Courtesy of Petra
News Agency
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit |
Jordan, like all countries, faces a lot of challenges,
both foreign and domestically. But as President
John F. Kennedy said—"The new frontier
of which I speak is not a set of promises-it is
a set of challenges." The nation of Jordan,
in trying to move it’s economy forward, elevate
the standard of living for all its citizens, and
navigate its own, moderate, course through troubled
times in a troubled neighborhood is moving forward
not by offering promises but through presenting
challenges. How it plans to take on these challenges
is as important as the challenges themselves.
According to Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit,
strategic decisions in Amman are made via a special
body similar to the National Security Council in
the United States, using the collective wisdom of
various experts, depending upon the issue at hand.
"This is a new way of making decisions in Jordan,"
says the Prime Minister, "and we look at it
as a type of reform."
Liberalization of the economy, and reformations
in the way government works has been a staple of
the seven-year reign of King Abdullah II. One of
the first things a person notices when calling upon
Jordanian ministers…is their age (although
far less noteworthy than in places like Eastern
Europe). The second thing one sees is their depth
of understanding in regards to the issues of the
ministries of which they are in charge. This former
trend is less by design than the latter; however,
it is somewhat striking given the norms of this
region where citizens are accustomed to those in
power being of a certain vintage. "Our cabinet
is a variety of ages, the youngest is 40, the oldest
is 65," said Bakhit. "It wasn’t the
age I was looking for when I formed the government,
it was the quality of people—what can this
person add."
There have been other ministerial transformations
in the past seven years, such as the renaming of
certain ministries to reflect the changing times,
or in recognition of some new focus. Such changes
have not been mere semantics. "Change is something
natural," says the prime minister, "we
are witnessing a revolution in areas such as communications.
The name of the Ministry of Communications was changed,
some time back, to include the new technologies…
the IT in general, rather than the old kind of communications
responsibilities. We are changing the nature of
things, so we have to adapt."
In office for slightly more than 100 days at the
time of this publication, Bakhit says that he has
been preparing the Jordanian public for an increase
in fuel prices owing to a strategy of liberalizing
the energy sector in Jordan and to control the budget
deficit. The prices of all petroleum products will
be aligned to international prices and a competitive
market. "From day one I have been telling the
public that there will be a raise in oil prices,"
says the Prime Minister.
Concerning the United States, Bakhit echoes what
you hear so often from both officials and other
Jordanian decision- makers. "The United States
and Jordan share a strategic relationship, sharing
a lot, having the same interests and seeing things
eye to eye in fundamental issues. Of course we may
have different views, but as friends… we discuss
them freely," said Bakhit. One area in which
the two nations sometimes diverge… is not over
the threat of terrorism, but in the way in which
it is addressed. Bakhit says, "We believe in
the same objective, and share the same goals but
have different tactics."
As sound as the relationship is between Jordan
and the United States when it comes to issues of
peace, it is in matters of economics and trade where
the two nations team up like the old friends that
they are. The free trade agreement signed with Jordan
in October 2000 was America’s third, and notable
for being its first with an Arab country. Bakhit
is most appreciative of what this agreement has
brought his country, pointing out that Jordanian
exports to the United States increased from about
$14 million in 1998, to $1.3 billion in 2005.
The government of Jordan is moving forward in phasing
out many of the subsidies that its citizens have
long grown accustomed to, especially in terms of
oil. Always a politically risky course of action
for any government, the prime minister believes
it will not be an easy transition. "We have
made up our minds to phase out the subsidies, and
we wish that our friends will help us because it
is going to be very difficult." A supplemental
bill before congress has yet to be introduced and
Bakhit understands that Washington has its hands
full in other matters such as Iraq, and the aftermath
of Katrina, yet wants to make sure that America
remembers Jordan.
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, 58, assumed office
in November of 2005. He is a graduate of the University
of Southern California, and, in 1999, retired with
the rank of Major General, from a 35- year- long
career in the military. Al-Bakhit was also Jordanian
ambassador to Turkey and Israel, in addition to
serving as National Security Advisor to King Abdullah
II.
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Jordan 
