Jordan Times
Sunday, May 9, 2004
Inaugurating the first forum for youth on political development on Saturday, Halaiqa said young Jordanians, who constitute two thirds of the Kingdom's population, have the right to express their opinions and assume their effective role in building their country.
“The moderate policies the Kingdom has adopted have gained Jordan a distinguished respectable status worldwide,” he told his audience.
In his speech, Minister of Political Development and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Daoudiyeh said the political reform strategy and action plan drafted by his ministry ensures enough room for youth to be active players in the domestic arena.
Higher Council for Youth President Mamoun Nuriddine pointed out that his umbrella organisation has designed a package of national programmes for university students this year with the aim of enhancing their role in political development.
He said since the beginning of this year, over 2,000 university students have taken part in the programmes and in workshops and youth camps.
Speakers took turns in discussing various aspects of the political reform process, a mission the government of Prime Minister Faisal Fayez undertook since its inception in October last year.
In a paper he presented at the forum, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Issam Zabalawi said the incorporation of the political development concept in university life is still below expectations.
He attributed this partly to the existence of a “silent majority” in local universities that lacks enthusiasm for the programmes set to promote these values.