Your Excellency Ali Abul Ragheb, may God bless him,

It gives me pleasure to send you an Arab Hashemite greeting filled with respect and appreciation. I have known you for years as a dear brother. I have always seen you as the example of a Jordanian citizen who has allegiance to his country and Arab nation and is eager to shoulder his responsibilities with dignity, faithfulness, integrity, courage, and selflessness. In addition to these praiseworthy traits, you have also demonstrated that you have the virtue of being armed with education, knowledge, competence, and you have demonstrated excellence in all areas of responsibly which you have undertaken.

Stemming from this deep conviction of mine, it gives me great pleasure to entrust you with forming and chairing a new government that would succeed the government of His Excellency Abdul Raouf Rawabdeh. The government of Abdul Raouf Rawabdeh has faithfully fulfilled its duties and stood up to several national and economic problems. This government has fulfilled its duty and lived up to its responsibilities wholeheartedly and with dedication. It has made accomplishments which we will always appreciate and hold in high regard considering the circumstances that prevailed over the past year.

Now that I have entrusted you with this responsibility, I look forward to the formation of a new government of political and economic figures who are well-known for their competence, uprightness, faithfulness, and ability to take on the responsibility and perform their duty at this stage which our country, Arab nation, and the rest of the world are going through. This stage is characterized by globalization and numerous accelerating changes, which is an obvious challenge to all of us as individuals and institutions. This entails that we always be ready and able to deal with the developments and keep abreast with the global changes around us without having to give up our values, culture, and national principles. We need to take into account that Jordan has always been the heir of the Great Arab Revolt, which upheld noble principles; most prominent among which are justice, equality, tolerance, and protection of man's dignity.

Therefore, I'm placing before you and your colleagues whom you will choose to shoulder the responsibility alongside of you the basic principles and the mission which I hope the Government will accomplish and be committed to:

1. The first and most noble goal is to preserve national unity. Only a united internal front where a spirit of love and teamwork prevails can protect Jordan, hold it together, strengthen it, develop it, and protect its security and stability. It is important that we work to achieve equality among all citizens in rights and duties with unequivocal justice and crystal-clear transparency. This would be an embodiment of a constitutional principle which states that all Jordanians are equal in duties and rights. Therefore, we must abide by the principle of equality, providing equal opportunity for all. We must make competence and ability the only criteria for assigning public office and positions of leadership in the state. We must work together to lay down the foundation for a code of honor that puts an end to all forms of favoritism, nepotism, and cronyism, and work to implant that in the heart of every citizen.
   
   These negative manifestations shame everyone who believes in them or practices them, and any special treatment or privileges among the members of the same society should be eliminated. Pluralism is a characteristic of Jordanian society and should be a factor of strength for our country that enriches its good march. It is impermissible for any party for any reason whatsoever to exploit this characteristic to curtail citizenship rights and obligations. All citizens, without exception, should be committed to Jordan and to its national security.
   
   
2. Democracy is a way of life we accepted for ourselves and we will not swerve from this course, regardless of the difficulties and the challenges. We believe that democracy is the firm and solid platform for building a lofty and strong Jordan with the combined strength of its people and capabilities. To safeguard our democratic march and open new vistas before it so that it can prosper and develop, we must exercise this democratic course of action with a high sense of responsibility and deep understanding of the concept of freedom. Freedom never means attacking others' freedoms, whether they are individuals or groups. There is no unbridled freedom without legal, moral, and behavioral controls that are grounded in the values of society, heritage, and culture. In short, the democracy we speak about is the democracy that stems from the Constitution.
   
   Responsible freedom is the one that abides by the law, and respects the values and culture of this society. Differences in opinion and interpretations are legitimate. They are necessary requirements so long as they do not violate the Constitution, lead to sedition, and tear up the fabric of national unity, destabilize security, harm the homeland's reputation and image, and negatively impact its economic situation through fostering confusion. From this premise, we welcome national opposition and understand its role for enriching our national march with its experience and viewpoints that will help the advancement of the homeland and map out its bright future, God willing. I would like to point out here the need to stop obstructing or resisting foreign investments under slogans that have become obsolete
   
   
3. Democracy remains incomplete unless supported by political pluralism. For this reason, we support the formation of national political parties and people's membership in these parties so long as they are guided by the Constitution and abide by the laws enacted in accordance with the Constitution. We call on all citizens to participate in the national political development process through participation in the legislative elections. I would like to emphasize what I said in my speech on the anniversary of my accession to the throne. I said that the simplest image of nationalist feeling is for each of us to exercise his right to elect whom he believes represents him or the person who is qualified to assimilate our future national aspirations. In this respect, I look out for the formulation of a modern elections law that gives everyone the opportunity to free and fair competition to represent the various sectors of society with its various political and cultural colors. I expect also that preparations be made for the next legislative elections to remedy the organizational and procedural loopholes that took place in the previous elections.
   
