Date: October 29, 2002 His Excellency, Brother Ali Abul Ragheb, I send you a genuine Jordanian Hashemite greeting. Conditions in our region, coupled with challenges dictated by the situation
in the world around us, which both affects, and is affected by us, have made
it incumbent upon us to focus most of our official and popular efforts on issues
pertaining to our people and the priorities and interests of our homeland. Launching the Jordan First slogan, was initially our plan of action, which
would fuse Jordanians in a consolidated social fabric, that stimulates their
sense of belonging to their homeland, pride in their Arab Nation and Islamic
religion, in an atmosphere of freedom, democracy, pluralism, tolerance and social
justice. Hence, it was essentially inevitable to share the conviction, as well as the unity of purpose, that “Jordan First” is more than a slogan. It is, indeed, a national canon we want to consecrate as a methodological course of action and a daily practice for all Jordanian men and women. This slogan targets every Jordanian man and women, who believes in this homeland as a refuge, a warm haven and a promising future, and strive in his/her pursuit to realise his or her self through his/her homeland, not through external allegiances, whatever their aims or objectives. Jordan is proud of its Islamic identity and Arab allegiance. It will, as expected
from it, indefatigably strive to protect the rights and interests of the Nation,
raise the slogan of Arab unity, construction and solidarity, and adhere to the
tolerant tenets of the Islamic religion. Nobody should take the “Jordan
First” call as a bid for introversion, but rather as a deep conviction
that Jordan's economic and political strength, as well as its social security,
are prerequisites that need to be safeguarded in order to strengthen our Arab
surroundings and support our Arab brethren. In order to be successfully implemented, the Jordan First slogan will have
to depict a clear state of mind and an act of voluntarism, rather than an ephemeral
“reaction” that pacifies the conscience of those who simply utter
and echo the slogan. The fundamental objective is to stimulate the Jordanian
citizen's deliberate positive energies and to review his/her priorities,
with a view to creating the certitude that his/her pursuit, effort, cause, ambitions,
objectives and aspirations start all with “Jordan First.” The “Jordan First” slogan must be a common denominator for all
Jordanian men and women, whatever their origin and irrespective of any diversities
in their attitudes, views, creeds, beliefs and races. This concept needs to
be dedicated, starting with the family, school, university, and youth centres,
as well as governmental and civil society organisations, to become a reality,
a tangible matter of fact and a conscious act. On the basis of this act of volition, and in the midst of shuffled priorities
that sway the clarity of our thinking and the efficiency of our performance,
we are in need of a “focal idea” and a “pure and fundamental
national attitude.” This will spark our thinking and practices and measure
our performance and civism. A successful healthy society is an aggregation of
cells or individuals, who together constitute the society's unity and
social fabric. To achieve this, it is inevitable that we adopt the “Jordan First”
slogan as a plan of action and a catalyst that brings together the fabric of
our unified society. This slogan is meant for Jordanian men and women, in villages
and desert encampments, in cities and refugee camps. It is also meant for students
in their schools and universities; for soldiers who guard the Homeland; for
intellectuals, politicians, trade unionists and partisans, be they Islamists,
nationalists or centrists. It should be distant from all political, religious
and racial alignments. We have to pursue a social contract that, through daily
practices, establishes our priorities, starting with this “first priority.” The need for such a matter is decisive and cannot stand any delay or improvisation.
We have got to give “Jordan First” an integrative immunity in the
face of negative ideas, incriminating interpretations that may attempt, ignorantly
or maliciously, to deprive the “Jordan First” slogan of its pure
and sublime essence into a narrow racist corner. This is what we would not entertain
against our selves and our people and will never accept. In essence, human nature strives to protect itself and advance its standard
of living. Hence, we have to launch the "Jordan First" slogan initially
on a solid economic and social ground, without falling into the trap of contradictory
political clichés. If we establish "Jordan First" on a ground
of economic and social realities and achieve stability and prosperity, and,
consequently, self-reconciliation for our people, we will finally arrive at
the desired political limpidity, spontaneously and without fabrication. As we see it, our people give credence to these convictions, but they cannot
be transformed into central realities without a review of some of the arguments
put forward by representatives of the various groups of our people and by our
political parties and trade unions. This review should be conducted in such
a manner as to make the interests of Jordan, as far as all Jordanians are concerned,
come before any other interests or issues. The opposition should be in opposition
of the Government's policies, not the approach and fixed premises of the State.
The opposition's role is to serve the causes and interests of our Jordanian
people and to strive to build Jordanian capacities, before defending other interests
and objectives. The Jordanian press should devote its largest spaces to addressing
internal Jordanian affairs, as well as the citizens' concerns and issues, before
getting involved in external issues. Even though this conviction may sound axiomatic, it still requires from all
of us diligent action and clear vision to carry our message across to all the
educational, academic and social segments of our people, in both the private
and public sectors. The difficult dues, currently being faced and conquered
by the Homeland, are only apparently easy, but, when it comes to details, they
are gruelling. Therefore, adopting "Jordan First" requires us to face
all the negative probabilities and to mobilise all the positive capabilities
of our civil society. This will levitate the civil society above all contrarieties
by being nationalistic, avoid all discord by being unified, and transform differences
into a civilised and humanitarian wealth. For all the above arguments, and for the sake of "Jordan First,"
we see a need to establish, back, support, and mandate a national body to look
for ways and mechanisms for delivering the "Jordan First" message
and confirm this idea in the daily practice of our educational, economic, social
and developmental affairs. The body shall consist of the following personalities: This body shall initially complete its mandate during a first stage. Other
bodies and committees shall be formed at later stages to follow up on this matter
in such a manner as to befit our vision for Jordan in the future. May peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you. Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Amman, 22 Sha'ban 1423 Hijri
Title: Jordan First
Our Prime Minister
29th of October 2002
Royal Speeches & Letters 
Letters Royal Letters Jordan First
