Thursday, February 26

King Hussein receives Turkish foreign minister Ismael Cem

Wednesday, February 25

His Majesty and Italian Premier Romano Prodi exchange views

King Hussein and Italian Prime Minister Prodi discussed the agreement reached on Monday between Iraq and the UN. In their telephone conversation, the two leaders reaffirmed the need for full compliance with the agreement in preparation for lifting the sanctions on Iraq, and putting an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people. The two leaders also stressed the need for intensifying efforts to overcome obstacles on the Palestinian-Israeli track.

Tuesday, February 24

His Majesty is interviewed on Orbit Television

In an interview with Emad Eddin Adeeb of the Orbit Television and Radio Satellite Network, His Majesty called for a direct dialogue between Iraq and the United States as the best means for implementing United Nations resolutions and lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq: “There are problems (between Iraq and the US) that require solution through dialogue...If the Americans have certain demands, these should be directly put on the table because neither the inspection teams nor others can lead to a final end to the crisis.” In response to a question about the peace process, the King said “Jordan views peace as an end to fighting and a start to development...But the recent Iraq-UN crisis has delayed discussion of the peace process. However, I believe that the world community will deal with this issue with the similar criteria that it dealt with the Iraqi crisis and to recognize the rights of the Palestinians in their homeland. And also the Syrian and Lebanese occupied lands. There can be no real peace without the restoration of rights.” His Majesty also spoke at length about topics including Jordan’s stand in the 1990-91 Gulf crisis, Israel and its current government, the role of the United States in the world, and Jordan’s democratization.

His Majesty receives Iranian deputy foreign minister

King Hussein also met today with Deputy Foreign Minister, Sayid Muhammad Sader, who delivered a message from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami on the crisis between Iraq and the United States. The message focused on the efforts made to contain the crisis peacefully.

His Majesty meets Chilean Rabbi Dr. Angel Kreiman

Monday, February 23

UN-Iraqi agreement averts a confrontation with the US

His Majesty welcomed the UN-Iraqi agreement signed in Baghdad on Monday by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz. In an interview with Jordan Television, King Hussein said: “Thank God, I was optimistic and my optimism proved to be right. We have followed up on this issue since the beginning and we have exerted efforts with all the concerned parties, including our brothers in Iraq. Today the UN Secretary-General called me after his press conference in Baghdad and thanked Jordan and expressed his appreciation of our stand. He gave me the impression that everything was moving in the right direction. I hope that this will be the end of the tense atmosphere in which we have lived. I think we have to further pursue efforts and make contacts with the parties directly involved in this case so that we can move on from this stage to the next, when everything agreed on has been implemented. Then the focus should be on ending the sanctions. I hope the agreement will get them (Iraqis) out of the dark tunnel into a new dawn in which they will live free in their homeland.” Stopping in Amman on route between Baghdad and Amman, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed appreciation for the support he had received from King Hussein and Crown Prince El Hassan in his mission: “The King is one of the leaders of the region who understand the situation in Iraq, someone who I have been working with and seeking his support and help in defusing the crisis. I have called him several times and met with His Royal Highness in Paris, on my way to Baghdad, where he also brought me a message from His Majesty.”

His Majesty commends Jordan’s security services

King Hussein today defended the security services’ role in quelling recent unrest in the southern city of Ma’an, where a man was shot to death during a pro-Iraq rally following Friday prayers three days ago: “When I inquired about the incident in Ma’an, it was clear that the security forces did not open fire but were themselves fired upon. The victim was hit in the back, which means that one of the people who were on the scene shot him...I believe there was a campaign focused on the security forces, the government, the minister of interior, and the Public Security Department’s director-general. The security forces exercised restraint during these incidents and it should be clear to everybody that the security and armed forces represent the state and should be accorded respect.”

Sunday, February 22

King Hussein meets with Premier over Ma’an disturbance

After visiting the Prime Ministry on Sunday, His Majesty said that the situation in Ma’an was calm: “The necessary measures were taken and the armed forces have entered the city. Together with public security (police), they control the situation and no accident has taken place.” Asked whether he thought foreign parties were involved in instigating the riots, King Hussein said: “In my point of view, there are parties whose sole objective is to bury democracy in the name of democracy, and this is not acceptable.”

Saturday, February 21

His Majesty travels to Ma’an to ensure calm

After visiting the city of Ma’an and meeting with notables, King Hussein said on Saturday that Jordan will not tolerate anyone who instigates riots and calls for violence in any part of the country. “There were elements of sedition and trouble and there were some who instigated disturbances,” the King told soldiers. “These actions cannot be tolerated.” King Hussein’s visit to Ma’an comes one day after unrest spread in the southern city, following riots in which one man was killed. “We are telling the people that we live in a democracy in which people can talk to one another and understand each other in a free atmosphere. We hope the time will come when we do not have any troublemakers and malicious or ungrateful persons or anyone who does not believe in this country and does not have any allegiance to this country,” His Majesty added.

Friday, February 20

Chief of the Royal Court resigns

His Majesty sent a message to former Chief of the Royal Court H.E. Awn Khasawneh in reply to his letter of resignation, expressing appreciation for Mr. Khasawneh’s services. In his message, King Hussein said Mr. Khasawneh had offered valuable services and performed his duties with sincerity and honesty. His Majesty wished him success in his new endeavors.

Tuesday, February 17

Ministers take the oath in Basman Palace

In a brief ceremony at the Royal Court, King Hussein today swore in six new ministers to the government of Prime Minister Abdel Salam Majali. The six new members are as follows: Talal al-Hassan, who became Minister of Culture and Youth; Muhammad Mahdi Farhan, who took over as Minister of Labor; Khaled Zou’bi, who was entrusted with the portfolio of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs; Muhammad Hamdan, who became Minister of Education; Sami Gammo, who became Minister of Transport and Telecommunications; and Bassam Emoush, of the Islamic Action Front, who took over the portfolio of Administrative Development. Prime Minister Majali extended two portfolios to ministers already serving in his government: Deputy Prime Minister for Services Abdullah Ensour was named Minister of Information, while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Development Affairs Jawad Anani was named Minister of Foreign Affairs.

King Hussein receives Congressmen John Boenher from the United States

Monday, February 16

World financiers meet His Majesty

Today King Hussein received at Raghadan Palace a delegation representing world financiers and investors based in the US and Europe. Discussion during the audience, which was attended by HRH Crown Prince El Hassan, covered Jordanian-US joint economic investments and areas of investments in the Kingdom which are attractive to the American private sector. The delegation members said that stability and security can attract investments which help achieve the aspired development for the peoples of the region.

Sunday, February 15

President Yasser Arafat in Amman for a brief visit

His Majesty hosted Palestinian President Arafat on a brief visit to Amman. President Arafat briefed His Majesty on the latest efforts to resume peace negotiations with Israel. During the meeting, which was also attended by HRH Crown Prince El Hassan, the two leaders also discussed diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff between Iraq and the United Nations, and means to avoid a possible American strike.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan discusses his forthcoming trip to Iraq with His Majesty

In a telephone conversation with the UN Secretary-General, King Hussein said that the peoples of the region look forward to Mr. Annan’s upcoming visit to Iraq, hoping positive results will come out of the visit, warding off a military strike on that country and paving the ground for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The King and Mr. Annan discussed the ongoing efforts involving different concerned parties to contain the crisis.

Saturday, February 14

Iraqi Foreign Minister Sahhaf delivers a message from President Saddam Hussein to His Majesty

King Hussein today met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Said Sahhaf, who delivered a message from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein regarding diplomatic efforts to end the standoff with the United States. During the meeting, King Hussein stressed the need to contain the crisis and to spare the region from the “ghost of war, which will increase the suffering of the Iraqi people and bring disasters to the region.” The King also stressed that Iraq should comply with UN resolutions “to spare Iraq the consequences of a military strike.” He urged Iraq to deal with the crisis “with wisdom and seriousness and not to miss the available opportunities to reach a peaceful solution.”

Swedish Foreign Minister meets His Majesty

King Hussein met with Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen, discussing bilateral relations, the peace process and the UN-Iraqi crisis. King Hussein told reporters that Ms. Wallen’s visit to Jordan “means a lot and it really reemphasized the fact that we are friends and that our cooperation has been there.” The King furthered,“We view things most times in the same way...and we have the same concerns. All of us are working for a better future for the generations to come after us.”

Jordanian-Iranian relations reaffirmed and set to be enhanced

At an audience at the Royal Court with a visiting Iranian parliamentary delegation representing the Iranian-Jordanian Friendship Society, King Hussein stressed the Kingdom’s interest in further developing them in all fields for the best interests of the people of both countries.

Friday, February 13

King Hussein discusses the Iraqi crisis with regional leaders

His Majesty on Friday exchanged views with Egyptian President Mubarak and Syrian President Assad on the UN-Iraqi crisis. King Hussein also received a call from Turkish President Demirel, with whom he discussed the latest developments in the region, and the need for implementing all Security Council resolutions in order to prevent any further escalation.

Thursday, February 12

His Majesty returns to the Kingdom from Britain today.

Tuesday, February 10

His Majesty is almost fully recovered following infection

King Hussein today reassured Jordanians that he was on the way to a full recovery from an infection that had agitated his lymph glands and caused occasional fever, weight loss and exhaustion. He told journalists after a meeting with Prime Minister Majali that he was on a six-week course of two kinds of antibiotic medicines in order to ensure full recovery.

Monday, February 9

King Hussein and Prime Minister Blair confer over the Iraqi crisis

His Majesty held a 45-minute meeting in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. After the meeting, he spoke with reporters, stressing that Jordan does not support a military strike on Iraq because it will affect the Iraqi people: “I don’t think that I am in a position to support action that might affect the people of Iraq and I think that it is a dilemma that everybody faces. But at the same time, I can realize the dynamics of the situation and therefore I am suggesting everything to be done to avoid it and that includes a suggestion to the Iraqi leadership to come forth with regard to all agreements and implement them.” His Majesty went on to say: “I have found myself more than once in our modern history predicting what is going to happen and warning about it, but when it does occur, we bear the consequences. I am afraid that we are not far away from this situation.” The King also said that an Arab summit should tackle the peace process deadlock in addition to the Iraq-UN crisis. “Concerning an Arab summit, I don’t know what subjects are to be discussed but I think there is more than one topic: the Palestinian question, the stalled peace process which is very serious, and the crisis at hand which I hope will not be addressed with the use of force. Our contacts are continuing with Egypt and with other Arab countries to organize a meeting and pursue dialogue and objective discussion so that we can achieve the aspired results.”

Monday, February 2

King Hussein discusses the Iraqi crisis with Presidents Mubarak and Arafat

In a telephone conversation with Egyptian President Mubarak, His Majesty discussed efforts to resolve the Iraq-UN crisis, as well as the importance of restarting the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Later on Monday, the King received a telephone call from Palestinian President Arafat, who reviewed with King Hussein efforts to resume Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and the results of his meeting with US Secretary of State Albright on Sunday.