Excerpts: Jordan's King Abdullah's speech to new Parliament. Qatar a
principal player in successful Libyan revolt. Hizbullah threatens Israel in
press report. Syria planting mines bordering northern Lebanese area.
Problems re winding down in Libya. US warns Iran off Iraq.Clinton: Iran
'morphing into a military dictatorship' October 27, 2011

+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 27 Oct.’11”Our priority today is political reform -
King”

SUBJECT: Jordan’s King Abdullah’s speech to new Parliament

QUOTE: “enhancing and further deepening our democratic process, in
fulfillment of our people’s aspirations for a new Jordan”

FULL TEXT:

Following is the official translation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s Speech
from the Throne at the opening of the 16th Parliament’s second ordinary
session on Wednesday:

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

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

In the name of God, and with His blessings, we inaugurate the second
ordinary session of the Sixteenth Parliament, continuing, enhancing and
further deepening our democratic process, in fulfillment of our people’s
aspirations for a new Jordan, a state of institutions, based on the rule of
law, founded on justice and equality, freedom and human rights.

On all occasions I have spoken to you from this home of our democracy, we
have been reviewing national policies, formulating priorities, addressing
shortcomings or deficiencies, identifying solutions, calling for
collaboration among state authorities and reasserting our stances towards
our Arab and Islamic nation. All throughout, the constant has always been
the Jordanian human being, our commitment to work in his interest, and to
moving Jordan and Jordanians forward towards a future that befits their
rights.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

The sensitive regional circumstances and the transformations that our region
is undergoing compel us to assert our firm conviction that public
participation, a clear roadmap, and unwavering commitment to reform are the
only way forward. We need to overcome and rectify mistakes, and uphold
meritocracy and accountability, which guarantee balance between the branches
of government.

Our priority today is political reform. We have made big strides in our
reform process with the completion and ratification of the constitutional
amendments. Now, we need to build the legislative foundations on which
political life can develop: new laws on election and political parties,
independent election commission and constitutional court, as well as other
legislation to implement the constitutional amendments. Those will add to
what has been achieved so far, such as the Public Gatherings Law and the
Teachers Association Law, as well as regulations organising the media,
freedom of speech and expression. It is our frank opinion that this
legislative framework is not final, but it is a necessary step to protect
our democratisation process, by expanding the base of participation and
representation.

All these steps will bring us closer to the ultimate goal of parliamentary
government. Until the political party system matures and can play its
rightful role in Parliament, we need to adopt an inclusive consultative
approach to government formation, so that citizens can trust that, through
their elected representatives, they are truly participating in the process
of forming governments, monitoring them, and holding them accountable. We
are fully committed to pressing ahead with an evolutionary and incremental
process towards parliamentary pluralism and political diversity. And this
evolutionary and incremental approach should not be interpreted as
procrastination.

We also reaffirm before this honourable assembly our commitment to
strengthening the parliamentary foundation of the political system, by
incorporating the deliberations of the House of Deputies, which represents
the aspirations and ambitions of the people, in the consultative process
leading to the designation of prime ministers. We are keen on implementing
this as of the next elected House of Deputies, which will be one of the
first results of this comprehensive democratic transformation.

As for governments formed by political parties, this issue rests in the
hands of the citizens and voters, and it is very much conditional to the
ability of political parties to freely compete. We want all political forces
to shoulder the responsibility and participate in the decision-making
process, and we are firm in our belief that a national constructive
opposition is a fundamental pillar of the state.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

Jordan was founded on the principles of allegiance, piety, justice and
equality for all. These principles inspired the Great Arab Revolt, and its
cry for unity and freedom. Jordan has ever since been a haven for the free
who shared nationhood and religion. Our Jordanian forefathers built this
homeland as a house of freedom, justice and equality. Jordan belongs to all
Jordanians. Loyalty is only measured by one’s achievements and service to
the country. The diversity in roots and heritage enriches our Jordanian
national identity, which respects the rights of the citizenry, in a spirit
of unity, tolerance and moderation, and opens the gates of diversity.

Allow me to pause here and recall the main points in the government’s
mandate to implement our reform vision and to be responsive to the various
reform demands:

1. I have directed the government to provide a safe and adequate environment
for democratic engagement, guaranteeing the responsible exercise of freedom
of expression.

2. I emphasise the need to learn from past lessons, and to deal with any
form of expression and peaceful protest, including peaceful demonstrations,
in line with the highest standards of respect for civil liberties.

