Amman-13 April, 2014
On Sunday, 13th April, 2014, the German Jordanian University hosted Former PM, Senator Samir Al-Rifai, in the presence of GJU President Prof. Natheer Abu.Obeid, the Vice President Prof. Manar Fayyad, and other distinguished guests.
Senator Al. Rifai said that political reforms are very important to develop the Kingdom in order to build a modern state that keeps pace with the present and the future.
He further pointed out that economic reforms come before political reforms, assuring that he is not referring to particular issues relating to the political aspects of a country like governance, transparency, accountability and participation, which are important to the success of economic reforms, but rather a comprehensive reform.
On the other hand, economic reforms have important political dimensions to them. In developing countries, the political situations have major effects on economic reforms.
“The desired results of intended political reform are difficult to achieve unless preceded by economic reform”, Al. Rifai stressed.
Addressing Jordanian youth and students due who face Jordan’s internal and external challenges, Al.Rifai affirmed the importance of sustaining “open channels of communication” with groups and parties across the political spectrum, urging young Jordanians to participate in political life. He also spoke about the importance of giving priority in the state budget to projects that employ large numbers of Jordanians, in particular the graduates.
He also highlighted the Syrian crisis, and the need for Jordan to have “clearness and decisiveness” in dealing with the issue in a way that halts the influx of refugees to the Kingdom.
At the end of the lecture, an open discussion was held for guests and students, as Prof. Abu Obeid presented Senator Samir with a gift of a crystal GJU logo.