Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The government on Sunday decided to appoint Aqel Beltaji as Mayor of Amman, to head the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), following over a week of deliberations and considerations.

The final appointment comes nearly two weeks after the August 27 municipal elections, where Amman residents voted in half the members of the GAM council.

The remainder of the GAM Council members were appointed by the government on Sunday.

Beltaji is a former advisor for King Abdullah at the Royal Hashemite Court (2004-2005) on tourism promotion, foreign direct investment, and country branding, after he served as the Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) from 2001-2004.

Beltaji held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Tourism and Antiquities (1997-2001), and has been a member of the Jordanian Senate since 2005.

In addition to appointment of the GAM Mayor and Board members, the cabinet also appointed the following as members of GAM's Council: a representative of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, Amman Chamber of Industry, Director of the Central Traffic Department, Director of Water Company (Myahuna), Director of the Jordan Electrical Company, Director of the Urban and Rural Development Bank, Director of Land and Surveying Department, Director of the Housing and Urban Development Co.

In addition, the cabinet also appointed the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment as a GAM Council member.

Other council members appointed include Issa Shahateet, Nart Qaithoqa, Bisher Jaradneh, and Yousef Attyah Abu Galyoun.