The European Union assured Jordan of continued financial support on Sunday, saying it was an investment in an ally in the "most heated and difficult area of the world".
The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini made the pledge during a visit to Jordan days after the country's prime minister quit amid widespread protests against a government austerity plan sought by international lenders, including proposed tax increases. The new prime minister says he will scrap the tax plan and devise a new one.
Jordan is increasingly in debt and dependent on foreign aid at a time of economic downturn and growing unemployment, largely linked to regional crises. Jordan has absorbed hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in recent years, while trade with troubled neighbours has been disrupted.
The promise of support from the EU came as Arab Gulf leaders and Jordan's King Abdullah II gathered in Makkah to discuss ways to help his counry.
Ms Mogherini said the European Union has given Jordan €1 billion (Dh4.32bn) over three years to finance programmes in infrastructure, water, energy and education.
Speaking at a news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday, she also announced that the EU would provide €20 million towards social protection programmes for vulnerable Jordanians.
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Jordan can count on Europe, Ms Mogherini said.
"We are here not as a gesture of charity, if you allow me the expression, but as an investment," she said, adding that Jordan was located "in probably the most heated and difficult area of the world".
"We understand the needs," she said. "We understand the pressure, the urgency, and so we deliver our support."
The EU foreign policy chief said it was up to Jordan to devise its own reform programme, but stressed the importance of dealing with tax evasion. The new prime minister, Omar Al Razzaz, has promised to formulate a new tax plan in consultation with various groups in Jordan.
Later on Sunday, Saudi Arabia was to host a meeting of Gulf Arab countries to discuss ways to support Jordan. The Saudi royal court said the meeting in Makkah would include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan and Kuwait.
In December 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged to give $2.5bn (Dh9.2bn) in aid each to Jordan and Morocco, both of which had been invited to join the regional group that year.
The pledge from the GCC was to last five years. It expired last year and so far the GCC has yet to offer any additional funding as the bloc remains split by the diplomatic crisis over Qatar.
Mr Safadi said on Sunday that Jordan appreciated the Saudi effort and that "we look forward to the results of today's dialogue". He did not address the issue of Gulf aid.
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
Company%20profile
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Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars