| Country Overview of Jordan |
| 2004/09/14 |
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Officail name: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Location: Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East, Northwest of Saudi Arabia, South of Syria, Southwest of Iraq, and East of Israel and the Palestenian National Authority. Jordan has access to the Red Sea via the port city of Aqaba, located at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. Area: 89,342 sq. km Capital: Amman, population: 2.126 million (2003) State Leader: His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein, accession to throne on Feb. 7, 1999. Country brief: Topography: Jordan is bordered by Israel (W), Syria (N), Iraq (NE), and Saudi Arabia (E, S). Amman is the capital and largest city. Pre-1967 Jordan fell into three main geographical regions: East Jordan, which encompasses about 92% of the country's land area; the Jordanian Highlands (highest point, 5,755 ft/1,754 m); and West Jordan (the West Bank, part of historic Palestine. In the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israel captured and occupied the West Bank, and Jordan has since renounced its claim to the area in 1988. Climate: Jordan has a combination of Mediterranean and arid desert climates, with Mediterranean prevailing in the North and West of the country, while the majority of the country is desert. Generally, the country has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, with annual average temperatures ranging from 12 to 25 C (54 to 77 F) and summertime highs reaching the 40 C (105-115 F) in the desert regions. Rainfall averages vary from 50 mm (1.97 inches) annually in the desert to 800 mm (31.5 inches) in the northern hills, some of which falls as snow in some years. Education: First six years (primary) and next three years (preparatory) compulsory and free; grades ten through twelve (secondary) also free. In 2000 more than 1,320,000 students enrolled in 4,442 schools with approximately 630,000 teachers. There are 8 public universities over the country and 12 private ones with 70,546 university students in total and 7941 overseas students . Illiteracy is 11% according to official statistics in 2000. Health: Water shortage and concomitant sanitary problems contribute to health problems. Steady increase in health facilities and medical personnel in major urban areas. Following adoption of primary health care concept, facilities and personnel better distributed in rural areas than in past. Recent years witness fast development in the field of health. Currently, there are about 84 hospitals and 8726 beds. Professional doctors total 2500. The life expectancy rises to 73. Economy: Jordan's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, although less than 5% of the land is arable. The principal crops are vegetables, wheat, and citrus fruits; olives are grown for oil. Manufactures are limited to such items as foodstuffs, clothing, and cement, and there is some oil refining. Phosphate rock and potash are the only minerals produced in quantity. The annual cost of Jordan's imports far exceeds its earnings from exports. Aqaba, on the Gulf of Aqaba, is the only seaport. Politics: Under the 1952 constitution, the king is the most powerful figure in the country; he appoints a cabinet (headed by Prime Minister). The bicameral parliament has been convened and dissolved by the king several times since 1974; the 1989 elections were the first in 22 years. Political parties were again permitted to field candidates in 1999. Up until now, there are about 30 political parties in Jordan including "The Islamic Action Front", "Jordanian Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party", "The Jordanian Communist Party" etc.. Justice: Jordanian Court system consisted of civil, religious, and special courts. Tribal law abolished in 1976. No jury system; judges decide matters of law and fact. Administrative Divisions: Jordan divided into eight governorates or provinces. Governorates further subdivided into districts, subdistricts, municipalities, towns, and villages. Media: Main newspapers: Al-Arab Al-Yawm Daily, Al-Dustour Daily, Al-Rai Daily, Jordan Times Political daily, The Star Jordan's political, economic & cultural weekly; Petra is the official news agency was established in 1969 and has its branches in Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Tokoy, New York; Jordan Radio & Television Corp. Radio with different channels broadcast national & International News, sports, weather, satellite; Foreign Affairs: Jordan traditionally upholds neutral, non-aligned and open policy and practises all-around comparatively balanced diplomacy. Jordan maintains close relations with world powers, especially by strengthening strategic cooperative relations and partnership with western countries including the United States, Britain. Relations with China and Russia keep developing. Jordan remains strongly committed to pan-Arabism and closely aligned with countries such as Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Jordan takes an active part in the middle east peace process. Currently, it has diplomatic ties with 123 countries in the world. History: The region of present-day Jordan was conquered successively by the Seleucids (4th cent. BC), Romans (mid-1st cent. AD), and Muslim Arabs (7th. cent.). After the Crusaders captured (1099) Jerusalem, it became part of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Ottoman Turks gained control in 1516, and what is now Jordan remained in the Ottoman Empire until World War I. In 1920 Transjordan (as it was then known) was made part of the British mandate of Palestine. The country gained independence in 1946, and the name was changed (1949) to Jordan, reflecting its acquisition of land W of the Jordan R. during the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. Abdullah bin Hussein, a member of the Hashemite dynasty that headed Jordan since 1921, was assassinated in 1951. His grandson, Hussein I, became king the following year. Jordanian forces were routed by Israel in the 1967 war and Jordan lost the West Bank. Growing hostility between Hussein and Palestinian guerrilla organizations operating in Jordan led to a brief civil war in 1970, and guerrilla bases were destroyed in 1971. Jordan renounced (1974; reaffirmed 1988) its claims to the West Bank. Jordan also joined most of the other Arab countries in