   
4. The legislative branch receives our attention, respect, and appreciation and the government's cooperation with it should be on top of its priorities. We also hope that cooperation will take place between the executive and the legislative branches in all fields, including the endorsement of draft laws on economic and investment issues that are beneficial to the homeland and the citizens. In this respect, we call for keeping away fears from change and emphasize the importance of openness because the living peoples are the ones who develop their lives and trends, benefiting from the experiences of others and from what is going on in the world around them.
   
   
5. As for our Jordanian judiciary, it is the source of our constant pride. We are eager to protect its independence and promote its efficiency and ability to expedite judicial procedures and establish justice among people. This is something that requires paying attention to the conditions of judges and enabling them to improve their knowledge through scholarships and training and through taking part in specialized seminars and conferences to enable them to deal with the modern economic developments and legislation. We also underline the importance of securing means of satisfaction and honorable living for all those working in this important sector to enable them to carry out their respectable duties as best as they can and to safeguard the rights and property of people and enhance justice because justice is the basis of governance. One should not be concerned about a society and a state which have honest judiciary and trusted and fair judges.
   
   
6. As for the educational and cultural sector, there should be constant work to improve the conditions of teachers and to reward the talented ones in various scientific, intellectual, and technical fields. We should also work to supply the important educational system with distinguished, efficient, and experienced cadres that are open to the world through the use of modern technologies in education and providing the students and schools with their requirements to realize this objective. This should take place in a manner that enables both the teacher and the student to deal with modern technology and use it in the best way. This requires paying attention to higher education and scientific research and improving the standard of education in all stages. It also requires working out clear, accurate and scientific yardsticks for all university specializations so that the graduate from any Jordanian university will be distinguished in his knowledge, efficiency, and contribution. To help the government perform its duty in this field, we recommend restructuring the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research so that it will closely supervise the public and private higher education establishments and improve their standards to become a model for high academic levels and so that our educational plans and programs will meet the needs of society and aspirations for development and change.
   
   
7. As for the media sector, we believe that the message of the media should be based on the principles of freedom, national responsibility, respect for reality, and credibility, which enable it to compete. Based on this, our media apparatuses should be supported through providing them with the necessary efficient cadres and modern and advanced equipment so that the media can courageously demonstrate the spirit of the homeland, its blessed march, and great achievements. The official media should not be affiliated with any individual or government but should be the media of a state and homeland, which have well-known constants and whose objectives are noble and sublime.
   
   The press is the mirror that reflects the image of the homeland. It must be given freedom so that it would develop and flourish in a climate of freedom of thought, opinion, expression, and respect for others' opinions. The press must be allowed to work to formulate a public opinion supporting the process of change and modernization we seek. This process must be free of demagoguery, rumors, and sensationalism. The press must not depart from the truth and objectivity. It must not intentionally or unintentionally tarnish the image and reputation of the homeland or negatively affect the national economic situation through press material that conveys to the world a distorted image about the true state of affairs in our country. I hope that the government will continue to privatize the press sector so as to boost its independence and emphasize the principle of equality and equal opportunity.
   
   
8. Our national economy must be freed from the shackles hindering its growth and prosperity. We must rely on ourselves and benefit from modern technology to develop the national economic resources, rationalize the use of national wealth and resources, and strength the production base with all its elements. We must work to create capable management and enact transparent and integrated economic laws so as to serve the process of domestic and foreign investment.
   
   In this regard, I call for continued cooperation between the public and private sectors, which was best manifested through the meetings and recommendations of the Economic Consultative Council. I hope that the government will continue to adopt these recommendations in order to enhance the role of the private sector in the national economic decision-making process in all areas of production and to remove any obstacles that might stand in its way. It is high time that the private sector played its role fully in the process of development, now that the markets of the world have been opened to it and Jordan joined the World Trade Organization and free trade agreements with a number of Arab and friendly countries.
   
   We must also start to set scientific specifications for national products so that they would be qualified for domestic and foreign competition. Private ownership must be respected and private initiatives and honorable competition must be encouraged. We must put an end to illegitimate monopolies. The bases on which the selection of government representatives on the companies' management boards is done should be reconsidered. Qualification, specialization, and integrity must be the bases for selecting those representatives. I stress the importance of bolstering government control over companies through the activation of the role of the Companies Control Directorate in supervision, control, and intensive follow-up.
   
