JORDAN: Jordanians welcome Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) deal for Jordan to join the Gulf Arab political bloc, hoping the move will offer better working opportunities for citizens

Record ID: 184382

  • Title: JORDAN: Jordanians welcome Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) deal for Jordan to join the Gulf Arab political bloc, hoping the move will offer better working opportunities for citizens
  • Date: 12th May 2011
  • Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (MAY 11, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STREET SCENE FROM DOWNTOWN AMMAN PEOPLE WALKING BY BOOKSHOP SELLING NEWSPAPERS
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan, Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACBXU6C0V12VR30MVZ12430MQN
  • Story Text: Amman residents on Wednesday (May 11) welcomed Jordan's bid to join the Gulf Arab political bloc of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
    The move by the GCC to consider requests by Morocco and Jordan could be aimed at countering regional unrest.
    Many Jordanians hope that a membership with the GCC will herald significant investment in their country and more job opportunities for residents.
    "This is a positive step. It will lead to an increase in Gulf investment in Jordan, more Jordanians will work in the Gulf and there will be better working opportunities. Therefore this will support the kingdom's financial situation," said Mahmoud Eid, a Jordanian resident.
    Jordan has long pinned its hopes on Gulf aid for its struggling economy.
    Another resident, Salem Saadi said: "This is very useful in economic cooperation and other areas."
    GCC foreign ministers are set to hold talks with the foreign ministers of both non-Gulf countries to "complete required procedures", Abdullatif al-Zayani told reporters after a GCC summit in Riyadh on Tuesday (May 10).
    It was unclear what kind of membership they were considering.
    Taher Adwan, a government spokesman said Jordan was politically moderate and had taken a strong stance against violence in Bahrain and Iranian interference.
    "Jordan is categorised as a politically moderate country and has a similar political approach as this group (GCC). Regarding security of the Gulf, Jordan's position is in line with that of the Gulf countries, particularly concerning what happened in Bahrain. Jordan was clear in its objection to any Iranian interference in affairs of Bahrain. Circumstances are combining to boost these relations and to put it in institutional frame. We, undoubtedly welcome this development." he said on Wednesday.
    Analysts said the surprise announcement of the requests may be a sign Gulf leaders are seeking to cement ties with other monarchies against pro-democracy protests that sent shockwaves through the Arab world.
    Gulf states -- such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait -- sent troops to Bahrain to help its monarchy which faced widespread protests urging democratic reform.
    Gulf ambitions to contain the threat of regional unrest may have grown after their success in that Gulf island kingdom.
    Many observers suggested the partnership with the world's top oil exporting region may be an effort to boost the frail economies of the two non-Gulf monarchies, which have faced popular protests in the past few months.
    The rise in oil prices has been a major cause for Jordan's growing budget deficit and officials hope closer ties with the GCC could earn it discounted oil prices.
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