opposing the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. It was officially neutral in the Persian Gulf War, but many Jordanians supported Iraq. In 1991 Jordan began peace talks with Israel, and a treaty was signed in 1994. Hussein continued to promote peace between Arabs and Israelis until his death in 1999; He was succeeded by his son Abdullah II who pledged to work toward a more open government and to ease restrictions on public expression. Although there has been some progress in terms of economic development, the country remains dependent on tourism, which has been hurt by its location between Israel and Iraq. Political liberalization has been slow in coming. In 2001 parliament's term expired without new elections being called; In June, 2003, parliamentary elections resulted in a majority for the king's supporters; Islamists won 18 seats. Economic overview: Members of Cabinet: Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Zeid al-Hussein, Zeid Ra'ad, Prince His Majesty King Abdullah II profile Born in Amman on January 30th, 1962, King Abdullah II is the eldest son of His Majesty the late King Hussein and Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein. He began his primary education at the Islamic Educational College in Amman, and later attended St. Edmund's School in Surrey, England. For his secondary education, he attended Eaglebrook School and Deerfield Academy in the United States of America. King Abdullah II joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in 1980, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in 1981. He was later appointed Reconnaissance Troop Leader in the 13th/18th Battalion of the Royal Hussars (British Army) in (West) Germany and England. In 1982, King Abdullah II attended Oxford University where he completed a one-year Special Studies course in Middle Eastern Affairs. Upon returning home, King Abdullah II joined the Jordanian Armed Forces and served as Platoon Commander and Company Second-in-Command in the 40th Armored Brigade. In 1985, he attended the Armored Officers Advanced Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA. A year later, he became Commander of a Tank Company in the 91st Armored Brigade of the Jordanian Armed Forces holding the rank of Captain. He also served with the Royal Jordanian Airforce Anti-Tank Wing where he received his wings as well as his qualifications as a Cobra Attack Pilot. In 1987, King Abdullah II attended the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. as a Mid-Career Fellow. He completed an Advanced Study and Research program in International Affairs, part of the 'Master of Science in Foreign Service' program. King Abdullah II, thereafter, resumed his military career where he held various positions, among them Commander of the Royal Jordanian Special Forces and Special Operations Commander. From January 1989 until October 1989 King Abdullah II was the 2nd Company Commander in the 17th Tank Battalion, and from October 1989 until January 1991 he was 2nd in Command of the 17th Tank Battalion, during which time, in 1990, he attended the Royal Staff College in Camberley in the United Kingdom. He was then promoted to the rank of Major. From January 1991 until January 1992 he was Armored Corps Representative in the Office of the Inspector General of the Jordanian Armed Forces. King Abdullah became Battalion Commander of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in January 1992. In 1993, he was in the 40th Brigade with the rank of Colonel, and was made Deputy Commander of the Jordanian Special Forces. In 1994, he was made Commander of Special Forces with the rank of Brigadier and in 1996 he reorganized the Special Forces and other Elite Units into the Special Operations Command. King Abdullah was promoted to Major-General in 1998, and in June / July of the same year attended a defense resources management course in Monterrey Naval Post Graduate School. In addition to his career as an army officer, King Abdullah II served Jordan many times in the official capacity of Regent in the absence of the late King Hussein, and regularly traveled on official missions. He was proclaimed Crown Prince on the 24th of January 1999 by a Royal Decree. He had also assumed the position of Crown Prince at birth by a Royal Decree until April 1st, 1965. Since his ascension to the throne, King Abdullah II has continued his late father's commitment to creating a strong and positive moderating role for Jordan within the Arab region and the world, and has worked towards the establishment of a just and lasting comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. King Abdullah II is committed to building on the late King's legacy to further institutionalize democratic and political pluralism in Jordan. He has exerted extensive effort to insuring sustainable levels of economic growth and social development aimed at improving the standard of living of all Jordanians. He is also working towards modernizing Jordan's information technology and educational systems. Under King Abdullah's reign, Jordan was admitted to the World Trade Organization, and ratified agreements for the establishment of a Free Trade Area with the United States of America, the European Union, the European Free Trade Association countries, and sixteen Arab countries. King Abdullah II has also been involved in the drive for national administrative reform, as well as governmental transparency and accountability. He has been working on the advancement of civil liberties making Jordan one of the most progressive countries in the Middle East. Also, he has been involved in enacting the necessary legislations that guarantee women a full role in the Kingdom's socio-economic and political life. His Majesty attaches great importance to Jordan's relations with China. He has visited China 6 times (3 times as Prince, 3 times as King, the latest visit is in July 2004). King Abdullah II married Queen Rania on June 10th, 1993. The Royal Couple have one son, Prince Hussein, born on June 28th, 1994, and two daughters, Princess Iman, born on September 27th, 1996, and Princess Salma, born on September 26th, 2000. The King has four brothers and six sisters. King Abdullah II holds a number of decorations from various countries. He is a qualified frogman, pilot and a free-fall parachutist. His other interests include automobile racing, water sports, scuba diving and collecting ancient weapons and armaments. |