Petra News Agency
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Minister Muasher Reviews
Work of the National Agenda Committee
Amman, June 22 (Petra)--Minister of the Hashemite Royal Court and Head of the
National Agenda Committee Marwan Muasher said that time has come to shed light
on the content of reform and the agenda.
Muasher said during the weekly press meeting of the official spokesperson today,
that the reform that His Majesty King Abdullah II is talking about has two
titles, which include the national agenda and the administrative divisions.
However, this has one major goal, which is raising the standards of living of
citizens and improving their conditions," he said. "The goal of improving the
living conditions of the citizen in the various economic, political and social
field will strengthen Jordan in the economic and political terms and enable it
to face outside challenges.
"The reform we are carrying out with regard to the national agenda and
administrative divisions is done by all parties and not restricted to one," he
said, indicating that the committee's outputs will be based on a national
consensus.
The minister said that Jordan had made big strides in the development field.
He reviewed the challenges that face Jordan including unemployment, the
percentage of which stands at 14 percent. "This might double over the coming
years if the current policies continue," Muasher added. "50 percent of the
population is under 18 and 1,300,000 will enter the labour market," he said,
indicating that the state will not be able absorb this labour force over the
next ten years.
Muasher said that the budget deficit had been one of the major challenges,
noting that the budget still depends on foreign aid.The minister underlined the
importance of expanding political participation in this country and enhancing
the independence of the judiciary, in addition to having a free media that
allows all political views.