with our ongoing calls to preserve human dignity and all human rights. As for the children, and despite all laudable efforts, there remains a number of negative, harmful and shameful practices that we must all confront with rigor and determination. The child is also another victim of various forms of violence, whether at home or in society. In the former, he is victimized under the pretext of discipline and upbringing, and in the later by vagrancy and exploitation. A quick look around us shows an increase in street children either begging or being used in various selling schemes. All this leads many of our own flesh and blood into the abyss of delinquency and the depth of poverty and vagrancy. Therefore, in cooperation with your esteemed assembly, my government will seek to fight off these dangers in an effort to raise our society to the levels of our ambitions. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, My government worked to make the 1998 budget reflect our future direction towards economic and social development. The budget will place adequate emphasis on housing projects, development funds and various tourist projects, as well as expanding rehabilitation and training programs and increasing investment incentives in the governorates. The government, while laying down the 1988-2002 five-year Economic and Social Development Plan, with my support and the supervision of my brother Crown Prince El Hassan, has taken into consideration the sound strategic management of resources as the basis of that plan and the emanating programs. In the plan, the government will give the governorates distinct developmental and economic dimensions, while health care and universal health insurance will figure as a main component. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, The twenty-first century is knocking on our doors. And if our journey through the recent decades of the twentieth century was filled with difficulties and challenges, they were also abundant with achievements and victories, praise be to the Almighty. Just as the human being was our main and only resource during that long and hard journey, he will always be that in the times ahead. He is our means to reach more success and glory. Our most important entry into the new century should be through our strong national unity, based on cooperation and brotherhood in the framework of a young and modern state, whose cornerstones are stable institutions, whose reference is the Constitution, the law and the National Charter, and whose way is democracy, pluralism, responsible freedom, and the security and dignity of man. It is the unity that seeks to build a modern and strong society that preserves its national character and Arab identity, and is eager to work and to react with the world with an open mind. Science and technology is another entry into the new century. The economy of the entire future is that of scientific and technological applications. Scientific and technological research is the propelling power towards achieving the highest degrees of excellence and performance. We must work to raise the level of research centers closer to those in the advanced countries, with God's help. Education and culture are also a means of entry into the next and other centuries. They are the perfect means to the perfect life of individuals and people. It is from here that the need arises for a revision of the current educational and cultural programs in a manner that befits a modern state. We have enough self-confidence, attachment to our roots, purity of culture, and humanity in our national and religious values to protect us from blowing winds. Identity diminishes and disappears with isolation and seclusion. Personality is reduced and deformed with depleted thoughts and stagnant mind. Thus a stagnant culture rusts and is lost. The bright image of Islam with its values, moderation, centrism, keenness for human dignity, and creation of the concept of Shura and dialogue, will always be our source of pride. It is our means to convince the world that we Arabs and Muslims are far from fanaticism, that we love peace and prosperity, and that we are real partners in the making of human civilization. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, Our most sincere call is for advancing, boosting and protecting the concept of the state. The avenues and fields of governing are growing, increasing, developing and flourishing. They all form part of the state's existence and solid structures. This embraces with pride the struggle and sacrifice of the people to give the state all the glory and to give our Jordanian human being—on this and every land—his self and national pride. One of our most important and sacred duties will be protecting the concept of the people from disintegration and deterioration and rejecting all contradicting practices and behavioral patterns. The only geography which can govern, control, and decide our direction is our national geography—the geography of the one nation, the one people, and the one state. Jordan is the homeland, its population is the people, and all the powers and elements of rule are the state. Honorable Senators, Honorable Deputies, I congratulate you for the people's confidence, and invite you to shoulder your responsibilities as representatives of the entire people and not of a specific region; to be honorable nationalists, who keep their promise and follow the righteous path; and to consult your affairs among yourselves; to be committed to the Constitution, and respectful of the law and the Charter. This way, Jordan, with you and through you, can enter the new century with strength and confidence, just as God Almighty wanted and just as we wish it to be. God Almighty said: "Work, for God will soon observe your work, and his Apostle and the believers." Surat al-Tawbah (105) Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings. Speech from the Throne Opening of the Thirteenth Parliament Amman November 29, 1997 |
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