Towards Transparency In Jordan

Towards Transparency in Jordan

Is a book that explores the different aspects of transparency in Jordan. It is compilation of proceedings of the first conference on Transparency in Jordan organized by the Arab Archives Institute in May 2000 in cooperation with Transparency International. The book, published in Arabic and in English with the support of German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), is considered the first of its kind and might be the only one until present that addresses transparency in Jordan in the main sectors. The book contains an analysis of transparency in the different sectors of investment, government policies, judiciary, and the media.

Prepared and edited by the Arab Archives Institute
Mob: 962-79-9860004
Tel: 962-6-4656694
Fax: 962-6-4656693
Mailing Address: POBox: 815454 Amman- Jordan
Email: aainstitute@gmail.com
Website: www.alarcheef.com
Price: $10 Postal Fees: $5
Number of Pages: 159

Contents 

Letter - Peter Eigen – Transparency International Chairman

Introduction  

Amra Declaration 

Opening Statements 

Sa'eda Kilani
Taher Masri 
Migule Schloss 

First Session

Investment and Transparency 
Migule Schloss  
Dipak Dasgupta 
Bassem Awadallah 
Yusuf Mansur 

Second Session

Government Policies and Investment 
Bassam Emoush 
Mohammad Adaileh 

Third Session

Judiciary and fighting Corruption 
Farouq Kilani
Ziad Khasawneh 

Fourth Session

Role of Media in Fighting Corruption 89
Basem Sakijha 
Rana Sabbagh Gharghour 
 

Survey- Wasta in Jordan 

Final Session  

Sessions Debates 

Roundtable Discussions 

Reactions  

Wasta Poll

From the Introduction

Introduction

It is a far distance Between the Dead sea and the Indian Ocean  

We had to pass through Europe to go to the far south of the African continent to reach Durban. The Arab Airlines have not recognized yet the existence of Middle and South Africa. We had to exhaust 37 hours between the sky and land and in four airports to join more than 1500 people, who gathered from all over the world for one sole reason: Corruption.

There were government representatives, international governmental and non- government organizations as well as individuals present at the one week international anti- corruption conference that was organized by Transparency International in November 1999.

The delegation of one country like Colombia consisted of 22 people. Arab participants, who represent twenty one countries, did not surpass 50 people.

We voiced our protest to not considering the Arabic Language as one of the main languages in the conference. The response was convincing. The Arab Participation is still symbolic. However, Farouq Kilani, member of Jordanian non-governmental delegation, presented his speech in Arabic to the hundreds of participants, in an apparent show of protest that was extremely fruitful.

The Arab language, it was decided, will be considered in the next conference.

But where are the Arabs form this international war against corruption? Where are they from achieving a decent level of transparency that would make this war against corruption realistic? Yet another question is raised and which is of direct concern to us, where does Jordan stand from this war? 

This is the issue:

In Amman many conferences were held under5 the title of fighting corruption. However, the working papers would soon be filed in the Archives and the recommendations become ink on paper. An Anti-corruption Department was established but it remained and official institution, that does not coordinate with local NOGs and civil society institutions.

If consensus is reached on how much corruption dissipates resources, and how negatively its impact is on development process, then the result on the ground and the efforts exerted to fight it were not enough and did not reflect the adamant political will in fighting corruption.

That is how the idea of the our conference emerged, from Durban, at the other end of the African continent and in agreement  with Transparency International (TI) which is the only international organization that is specialized in promotion transparency and fighting corruption.

Transparency International is a non-governmental organization dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing both international and national corruption.

Its main concerns are:

Humanitarian, as corruption undermines and distorts development and leads to increasing levels of human rights abuse.

Democratic, as corruption undermines democracies and in particular the achievements of many developing countries and countries in transition,

Ethical, as corruption undermines a society's integrity and practical, as corruption distorts the operations of markets and deprives ordinary people of the benefits which should flow from them.

TI believes that combating corruption is only possible with the involvement of all the stakeholders which include the state, civil society and the private sector.

Through its national chapters, TI brings together people of integrity in civil society, business and governmental to work as coalitions for systemic reforms. It dose not name names or attack individuals, but focus on building systems that combat corruption.

TI publishes the Corruption Perception Index which has triggered meaningful reform in many countries.

TI has recently launched and annual awards programme to honour individuals and organization around the globe that are making a distinct difference in ending corruption. The programme's goal is to give greater recognition to the efforts of journalists, civil society workers, activists, government and corporate whistleblowers who work to investigate and unmask corruption often at great risk. The integrity Awards also seek to encourage those whose example provides leadership in the global anti corruption effort.

TI will be launching the (Corruption On –Line Research and Information System) which is one of the most comprehensive databases on corruption and governance. It will offer a fully searchable bibliography of presently some 8.000 documents, with more than two hundred corruption specific keywords that help to give access to the material collected. It also offers access to full text document, as well as to best practice examples and a listing of the best of essential corruption readings.

The organization does not have branches in the Arab world except for Morocco; in Jordan several attempts in the past to set up a chapter were not successful due to certain circumstances. Agreement was reached to attempt again. As a result of intensive and concentrated work, it was agreed that the Arab Archives Institute will be the nucleus of a local chapter for Transparency International in Jordan.

A conference entitled (Towards Transparency in Jordan), which is the subject of this book, was agreed to be its first activity in this domain. One of the recommendations of Amra Declaration, which became the title of the conferences statement, called for the set-up of a chapter in Jordan for TI.

The same day the conference convened His Majesty king Abdullah II received a delegation representing Transparency International and Arab Archives Institute. The local news agency Petra wired the following news:

His Majesty King Abdullah II received today at the Royal Court, Miguel Schloss, TI Executive Director, who is now participating in a conference on Transparency in Jordan that is co organized with the Arab Archives Institute.

The king voiced support of the delegation's work and efforts in this domain and stressed that sustainable social and economic development, in crease in productivity and improving qualification can only com as a result of positive investment climate. Appropriate legislation should be promulgated and an atmosphere of transparency and independent judiciary should be ensured to foster development.

The King extended support and welcome to Transparency International and its intention to set up a chapter in Jordan as the chapter is compatible with the king's keenness on the development of administrative work.

The king stressed that the holding of the conference in Amman goes hand in hand with his directives to enhance equality and justice in all public and private sectors.

Schloss hailed the king's policies particularly the county's democratic march and the king's support of public freedoms.

He stressed that the holding of the conference in Amman reflected the openness policy of Jordan and its democratic practices.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Bassem Awadallah, the Director of the Economic Department at the Royal Court, Ms. Sa'eda Kilani and Mr.Basem Sakjha from the Arab Archives Institute…

In his appointment letter, king Abdullah II stressed that the new government of Ali Abul Ragheb should work on drafting a Code of Honour that limit the spread of Wasta, nepotism and favoritism. The King stressed the need to privatize the press and declared war on corruption. He also underlined the importance of enhancing transparency and ensuring the independence to the judiciary and modernizing laws, matters which were the basic components of the recommendations of this conference proceeding.   

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