   Agriculture is a basic pillar in our national economy and in our self-reliance as far as the basic needs of life are concerned. Therefore, agricultural establishments must be activated. Their roles must be integrated and methods developed. We must enhance the quality of agricultural research and guidance and improve agricultural industry. We must provide the requirements of production and improve the methods of marketing agricultural products so that farmers would be able to reap the fruit of their hard work and labor and so that their bond to their land would be strengthened. I would like to note here that it is essential that we verify the national economic feasibility of some agricultural crops, especially those crops that consume more of our water resources than their economic returns for the homeland and citizens.
   
   
9. Water is the core of life. We made from water every living thing [Koranic verse]. Water is a strategic element upon which the future of development in Jordan depends. This stresses the need to preserve water resources, develop them, and guarantee their good management, as well as raise the efficiency of storing and transporting water, and managing its use.
   
   Moreover, it is necessary to implement the endorsed water strategy, which is based on a clear vision and an effective applicable mechanism both in the long and short run. Emphasis should be given to granting this issue the great importance it deserves. Efforts must be exerted in this field to give priority to alleviating citizens' suffering in their search for water during certain seasons and to adequately fulfill their water needs.
   
   
10. Paying attention to and preserving the environment is a national duty that must receive its due care and attention. Therefore, we hope your government will give due attention to preserving the nature and climate God has granted us and take environmental elements into consideration when formulating development plans and projects.
    
    Your government should take the initiative in setting down legal and administrative measures that enable us to preserve the environment to prepare for establishing an Environmental Affairs Ministry in the future.
    
    
11. Tourism in all its forms has become an industry with its own scientific bases that raise its importance and increase its positive effectiveness in the society and the state. This sector must receive extensive attention, so that tourism can become a major source of revenue for the state. The government must work hard to develop means of marketing tourism abroad in order to encourage tourists and attract them to our country, which historians and archeologists consider an open museum, because of the unique archeological and religious treasures of our land.
    
    The government must also take quick measures to preserve and maintain archeological sites and unearth their buried parts. The government should rehabilitate some tourist sites, provide them with the necessary infrastructure, and conserve the environment in those areas without harming the rights of local citizens by using their property according to fair regulations. I would like to stress the importance of not abusing tourism for health purposes by certain individuals or bodies and the need to reach a mechanism to guarantee that this form of abuse does not happen.
    
    
12. With regard to social care, we stress the importance of the family as the main building block of society. I also stress the importance of paying attention to motherhood, childhood, and children's rights to receive full care from the family and the state. I also affirm the importance of paying attention to the health and social conditions of school students in impoverished areas and of ascertaining the implementation of the Labor Law with regard to hiring children and abusing them in the market.
    
    It is important to protect the family from all forms of violence and I underline the importance of women's rights to education, instruction, training, and work and of enabling women to play their role in society as men's partners in developing the society.
    
    The youth sector forms two thirds of the population and requires care and assistance by setting up programs and plans to rehabilitate and train them and to enable them to bear responsibilities. Their creative abilities must be directed towards construction and progress. Job opportunities must be created for the youth by regulating the labor market to make employment available to Jordanians and expanding vocational education and training. The homeland cannot but be built with the arms of its sons. Those who have special needs should be taken care of and assimilated within their societies, given that they are a productive part of and not a burden on society. It is very important to take the appropriate measures to enhance the concept of social solidarity and expand the umbrella of social benefits.
    
    
13. Our Arab Army has been and will continue to be a source of our pride. It is the homeland's impregnable shield, and the guarantor of its security, independence, and stability. Therefore, we must offer this army all forms of assistance, train it, and modernize its equipment. We must do this to enable it to carry out its noble mission of protecting the homeland and contributing to its development and resurgence. We also must maintain the high standards it has had over the past decades, not to mention the fact that it participates in safeguarding security and peace in several areas of this world.
    
    
14. As for our security agencies, they are also a source of pride to us. We are eager to develop them so that they would remain the eyes that watch over the security of the homeland and the citizen and the strong arm of justice. We highly value the efforts of these agencies, their noble task, and their effective role in protecting citizens and their belongings. But we emphasize the importance of respecting the citizens, preserving their dignity, and that these agencies must deal with the citizens on the basis that they are there to serve the citizens first and to protect their lives, belongings, and dignity before anything else. This is to further consolidate national affiliation, and establish a relationship between these agencies and their citizens on the basis of trust, cooperation, and mutual respect.
    
