Conference by Mr. Ali Bibi, Strategic Planning Director to the Jordanian Ministry of Political Development - 21 June 2006

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is surely a great pleasure to be with all of you today. I would like to thank the MEDEA Institute for the wonderful opportunity to share our experiences and development.

Keywords such as partnership, development, prosperity have always been the driving forces for humanity.

We believe that reform is not a luxury, nor an indulgence, it is a necessity for the future of the region. In Jordan, we have realized that fact at early stage and we enacted upon it through the different governmental agencies and society group organizations. We believe in partnership.

Our aim is to develop Jordan as a model of modern Arab State based on the humanistic values we truly believe in. We have identified key strategic objectives to the process of reform and political development in Jordan: women empowerment, human rights awareness, political party life development, media development, enhancing youth participation, a participative civil society, and an independent judiciary while forging ahead with economic liberalization and reform.

Basically, there are numerous international definitions for political development. In Jordan, the Ministry of Political Development has adopted the following definition which suits the Jordanian political needs. "Development is a modernization process that will develop the relationship between the State and society, which will foster public stability and social peace through developing the law regulating public affairs, stimulating public participation, restructuring the public concepts of organizational and institutional structures and transforming the concepts of adjustment loyalty, transparency, accountability and participation from the theoretical stage into the application sphere."

One of the major achievements when it comes to reform is the establishment of the Ministry of Political Development. The Ministry which was established in October 2003  submitted a preliminary action plan and strategy to all segments within the society to provide remarks, discuss and express their views. We surely took all views into consideration and developed a political development strategy and action plan.

We have taken numerous factors into consideration which are peace, stability, good governance, rule of law, transparency and accountability. Again, our aim is develop Jordan as a model of a modern developed technologically independent State able to deliver to its people as well as its neighbors a politically stable and healthy environment for investment. In compliance with the principle of respecting and accepting the different views, we had identified the strategy and action plan within the timeframe and with specific indicators. Our mission is to lay down the foundations and enhance the political development within the framework of the strategic partnership between the State and society, while our aim is to promote democracy, equality and equal opportunity, the rule of law, increase participation.

We identified through the strategy three major pillars at the Ministry of Political Development. Legislation, Awareness, and Initiatives.

Legislation involves the process of dialogue. Laws which include political party law, the elections law, media law and other essential laws that will increase the level of participation within the society of Jordan.

The second pillar, the awareness and communication is an important aspect of identifying to the citizens of Jordan their rights. It is clear in the Constitution in Jordan that participation is important. So we initiated a major campaign "TV and radio spots" last January including four spots a day and for a duration of a month, encouraging people to participate through reading their rights in the Constitution.

The awareness also includes identifying gender equality: we believe in developing the opportunities for Jordanians. Jordan has distinguished high ranking officials who are women. We have ministers, ambassadors and surely are supporting the concept of engaging more women and increasing the number of women within the public sector.

I believe that an essential milestone is the role of civil society organizations. It is essential to work together in order to provide our utmost support and assistance in developing terminologies, capabilities and the concept of participation.

The third pillar that I am going to mention is the initiative projects and programmes. One of the major initiatives we are now working on has been identified in the platform presented by his Excellency the Prime minister and consists of the establishment of a freedom square, creating a space where people can freely express their opinion. This is going to be in the centre of Amman as a starting point. Other governorates will follow. It is more than just a democratic skill development and enhancement of capabilities, it is an essential stage from theoretical to implementation level of democratic ability.

We have also initiated through dialogue the creation of a committee. This committee consists of the representatives of the political parties in Jordan and the Government. It is a partnership and we believe in that partnership.

This committee drafted a suggested political party law. That political party law will increase the participation of all youth and women. In addition to that, the law will include support at the financial level. So if political parties have essential percentage of women and youth in their party, they will be provided with funds. If one party was able to win elections, the party would have additional support.

Another major initiative we are working on is the establishment of a youth parliament. The Jordanian Youth Parliament consists youth aged between 18 & 27. Our target is to develop their democratic skills and increase the level of participation. It is supposed to have the whole regulations and laws done by the 60 selected youth members who are from all governorates in Jordan. Equal opportunity is important so 50% of the selected committee are females and 50% males. By July this year, they will have their full regulations ready to be submitted to the Government through the Ministry of Political Development. The youth have all our support and assistance

In general, the reform process is a slow one. No two democracies are the same. We have identified and shown what a home-grown application is, which surely creates ownership from within.

I would also like to refer to the establishing of a Jordanian ombudsman. Not a lot of countries around the world have an ombudsman but we surely have the privilege to move with the political development process by creating our own ombudsman with the support of different partners on a global level, and the Danish in particular.

We believe in the partnership, in the progress and in our aim to develop Jordan from within. We have targeted to reach all local communities in the Kingdom in order to initiate dialogue and increase participation. 

Mr. Nothomb: Thank you. I guess that you heard that we listened to you in a very intense way. It is due to the fact that this was very interesting. Thank you.

The time is open for debate.

Mr. Ryelandt: You know about the work on Arab reform conducted by the Alexandrina Library. Are you in contact with them for the kind of job that you have? What do you think of their job? What about your relationship with them?

Mr. Bibi: When it comes to Arab reform, no two democracies are the same. We believe in the concept of a home-grown application, but we are ready to assist in everyway possible and the develop the opportunities through communication, exchange ideas, and initiatives. We believe in the process of that leads to stability, peace, prosperity, tolerance and the rule of law.

Mr. Barakat: Are people interested in political development more than in economic development? What is their priority?

Mr. Bibi: I appreciate the question. when people express their views and opinions , their views are accepted, this is the concept of Political Development.

Development whether Political ,Social , Economic ,and Administrative is a priority.

