Word from the Chairman
Landmines have long constituted a serious humanitarian problem for Jordan, especially along the Jordan Valley and northern frontier, where the country's most valuable farmland rests. Rich agriculture land is blocked, irrigation and hydro projects unable to commence, housing developments incapable of proceeding, and, historical and religious sites with cultural and tourism potential remain cut-off and unused.
As one of the first Arab countries to have signed the Ottawa Convention, and to have fulfilled its conditions to date, Jordan not only seeks to be the first Arab country to be declared free of mines by 2009 but also aspires to become a regional hub for mine action in years to come.

Of course, the task at hand is challenging to say the least and the problems at times seem insurmountable. Yet despite this, there is a new impetus and commitment on behalf of the Government of Jordan, the military and the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR) to make sure that our goals are reached expeditiously and that Jordan excels as a regional leader in mine action.



H.R.H. Prince Mired Ra'ad Al Hussein
Amman, February 2007