Date: 9 June 2007
Title: His Majesty King Abdullah's Letter to H.E. Dr. Marouf Al-Bakhit Ordering the Government to Provide the Necessary Financial Support for Military Housing Funds.

In the name of God, the most Merciful, the Compassionate

Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, Marouf Al-Bakhit, may God protect you,

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you,

As we celebrate the 91st anniversary of the Great Arab Revolt and the 86th anniversary of the founding of the Arab Army, two anniversaries that are dear to us, it is our pleasure to convey to you and to your colleagues in the Cabinet our congratulations, and to greet and congratulate our dear people and our gallant Arab Army and all the security institutions, on this occasion, which carries the noblest of patriotic and historic meanings.

Our proud Arab Army, the homeland's shield and the symbol of its pride and free will, has earned, through its great history, meticulous effort, relentless will and continuous sacrifice and dedication, a special place in the heart and conscience of every Jordanian. This army was - and will always remain - an institution that represents the spirit of discipline, dedication and sacrifice for the sake of Jordan, putting Jordan first, always. With God's help, it will remain as it always has been - a paragon of excellence and efficiency, able to shoulder its great national duties and responsibilities.

While we note, with pride and appreciation, the distinguished role of our armed forces and security institutions in defending the homeland and preserving its security and stability, and their great contributions to our development, we also note that these forces and institutions have always been a source of pride, due to their performance, efficiency and good reputation. They are a symbol of nobility and honor that enlightens the glorious pages of the history of our homeland and that of the Arab Nation. It is our duty to continue working to improve the conditions of their enlisted men and women, in order to enable them to shoulder their immense national responsibility, and deliver their noble message, with utmost excellence and potency.

In the context of the position of responsibility which we are honored to shoulder, we know of the economic difficulties and challenges facing many of our dear citizens. We also recognize, in our capacity as comrade in arms and field fellow, the social and family responsibilities shouldered by a great number of the enlisted men and women of the armed forces and security institutions. Over the past few weeks, we considered, with those concerned in the general headquarters of the brave armed forces, many ideas and suggestions to improve the standard of living for enlisted men and women of the armed forces and the security institutions. Primary among them was providing decent housing for them, compatible with their role and sacrifices.

Hence, we request financial support be provided to the military housing funds that serve men and women enlisted in the armed forces and security institutions, so that they may own appropriate homes. As an indicator of our belief in the importance of fulfilling this request quickly, we directed that the housing units that will be finished in the Princess Salma suburb in Zerqa Governorate, be donated for this purpose.

As for retired military personnel of the Jordanian armed forces and the security institutions who are not covered by the military housing law, and who have not had the chance to benefit from the services of military housing funds, we hereby instruct the government to act immediately to raise the salaries of this important segment of our society, in recognition of their dedication, giving and great sacrifices. We also direct that support be channeled to military retirees' cooperatives, to enable them to implement productive projects and programs that would generate employment opportunities for the military retirees and their children.

Since we have thorough knowledge of the social position of the retired officers, the economic conditions they are facing and the inability of a good number of them to own a means of transport, we emphasize that they should enjoy the same incentives and privileges granted to the serving officers.

We also realize the difficult circumstances faced by those enlisted in the Palestinian Liberation Army in Jordan as a result of the Israeli siege imposed on the brotherly Palestinian people which has prevented the Palestinian National Authority from paying their salaries. Hence, we direct the government to pay part of their salaries, to alleviate their suffering.

We ask God, the Sublime, may He be exalted, to preserve dear Jordan, and to grant our dear people the blessings of continued security and stability; He is our gracious Lord and our Exalted Protector.

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you.

Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein
Amman,
23 Jumada I, 1428 Hijri
9 June 2007