Mr. Hijazin: A little word about Jordan. Jordanians can stay a whole day without eating but they cannot stay a whole day without speaking about politics.

One question: regarding the syndicate in Jordan, do they consider themselves as a civil society organization or a political party? Another question: what about the funding of political parties in Jordan?

Mr. Bibi: When it comes to civil society organizations, we are in the process of constructive dialogue with representatives of civil society organizations…. unifying terminologies. This dialogue aims to indicate the roles and responsibilities.

Mr. Vandenbegine: One question in that sense. We had a chance to speak about Islamic Action Front, I would like to know how they are funded. And maybe you can explain us what is the percentage of their representatively in the Parliament.

Mr. Bibi: One of the 34 political parties that we have in Jordan is the Islamic Action Front. The party has 17 members in the Parliament which have been elected by the people. They are part of Jordan, have been and will always be. They are a registered political party within the ministry of Interior in Jordan.

Mr. Bibi: I would also like to identify that On November 2004 the Amman Message was issued. The Message reaffirms to the Muslims and the world that Islam is a religion of peace, prosperity, tolerance and of acceptance. The Amman message is an essential statement in building bridges and understandings on Islam., and therefore I would highly recommend to read on the Internet.

A participant: You told us that the Ministry of Political development was set up in October 2003, what are the links between the setting of this Ministry and the Jordan First Initiative and the National Agenda Initiative? The first was, I think, taken before and the second afterwards.

Mr. Bibi: The four major references when creating the strategy for the Ministry of Political Development in Jordan are: the Constitution, the national Charter, the Jordan First Initiative and His Majesty’s vision. .

A decree was issued in February 2005 to basically create and establish a committee of consisting of different governmental, civil society organizations and members within society in order to come up with a national agenda. This national agenda is to identify what challenges on economic investment, social, political level Jordan has and is facing and set up clear medium – long term objectives and identify through that agenda the future of Jordan. The National Agenda has been presented to his Majesty Abdullah II recently.

We are taking into consideration all the recommendations provided in the National Agenda .

Unemployment and Poverty in Jordan is an essential priority. We have identified through a strategy and through the national agenda indicator how to move forward in solving the issue

Mr. Nothomb: Is the experience of the Ministry of Political Development unique in the Arab world? Are there other brother organisations somewhere else? Secondly, is the reform facilitated or more difficult because of the difficult international situation in the area?

Mr. Bibi: We believe in the prosperity and the development of Jordan and the region. It has to have essential partners to move forward, and a mutual understanding between all the neighbors, friends and partners inorder to move forward with the concepts of peace and stability. We believe that reform is a balance between democracy , peace and stability.

Mr. Nothomb: You receive recommendations from the European Union (Mediterranean programme, neighborhood policy), is it helpful or does it make it more difficult?

Mr. Bibi: The concept of development is a home-grown aspect. But surely partners like the EU provide us with technical assistance but again the application is strictly a Jordanian concept of ownership.

Mr. Barakat: Do you think that Jordanians do not have enough people to draw strategies about democracy? Because Europeans - it is my feeling - think that in Jordan we need to be helped by Europeans for democracy, for elections. I think that they often think that we are not able to put these strategies ourselves. If I go to Jordan, I tell my brothers that I want to tell him how to participate to democracy, he will laugh. People there are politicized. Sometimes, I watch the Jordanian television and I am very agreeably astonished to see how people can explain their opinions and even make jokes about the Ministry.

Mr. Bibi: I have to confirm that the freedom of expression is an essential tenet for Jordan’s democratic process which implies a certain responsibility. That is why it is essential and important to have a dialogue and to build bridges

Jordan is a non producing oil state, but I confirm to you that we surely do have an essential important resource, which we are heavily investing in, Our Jordan Citizen. Education and Skills are methods of moving a nation forward .

Mr. Nothomb: In your population, you have a lot of citizens who have not the Jordanian nationality. How do you manage their participation, their awareness?

Mr. Bibi: In terms of non Jordanian, If you are referring to the participation elections or the political process or the political parties, it is strictly to Jordanians. Basically, I think that is applicable all over the region.

Mr. Barakat: I would like to ask about rights of minorities in Jordan. What about Christians in Jordan? Because some people think that minorities in countries of this area have many problems, what do you think about that? Thank you.

Mr. Bibi: I doubt there is a problem. We do not have minority issues regarding the rights being suppressed, it is clearly stated in the Constitution where the rights of Jordanians are secured. So, whether you are Christian or a Muslim, you are Jordanian.

A participant: I would like to come back to the political parties. You said that Jordanian Government wanted to create a space of freedom and to promote the creation of political parties. I heard that there was a problem with the Muslim brotherhood. Could you talk a bit about that? Second, I heard the King speaking about fighting against extremism. What can you tell us about that?

My last question is about the participation of women. I have myself lived a couple years in Jordan and as Mr. Hijazin mentioned it, Jordan is a tribal society. Is it hard to promote the participation of women in a tribally structured society?

Mr. Bibi: We do not have a problem with the Islamic Action Front. IAF is a Jordanian Political Party. They have elected members in the parliament .The Government through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs identified a strategy and a method to foster a better understanding of the roles and contributions of the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch through inspiring a developmental action plan in the relationship-building process based on dialogue, transparency and accountability.

As for women participation, Her Majesty Queen Rainia stressed in many occasions that women have the potential to enhance their achievements and contribute even more to society provided they have better access to opportunities and better control of their lives through education.

Mr. Barakat: Are you used to make studies about consequences of development and participation of women?

Mr. Bibi: It is always important to identify through analytical statistics the elements of progress. Studies are essential to the importance of increasing participation.

(June 2006)