His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met with leading figures and community leaders from Jerash at the Royal Hashemite Court, reaffirming his pride in the people of the governorate.

During the meeting, King Abdullah congratulated and thanked the institutions, agencies, and citizens who contributed to the success of the municipal and governorate council elections last week, especially the Independent Election Commission, which administered the polls diligently and transparently.

His Majesty stressed that governorate councils and municipalities have great responsibilities before them in setting the development and service priorities of their governorates and following up on them in the service of their local communities.

For those who have won the elections, the work starts today to enhance economic conditions and build a strategy for the governorates, the King told the attendees.

What matters most, His Majesty added, is that citizens sense the impact of decentralisation through better quality services and the fair distribution of development gains.

The next stage, the King continued, requires cooperation and teamwork from everyone in the service of Jordan and Jordanians, stressing the need to look positively to the future.

His Majesty noted that the foremost challenge is the economic one, adding that investments should be directed towards the governorates.

The King voiced hope that cooperation among the government, Parliament, local councils, and municipalities will produce positive development outcomes.

His Majesty said he has instructed the concerned officials at the Royal Hashemite Court to expand support for income-generating projects for underprivileged families across the governorate, and to provide funding for young craftspeople to enable them to own craft projects and improve their incomes.

The King added that he will discuss reviving Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations with a US administration team, stressing that this is a responsibility for Jordan.

Turning to conditions on the northern border, His Majesty reaffirmed that everything is under control, noting Jordanian-US-Russian cooperation to secure the de-escalation in southern Syria.

The King expressed his confidence in the ability of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army to deal with any threat to the borders.

Addressing the developments in the Syrian crisis, His Majesty stressed that the political solution is the only way for de-escalation in Syria.

Turning to the situation on the border with Iraq, the King said Daesh’s defeat and the latest efforts by the Iraqi government will pave the way for reopening the Amman-Baghdad road.

The meeting also covered Jerash Governorate’s development needs.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh said His Majesty has instructed the concerned officials at the RHC to ensure the implementation of a number of royal initiatives and projects in various sectors to serve Jerash residents and complement government measures in the governorate.

Tarawneh said royal initiatives across the governorates will be focused on income generating projects.

He added that a number of projects will be implemented in Jerash in coordination with local institutions to enable families with limited incomes to start small- and medium-sized projects.

Tarawneh said work will commence on an innovative project to enable young craftspeople to own businesses for practising their crafts, in coordination with the Development and Employment Fund, and the Vocational Training Corporation.

In addition, 20 housing units will be established for underprivileged families, based on the priorities set by the Ministry of Social Development.

Tarawneh noted that the initiatives also include establishing a centre to harness children’s creative talents, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Zaha Cultural Centre.

Other projects entail revamping several parks to provide family-friendly public spaces.

Moreover, a productive project at the Greater Jerash Municipality will be funded to establish a specialised textile factory.

The Royal Hashemite Court, in coordination with the government, has recently implemented a number of priority projects in Jerash, including constructing 126 housing units for families in need, and four schools, as well as the Jerash Public Hospital renovation, and the tourism development project in Dibbeen.

Jerash community leaders feted the recent local elections as a major democratic achievement and a new step in the reform process, stressing that they stand one with the nation and its Hashemite leadership in safeguarding security and stability and marching onwards towards comprehensive development.

They praised Jordan’s key role, led by His Majesty, in defending Islam and safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, commending the King’s efforts in securing the reopening of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

Speakers at the meeting highlighted a number of development needs in the northern governorate and called for pursuing tourism and agricultural projects that would reflect positively on the local communities.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi, King’s Adviser for Tribal Affairs Sharif Fawwaz Zaben Abdullah, Royal Hashemite Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi, and Public Security Directorate Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sarhan Faqih attended the meeting.