Ammon News - AMMAN (Petra) – Jordanians on Sunday celebrate the 14th anniversary of His Majesty King Abdullah II's accession to the throne, reiterating their allegiance to their leader and renewing the pledge to press ahead with building the country and protecting the nation’s achievements and gains.

On this dear national occasion, the sons and daughters of the country, who have loved their leader in word and deed, expressed their resolve to fulfill the national goals of safeguarding the prestige of state institutions, enhancing the supremacy of law, protecting human rights and emphasizing justice and equality in rights and obligations in a modern and cooperative environment to maintain national security and stability.

Since he ascended the throne on June 9, 1999, King Abdullah has been a strong believer in the potentials of his great people and their distinguished knowledge and ethics, which are derived from our tolerant religion as well as Arabism, national principles and noble habits and traditions.

Over fourteen years under the monarch, Jordan has put as top priorities in its national agenda comprehensive reform, enhancement of the capabilities of a modern state, a balanced foreign policy, investment in the human, self-reliance and social solidarity, innovation and development, finding alternatives to scarce resources and empowerment, rehabilitation and training of Jordanians.

Under a wise leadership, a strong and impregnable Jordan has navigated through critical and difficult regional and international events, maintaining its unity and standing firm to challenges, becoming a secure and stable model in a turbulent region.

On the anniversary, Jordanians take pride in political reforms, including holding four parliamentary elections over the past years, the last of which was held earlier this year, which reflected citizens’ deep interest in participating in voting under the supervision of an independent elections commission created by amendments to more than one-third of the constitution.

Other reform milestones were the establishment of the constitutional court, endorsement of the political parties and elections laws, and the King's four discussion papers which set out the democracy and reform roadmap to promote national accord, citizenship and grassroots participation in decision-making.

A democratic empowerment program to bring all social segments, particularly the youth, into the development process was launched earlier this month to enhance democratic values based on supremacy of the law, non-violence, dialogue, accountability and galvanizing civil society institutions.