 Editor's note: Watch CNN's new business show, Global Exchange, on CNN International, Sunday to Thursday 1100 ET, 1600 GMT and 1700 CET. (CNN) – As the Arab Spring continues to cause unrest in the Middle East, King Abdullah of Jordan is speeding up political and economic reform in his country. In an exclusive interview with CNN's John Defterios, he explains why Jordan is moving on from the Arab Spring, and preparing for national elections next year. The king tells CNN the country is moving from "the Arab Spring to the Arab Summer." However, the king has "great concern" about Syria, where thousands have been killed in anti-government demonstrations over the past eight months. |
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I have more salad servers with giraffes on the top than i know what to do with. Can't resist the haggling and bargaining
Enjoying biltong and wakaberry having spent too much on wooden animals at rosebank mall. I always end up dragging this stuff home
. @Eurovision vs. Austerityvision @ErinCNN I suppose...
RT @ErinCNN: this years @Eurovision show cost around 15 million euro. Last year cost around 35 million euro. Per eurovision spox. Less is m…
updated 1636 GMT, May 18
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he will not last long.
i dont know if jordan is a democratic country in cnn standards , it looks like any new about the king of jordan in cnn seems like a marketing for the king..really weird
Jordan's king, as well as his father, has worked very hard to bring his country into the 21st century and to eradicate poverty. I wish him well .
Jordan will do well – they don't suppress their people, and the king/queen have done a lot of good for their people. They are loved by them. Do searches on Google about Jordan and you'll get a picture of the country. If the king/queen have decided that it's time for a change, then they are doing it for the good of their country. Note that I am NOT Jordanian, just read a lot about them and the country.
I grew up in Jordan ( im now 30 living in canada),
I can tell you it is very peaceful , im a christian and NEVER ever had an issue in Jordan with my religion.
the King had done a great job suppressing the islamist extreme.
In fact: when he became King , his arabic language was horrible! he was more fluent in english since he learned pretty much everything in the UK. so he is more western than arab.. that is why he is very well educated and very modern compared to the rest of the arabic nations.
Jordan has it regular government corruption ( same crap in every country), but not enough to affect the people to the extend of a revolution.
They have good relationship with israel and USA ( evidence is you never hear any word from israel about jordan)
the king is very smart and knows whats best.
his father is a traitor, and so is he.
i would have to agree about most points stated in the "soundoff". yet... everything is so expensive. i lived in the states 22 years out of 31 years of my life. how is the king helping with these prices? example, cars. why should i pay double the cost of a brand new car in customs fees? everything has a tax of 16% and some things the tax plus customs fees. also, when jordan is taking my tax money that i pay in jordan and in the US, and the streets here are believe it or not worse than in syria, there's a problem here.
also, about the corruption, and this article about the king worried about syria... can the king bring back my almost 3 year old daughter back from syria? because i was threatened with jail from the son (he is a judge) of the biggest names in the country if i dont give her permission to leave jordan? because he and my ex wife really played their cards right, and i filed a complaint against him, and presented evidence for my complaint to be thrown out. how does it sound to the king that a jordanian judge, forced a jordanian/american citizen to forcefully give permission for his jordanian/american citizen daughter to leave jordan for syria with her mother?
Jordan is a country with great people. I wish them the best!
by the way, im agreeing with the good comments..... not the bad
Abdullah should fear the same future as other MidEast suppressors. He's living on borrowed time. Democracy in Jordan? Spare me. There's a limit to the number of Palestinians and Christians that can run for office despite the fact they make up 70% and 7% of Jordan, respectfully. Economic well being? Oh please. The US taxpayer antes up well over a billion dollars a year in economic and military aid in this 5 mill people country, much of which goes towards the intelligence agency that keeps the king in power. And forget freedom of the press. Add in the riches, the homes, houses, apartments, not to mention the conservative $50 million collection of automobiles and you begin to get a picture of reality. As the tribes reminded him last year, he should remember that the Hashemites are guests in Jordan after being forced out of Saudi.
King speak english mean he is educated, king is friend of US and israel means they are good and need no change. ]
if westerners do not like, then they need a change, no matter the country is good or bad! good luck for Europe and US,,, you are cursed by natural disasters, I call next earth quate Sadam followed by Gadaffi....
I believe this!!!
How I wish all the Muslim and Arab dictators and leaders reform like king Abdullah and do all what he has done for the people of Jordan, he is a respected king and adimred by the international community.
There is no need for a 1000ML diameter sewer to hide him this one. Just look for a mouse hole and he will be found there. Question of time. Unless, there is a reverse NATO strategy, that is kill the whole populus just to keep the big mouse. Anyway makes you wonder how the tiny engine that makes him click is on such high rev for swift reform given that there are claims not settled since his father genocided locals to keep his stock. The world is very forgetful but his enemies are not.
This is the middle east and camel dung doctrine rules: now you see one – now you don't see one!
Ask the other leaders,I mean even their ghosts.
He should call for a referendum, since he is loved so much that shouldnt worry him
He's a CIA crony.
What curious question
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