3. As part of efforts to expand political participation and strengthen
democratic practices, I have instructed the government to conduct municipal
elections as soon as possible, and with the highest degree of impartiality
and integrity. This will contribute to enhancing the reform process and
enabling municipalities to fulfil their role in the service of local
communities, preparing the ground for future decentralisation steps.

4. In terms of fighting corruption, and holding the corrupt accountable, the
government is committed to extending all possible support to strengthen the
work of the Anti-Corruption Commission and other relevant monitoring bodies,
in order to guarantee the protection of public funds and to enhance
integrity.

5. I stress, no one is above the law. And no one is immune. We shall protect
the values of justice and equal opportunity with the full power of the law,
and we shall not allow anyone to misuse or abuse public funds, or encroach
upon the rights of others. By enhancing the basic role of the judiciary in
protecting justice and the rule of law, and by virtue of the recent
constitutional amendments, we will spare no effort to strengthen the
independence of the judiciary. We will continue to support this independent
authority and provide all it takes to enable it to fulfil its high duties.

6. The democratic process that we have adopted as a way of life requires
free national media, with the highest standards of professionalism and
credibility, operating under a legal framework that guarantees access to
information and protects individual rights. By being open to all opinions,
the media provides a venue for constructive and objective national debate.

7. As for the distribution of development gains, I have directed the
government to use utmost justice and fairness in the allocation of
development programmes and projects among the governorates.

8. I have also instructed the government to establish a JD150 million fund
for the development of governorates, as a first step, which must be followed
by further steps, to allow average Jordanians to start feeling the positive
impact of reform on their quality of life.

9. When drafting local development plans, the government is required to
focus on the specific needs, assets and features of each governorate,
attracting quality investments, and at the same time rolling out services
and infrastructure projects.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

In tandem with the aforementioned political reforms, there is a set of
policies, economic and developmental steps, that the government has to take
in partnership with the private sector to fight poverty and unemployment,
attract investments to create jobs for the youth, and improve the level and
quality of services in the areas of education, higher education and
healthcare. In addition, development and restructuring must continue in the
fields of agriculture, energy, transport, tourism, administrative and fiscal
reform. All this should be based on plans and programmes outlined in the
National Agenda, in order to achieve a comprehensive development that
positively reflects on the living standards of citizens.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

Youth are the largest component of our society and it is therefore necessary
to revitalise their pivotal role in public life. The government will
concentrate on supporting youth bodies, expanding the scope of their
engagement and participation in formulating and implementing plans and
programmes on various aspects of our national endeavour. At the same time, I
call upon the youth who wish to engage politically to do so under the
umbrella of political parties that have economic, social and political
platforms.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

Our belonging to the Arab nation is a main pillar of our foreign policy and
we will continue to work closely with our Arab brethren to consolidate the
work of joint Arab institutions, first and foremost the Arab League.

On this occasion, I want to express my utmost gratitude and appreciation to
the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council for their forthcoming support
with regard to Jordan’s accession to the GCC.

Jordan has always been, and will always remain, with God’s help, the first
line of defence of Arab and Islamic causes. First among these is the
Palestinian cause. We are committed to supporting our Palestinian brethren,
until they regain their rights and establish their independent state on
their national soil. We will not accept, under any circumstances, any
settlement of the Palestinian cause at the expense of Jordan or at the
expense of any of our national interests. We will continue to fulfil our
duty and exercise our historic role in the custodianship of Islamic and
Christian holy places in Holy Jerusalem.

Our brave men and women in the armed forces and security agencies are a
source of pride for all Jordanians. I express my appreciation to them, for
shouldering the great responsibility of protecting the security and
stability of Jordan, and defending its progress and achievements. My
government will do its utmost to provide all it takes to prepare, train and
equip our brave comrades-in-arms in the armed forces and security agencies,
and provide them with the necessary means so that they remain as always an
example of efficiency, excellence and professionalism.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Deputies,

Today we stand before major comprehensive reforms. To shape the new Jordan,
team spirit and the concerted efforts of all are needed: government,
Parliament, constructive opposition, political parties, civil society
institutions and professional responsible media, so that we all join ranks
for progress, reform and national security in its widest meaning.

