"ENVIRONMENT" PRESS RELEASES

Queen Noor, Prime Minister discuss support for NGOs and protection of the country’s national reserves.

Wednesday 27 January, 1998

Her Majesty Queen Noor Wednesday met with Prime Minister Abdul Salam Majali at the Prime Ministry to discuss means of strengthening their role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as effective partners in sponsoring comprehensive community development programs and income-generating projects in the country. Jordan has international, governmental and non-governmental organizations that support around income-generating projects for women, the disabled, the unemployed and underprivileged as well as for Palestinian refugees. Queen Noor emphasized the important role that NGOs are playing in curbing unemployment and poverty and complementing government efforts to promote social welfare.

The Queen and the Prime Minister also discussed public and private sector co-operation in the protection and preservation of Jordan’s natural environment through a system of nature reserves. The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment, embodied in the National Environment Strategy, to ensure the protection of these reserves that have been established and managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). Queen Noor, who is the RSCN Patron, noted that the nature reserves are integral in safeguarding the country’s bio-diversity and eco-systems and are home to a number of rare globally endangered fauna and flora.

Senator Leila Sharaf, Deputy-Prime Minister Dr. Jawad Anani, Minister of Energy - Acting Minister of Finance Mohammed Saleh Horani and Noor Al Hussein Foundation Executive-Director Dr. Sima Bahous attended the meeting with the Queen.