    
15. The state's administrative apparatus is in dire need to be developed and modernized on modern scientific bases. It must be restructured to keep in line with the aspirations of the homeland for development and prosperity. Therefore, all forms of administrative bloating, negligence, corruption, abuse of public posts, nepotism, cronyism and whimsical decisions must be tackled and all those who tamper with the interests of the citizens must be severely punished. Capable and honest managers who give priority to public interest over personal interests must be chosen. Creative and loyal managers must be rewarded and all those who fail to carry out their duties or exploit their positions in any way whatsoever must be taken to account. I would like here to emphasize the need to enhance the prerogatives of the secretaries and directors general in state agencies to enable the secretaries general and administrative teams to process the citizens' formalities and offer them services away from red tape, routine, and the many administrative complications.
    
    
16. As for our foreign policy, its is based on international legitimacy embodied in our respect for the UN Charter and provisions, namely; those that deal with respect for the sovereignty of countries, independence, and territorial integrity. As for our Arab relations, they are primarily based on the provisions of the Constitution that stipulates that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an Arab country and that the Jordanian people are part of the Arab nation. From this premise, we stress our complete eagerness to give precedence to our brotherly relations with our Arab brothers, on the basis of trust and mutual respect, the joint endeavor to enhance Arab solidarity, and abidance by the Arab League Charter and the institutions of joint Arab action.
    
    Jordan is committed to the peace process as a strategic option on which there is an Arab consensus. Jordan will work to support the Arab brothers on all the Arab tracks to regain their rights and to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace to which all the people of the region aspire in accordance with international legitimacy.
    
    As for the Palestinian brothers, we fully support them and their National Authority in all Arab and international forums. We will continue to support them to enable them to restore their rights, decide their future, and establish their independent state on their national soil whose capital is Jerusalem.
    
    As for Iraq, we emphasize our constant eagerness to preserve the unity of fraternal Iraq and its full sovereignty on all its land. We call on the international community to carry out its duty toward Iraq through lifting the unjust siege imposed on this fraternal, neighborly, and dear Arab country and putting an end to the tribulation of this deep-rooted country and this dignified people.
    
    As for work at the departments of the Foreign Ministry, I emphasize the importance of institutionalization and that the foreign minister be the official spokesman for the Jordanian Government within the framework of institutionalization in the fields of foreign policy.
    
    Your Excellency the Prime Minister: Over the past years, some groups -- praise be to God they are few -- used to rush to criticize the governments whenever they make any decisions without taking into consideration the circumstances in which the decisions were made. They used to concentrate on and exaggerate any flaws to create a public opinion against the governments. Some newspapers and political parlors took part in directing the public opinion to demand changing the governments without giving them the time before judging their policies as a whole and how far they succeeded in implementing these policies. The first 100 days of any government have become the yardstick used by these groups to evaluate the performance of this or that government. This has greatly harmed the interests of the homeland.
    
    We want stability for governments and ministries so that the efficient official will feel that he will remain in office even if the government is changed. This will enable the official to benefit from the accumulated expertise to serve his homeland and citizens.
    
    The real yardstick for the success of any government is its ability to implement its program and the tasks assigned to it when it is formed. This cannot be realized without giving it enough time to implement its program and by keeping it busy with marginal battles that are not in the interest of the homeland or the citizen.
    
    These groups have developed a habit of viewing with suspicion the homeland and its achievements. They neglected and did not want to see the great achievements realized by the homeland. They benefited from freedom of the press, without any sense of responsibility, to portray Jordan--the dearest homeland--in a distorted negative picture. Another group, which assumed a position in the state and took part in decision-making, developed the habit of trying to sabotage. When the members of this group leave their posts for any reason, the homeland becomes, in their view, a ruin that cannot be put back together without their return to power.
    
    I know that the government and its agencies cannot do their work unless we help them create the appropriate atmosphere of work, production, and creativity. The future is promising, praise be to God. The results of the economic reform began to show themselves through figures. Despite this, a period of time will pass. We should work to make it as short as possible, in order to make the citizen, who gave an example in patience and endurance, feel the results of the reform.
    
    During my several tours, I urged the world to support us so as to improve the living standards of the citizens, particularly during my recent visit to the United States. The results were good to the effect that the world believes that we pursue a sound economic policy. It expressed its readiness to support and help us, especially since it sees that we are determined to develop our country. The actions of the determined ones will always produce good results.
    
    I have great confidence in you and in the faithful sons of the homeland whom you will choose and who are able to shoulder responsibility honorably and honestly. You are going to receive my full support, God willing. You will have enough time to realize these ambitions.
    
    I pray to Almighty God to grant success to you and your colleagues and to guide all of us to the right path. I am waiting for you to provide me with the names of your fellow Cabinet ministers.
    
    Peace and God's blessings be upon you.

Abdullah II bin Al Hussein