US House approves extra aid to Jordan

By Khalid Neimat

AMMAN – A $150 million supplement assistance from the US has entered the final stage of approval in Washington, a senior official said on Thursday.

Noting that the amount, to support the Kingdom’s budget and to implement several developmental projects, was not planned in advance; Planning and International Cooperation Minister Jaafar Hassan told The Jordan Times on Thursday that Jordan has submitted a request to the US administration and received initial approval from the Senate earlier this year.

Three days ago, the House of Representatives approved the Jordanian request in recognition for His Majesty King Abdullah’s role in the region, particularly the Kingdom’s efforts to push for peace in the Middle East, he said.

The US approved this extra assistance to Jordan in addition to other countries, Hassan remarked.

“The new assistance scheme consists of $100 million as economic with 50-70 per cent of it to support the state budget, while the remaining $50 million will be military,” the minister indicated.

The total US regular assistance to Jordan stands at $660 million for 2010, he added noting that $360 million is economic while $300 million is military.

As a result, the total US regular and supplement assistance to Jordan in 2010 will be $810 million, according to Hassan.

jordantimes