God says:

"And say: Work: Soon will God observe your work, and His Messenger, and the
Believers." (Al Tauba - Repentance 9:105)

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

+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 27 Oct ‘We had boots on ground in Libya”, Agence
France Presse

“QATAR’S SENSATIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT”

SUBJECT: Qatar a principal player in successful Libyan revolt

QUOTE: “ ‘We were among them and the number of Qataris on the ground were
hundreds in every region’ “

FULL TEXT:DOHA – Qatar revealed for the first time Wednesday[26 Oct.] that
hundreds of its soldiers had joined Libyan rebel forces on the ground as
they battled troops of veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.

“We were among them and the numbers of Qataris on the ground were hundreds
in every region,” said Qatari chief of staff Major General Hamad Bin Ali
Al-Atiya.

The announcement marks the first time that Qatar has acknowledged it had
military boots on the ground in Libya.

Previously Qatar said it had only lent the support of its air force to
NATO-led operations to protect civilians during the eight-month uprising,
which ended when Gaddafi was captured and killed last week.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Doha of military allies of Libya’s
National Transitional Council (NTC), Atiya said the Qataris had been
“running the training and communication operations.”

“Qatar had supervised the rebels’ plans because they are civilians and did
not have enough military experience. We acted as the link between the rebels
and NATO forces,” he said.

Libya’s interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil told the meeting that Qatar had
been “a major partner in all the battles we fought.”

He added that the Qataris had “planned” the battles which paved the way for
NTC fighters to gradually take over Gaddafi-held towns and cities. Atiya
also said that after the departure of NATO troops, a new international
coalition led by Qatar would oversee “military training, collecting weapons,
and integrating the rebels in newly established military institutions.”

The coalition, named as the “Friends Committee in Support if Libya” and
which held its first meeting in Doha Wednesday, is made up of 13 countries
including the United States, Britain and France, said Atiya.

Abdel Jalil, meanwhile, urged NATO to continue its Libya campaign until year’s
end, saying Gaddafi loyalists still posed a threat to the country.

Diplomats in Brussels said NATO had decided to delay a formal decision to
end Libya air operations until Friday[28 Oct.] after the NTC’s request for
an extension and a Russian demand for UN consultations. – AFP __

+++SOURCE:Naharnet(Lebanon) 27 Oct.’11:”Report: Hizbullah Preparing Military
Arsenal to Occupy Galilee

SUBJECT: Hizbullah threatens Israel in press report

QUOTE: “Hizbullah is preparing its military arsenal and fighters to launch
an operation to occupy the Galilee area in Israel”

FULL TEXT:Hizbullah is preparing its military arsenal and fighters to launch
an operation to occupy the Galilee area in Israel, al-Joumhouria newspaper
reported on Thursday[27 Oct.].

The party’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s on February 16 sent
“military notification… declaring that preparations to occupy the Galilee is
ongoing,” a source close to Hizbullah told the daily.

“Hizbullah began preparing after the 2006 war for any new confrontation with
the enemy,” the source said.

Nasrallah called on the Resistance fighters in a speech on February 16 to
stand ready to occupy the Galilee area should another war "be imposed on
Lebanon," in a response to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s threats to
invade Lebanon once again.

Al-Akhbar daily also reported that Nasrallah has warned that Tel Aviv will
be the first target in any war Israel decides to launch against Lebanon.

Security sources told the daily that “the resistance leadership was secretly
on high alert after receiving reports that Israel will probably launch a war
on Lebanon.”

“Obtained information confirmed these reports, showing that it was supposed
to take place in August, however, changes occurred at the last minute,” the
source said.

Sources told al-Joumhouria that the “resistances’ military preparations are
ongoing.”

According to information obtained by the daily, a delegation from Hizbullah
military experts visited areas in Bekaa and the South to check on the
resistances’ positions, while 727 fighters from Hizbullah finished their
military training in Tehran.

“Israel will be surprised by attacks from within the Israeli towns via the
Palestinian resistance cells,” sources told the daily.

They added that “the battles will be on the Israeli grounds; therefore
targeting the Galilee is a definite option.”

The sources didn’t rule out Syria’s participation in the war “especially if
the interior situation deteriorated further more.”

Iran’s Fars news Agency reported that Syrian President Bashar Assad has
warned that he would “set fire" to the Middle East if foreign forces
launched a military strike on his country and would ask for Hizbullah’s help
to attack Israel.

The party, established nearly 30 years ago to confront Israel's occupation
of south Lebanon, fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.

Israel and Syria are technically at war, but their frontier had been calm
since the war in 1973, when Israel repelled a Syrian assault to recapture
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

+++SOURCE: Naharnet(Lebanon) 27 Oct.’11:”Syrian Troops Plant Mines on Border
with Wadi Khaled”, Agence France Presse

SUBJECT: Syria planting mines bordering northern Lebanese area

QUOTE: “weapons smuggling from Lebanon to Syria has thrived since the revolt
began”

FULL TEXT:Syrian troops early on Thursday[27 Oct.] were seen planting mines
along a region bordering the northern Lebanese area of Wadi Khaled, a local
Lebanese official told Agence France Presse.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the troops began planting the
mines at dawn in an area facing two Lebanese villages -- Knaysseh and
al-Hnayder.

"Lebanese officials told us the Syrians undertook the measure to prevent
weapons smuggling," he said.

"A number of Syrian soldiers were also seen deploying on their side of the
border, near the Syrian villages of Heet and Buwayt," he added.

The area is separated only by mounds of earth and for long has been used to
smuggle goods between the two countries. Lebanese and Syrian nationals
previously also circulated freely between the two countries.

But tension in the region has mounted since the revolt against Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad's regime erupted in March and some 5,000 Syrians,
among them defecting soldiers and opposition activists, have sought refuge
in Lebanon.

Experts say weapons smuggling from Lebanon to Syria has thrived since the
revolt began but not on a large scale. They also point out that, the
smuggling appears to be the work of individuals rather than political
parties opposed to the Assad regime.

+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 27 Oct.’11 :”Libya to Try Gadhafi Killers,
U.N. Ends Military Mandate” , Agence France Presse

SUBJECT: Problems re winding-down in Libya

QUOTE: “NATO is studying new ways to help the National Transition Council”

BACKGROUNDER:

FULL TEXT :The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted Thursday[27 Oct.] to
end the mandate for international military action in Libya, closing another
chapter in the war against Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, as the country’s new
rulers said they would prosecute the ousted strongman’s killers following a
global outcry over his death’s circumstances.

The 15-member council ordered an end to authorization for a no-fly zone and
action to protect civilians from 11:59 pm Libyan time on October 31. The
mandate was approved in March after Gadhafi launched a deadly assault on
opposition protests.

NATO, which carried out the airstrikes that played a key role in the
downfall of Gadhafi, says it is studying new ways to help the National
Transitional Council, which had asked for an extension to the mandate.

The alliance's decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, is due to
meet Friday in Brussels to formally declare an end to its seven-month-old
air war.

Security Council Resolution 2016 also eased an international arms embargo so
that the NTC can acquire weapons and equipment for its national security.

It ended an assets freeze on the Libyan National Oil Corporation and
virtually all restrictions on the central bank and other key institutions.
It completely ended the ban on international flights by registered Libyan
planes.

French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said earlier Thursday[27
Oct.] that once military operations had officially ended, France would be
"coordinating with all of our partners in the United Nations, the European
Union, NATO and in the region to bring the appropriate responses to Libyan
requests" for further assistance.

The NTC declared the formal "liberation" of Libya on October 23, three days
after the killing of Gadhafi. But interim leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil on
Wednesday[26 Oct.] urged NATO to extend its campaign until the end of the
year because of the continuing threat from Gadhafi loyalists.

Security Council resolutions passed in February and March which approved a
no-fly zone have caused divisions on the 15-nation body ever since.

Russia, China, South Africa, Brazil and India accused NATO of going beyond
the mandate with the air strikes against Gadhafi targets. The NATO allies
insist they stayed within the "all necessary means" provision laid down to
protect civilians.

Russia's U.N. ambassador Vitaly Churkin said an extension past October 31
would be "unrealistic." South Africa was also opposed to any flexibility.
South Africa's U.N. envoy Baso Sangqu said he wanted the mission ended
"yesterday."

Without mentioning the death of Gadhafi, the 15-member Security Council
expressed "grave concern" however over "reprisals, arbitrary detentions,
wrongful imprisonment and extra-judicial executions in Libya."

It called for "respect for human rights and the rule of law" and for Libyan
authorities "to refrain from reprisals."

The resolution also stressed the interim government's responsibility to
protect foreign nationals and African migrants.

The Security Council said it looked forward "to a future for Libya based on
national reconciliation, justice, respect for human rights and the rule of
law."

The interim government has expressed concern about the impact of sanctions
on efforts to get the country's economy moving again.

As well as the national oil company, the Security Council lifted sanctions
on Zuetina Oil Company.

The resolution lifted virtually all restrictions on the Central Bank of
Libya, the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank, the Libyan Investment Authority, and
the Libyan Africa Investment Portfolio.

