AMMAN -- A Royal Decree was issued on Monday appointing former prime minister Fayez Tarawneh as chief of the Royal Court, succeeding Riyad Abu Karaki, whose resignation was accepted on the same day.
Born in 1949, Tarawneh is an independent politician who has previously served twice as prime minister and once as Royal Court chief.
His first term as prime minister was from August 1998 to March 1999, after which he was appointed Royal Court chief.
Tarawneh, who also served as foreign minister, Jordan's ambassador to the US and trade minister, became a senator in 2003.
He was reappointed to the premiership in May 2012, heading the government for five months before being replaced by incumbent Premier Abdullah Ensour in October.
Tarawneh, who holds a PhD and an MA in economy from the University of Southern California and a BA in economy from the University of Jordan, also headed the Jordanian delegation to the peace talks with Israel in 1994.
On Monday, His Majesty King Abdullah sent a letter to Abu Karaki in which he reasserted his confidence in him and thanked him for his work.
"More than a year ago, I entrusted you with the presidency of the Royal Court... so that its doors would remain open to all citizens... and you were worthy of my trust," the King said in the letter.
© Jordan Times 2013