The remaining sanctions are the arms embargo and individual measures against
surviving members of the Gadhafi family and associates of the late
strongman.

NATO allies are in discussions amongst themselves and with the NTC about
assisting the transitional council, diplomats said.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Wednesday[26 Oct.]
that the NTC "may foresee a future role for NATO."

"Some things have been discussed, like support for border security, support
for demobilization, decommissioning of weapons, these kinds of things," she
said.

NATO is still conducting some air patrols over and around Libya, alliance
officials said.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and we are ready to act if
necessary," a NATO official told Agence France Presse in Brussels.

Meanwhile, at a news conference in Benghazi, Abdul Hafiz Ghoga, vice
chairman of the ruling National Transitional Council, said: "With regards to
Gadhafi, we do not wait for anybody to tell us."

"We had already launched an investigation. We have issued a code of ethics
in handling of prisoners of war. There were some violations by those who are
unfortunately described as revolutionaries. I am sure that was an individual
act and not an act of revolutionaries or the national army," the top interim
official said.

"We had issued a statement saying that any violations of human rights will
be investigated by the NTC. Whoever is responsible for that (Gadhafi’s
killing) will be judged and given a fair trial."

Ghoga, who spoke in Arabic and whose remarks were translated by an official
interpreter, was responding to specific questions about Gadhafi’s death and
potential abuses.

His statement came as NATO weighed a possible new role in Libya following
Gadhafi’s controversial death, as France said the U.N. would vote on
Thursday[27 Oct.] to end the alliance's mandate for an air war on October
31.

Global disquiet has grown over how Gadhafi met his end at the hands of NTC
fighters who hauled him out of a culvert where he was hiding following a
NATO air strike.

Mobile phone videos show him still alive at that point.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday[26 Oct.] expressed his
"disgust" at the global media for its graphic coverage of the ousted
leader's death.

"Almost the entire Gadhafi family was killed. His body was shown on all the
world channels. You could not watch without disgust," news agencies quoted
Putin as saying.

"What is that?" Putin exclaimed. "They show a bloodied man, wounded, still
alive but getting beaten to death. And they splash that all over the
screen."

Source Agence France Presse

+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 27 Oct.’11:”US warns Iran not to meddle in Iraq”,
Agence France Presse

SUBJECT: US warns Iran off Iraq

QUOTE: “US will maintain a significant presence in the Middle East”

Tokyo (AFP) - US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday [26 Oct.]
warned Iran that it should not meddle in Iraq when American forces leave the
country at the end of this year. The Pentagon chief said that even after the
last of the 39,000 combat troops are out of Iraq, the US will maintain a
significant presence in the Middle East. “As the president announced, we are
going to wind down our combat forces in Iraq by the end of this year,” he
told US service personnel during a visit to Tokyo. “The mission there was to
develop an Iraq that could govern and secure itself and we will maintain a
long-term relationship with Iraq.” “The message to Iran and everybody else
that might have any ideas there is that the US is going to have a presence
in the region for a long time to come.” Panetta’s comments come at the end
of a three-day visit to Japan, part of a tour of Asian allies where he has
emphasised Washington’s commitment to the Pacific theatre, despite deep cuts
to the US military budget.

+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 27 Oct.’11: “(U.S. Sec. of State) Clinton sees
power struggle in Iran “, Agence France Presse:

SUBJECT: Clinton: Iran ‘morphing into a military dictatorship’

QUOTE: “ Clinton said … a power struggle within the regime means the
Iranians can nfluence the outcome”

FULL TEXT: WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
Wednesday [26 Oct.] that Iran was "morphing into a military dictatorship"
though a power struggle within the regime means Iranians can influence the
outcome.

Clinton said confusion about who is calling the shots in Tehran has also
complicated US efforts to communicate with the Iranian leadership.

"It's been a little confusing because we're not quite sure who makes
decisions anymore inside of Iran, which I think is an unfortunate sign and
kind of goes along with the ascendancy of greater military power," she told
the BBC's Persian-language channel.

"I think Iran unfortunately is morphing into a military dictatorship."

She said Washington had tried many different approaches to communicating
with Iran, and was open to "front channel, back channel" communications.

"But I believe there's a power struggle going on inside the regime and they
can't sort out what they really are willing to do until they sort out who is
going to do what," Clinton added.

"And therefore I think there's an opportunity for people within the country
to try to influence how that debate turns out."

====
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA