Question: One of the important issues is public debt. Frankly, whose responsibility is it? And the second part of my question: what is the government’s plan to deal with it, and how will it reduce the public debt ratio?

Answer: Different decisions were taken during previous periods of crisis that led to an increase in indebtedness. Objectively, I am not in a position to judge any of these decisions retrospectively, but these decisions had their reasons, their necessities, and their security, political and economic circumstances at the time. They are the result of the accumulation of crises on the Jordanian economy over an extended period.

Today, however, the priority and most important issue for the government, and for any economy, is not the absolute size of the debt, but rather how much of the budget is spent on servicing the debt.

This is the most important figure, because it is the one that competes with revenues over what is spent on capital expenditure in particular.

The more we reduce the cost of debt servicing, the more we are able to expand capital spending, or spending in other areas related to wages and the like.

What is most important is that we are able to control the accelerating rise we have seen in the share of debt servicing within the overall budget.

This is done by reducing interest service costs.

Accordingly, the size of indebtedness is measured by the ratio of debt to gross domestic product.

We have pledged and committed to reducing the debt ratio to 80% of GDP over the next two years, and we are continuing on that path, and God willing we will achieve it.

This will be an ongoing matter, and it is the government’s commitment in the budget speech and also its commitment with international institutions.

All our fiscal programmes are based on that.

At the same time, it is necessary to look at the nature of public debt management and the cost of servicing public debt, and to control the growth of debt servicing within the budget, so that when we expand the budget, this expansion is in favour of capital expenditure and not debt servicing.

Question: His Majesty the King tasked the government, and tasked you, with chairing the National Council for Future Technology, and we certainly also know the interest and follow-up of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on this issue. My direct question: what has been achieved so far?

Answer: First, His Majesty the King began, 25 years ago, a major effort to introduce information technology and develop and expand it in the Jordanian economy and in the field of education in Jordan.

I believe that period coincided with the beginnings of the internet era, and Jordan entered this field early, achieved significant accomplishments, and built a sector from nothing.

Today, we are facing the era of artificial intelligence.

The directives of His Majesty the King, and the supervision of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, have been extremely important in activating this effort.

We are working in particular on developing artificial intelligence tools in the field of education.

Thousands of teachers are being trained, and AI models are being introduced into education.

The first model has now been launched within the "Siraj" application, in an initial pilot with about 150,000 students.

This is a very important matter, and we are expanding it gradually.

In addition, in the health sector there is a major effort to introduce these virtual tools, so that we can expand medical services and also reduce costs related to infrastructure.

The government’s ability to diversify, expand and facilitate its services through applications is a core issue, and of course it is important to us in the end that the private sector is also able to benefit and expand through this work.

Question: The government launched a cleanliness strategy and a campaign to reduce random dumping of waste. This file and this issue receive attention from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. My question is: this campaign will also be launched what will it achieve, and is the interest seasonal or a long-term commitment?

Answer: This issue should not receive only the attention of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince; it should receive the attention of every Jordanian citizen, in truth.

Unfortunately, when I listen to a foreign or Arab citizen who has visited Jordan, I hear how beautiful our country is and how hospitable its people are, but I also hear about the amount of waste that tourists or visitors see in our nature, at our tourist sites and in our streets.

I do not think I have visited a country anywhere in the world where there are as many sanitation workers spread through the streets as I see in our capital and in some of our cities.

I believe there is therefore a responsibility on us as a government, on our institutions and on society to be able to preserve our country and improve in an area that we should not even have to discuss, which is cleanliness.

We have one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and one of the kindest peoples in the world. It should therefore be taken for granted that our country is also among the cleanest in the world.

Institutionally, we will begin first with infrastructure, to ensure that all necessary infrastructure is in place and to ensure that random dumping of waste does not occur.

There will also be strict enforcement of the law. I am very serious about this issue, because unfortunately in countries that strictly enforce laws, whether neighbouring countries or African, Western or Asian countries, we find very high levels of cleanliness.

Finally, there is the issue of awareness and guidance, and work on raising awareness, starting from schools, to the media, to all institutions.

Question: Let me move to the domestic political aspect, specifically the relationship between the government and the Lower House of Parliament. Is this relationship based on consensus or on managing differences?

Answer: The relationship is one of cooperation governed by the constitution.

Political modernisation ultimately aims to strengthen the parliamentary institution. Our role as a government is to ensure that the cooperative relationship is good, as long as the matter relates to the national interest, and as long as the issue is how we work together, whether we agree on a programme or disagree on it, provided the matter is cooperation outside the framework of incitement, opportunistic mobilisation or personal agendas.

On the contrary, I believe we have significant room for work and achievement. Frankly, over the past period the work has been serious, and we have been able to move forward on many matters through cooperation.

I personally met with all parties and blocs. There were extensive dialogues, and we discussed all issues. The government benefits greatly from the observations of MPs in general, especially in our work with the governorates, in building development programmes and in field visits.

In the end, I greatly appreciate the enormous pressures placed on MPs.

Our understanding is that the parliament should be strong and credible.

We completed the budget bill, and all appreciation goes to the Lower House and the Senate for that.

We completed the Electronic Transactions Law, completed amendments to the National Service Law, and the Social Security Law, which will be approved after the dialogue on it ends at the end of this month.
We also have the new Local Administration Law ahead of us, along with other important laws that will have a positive and significant impact.

Question: There are questions from the public and from specialists so far: what are the main amendments you are considering to the Local Administration Law?

Answer: With regard to the Local Administration Law, I believe the most important issue for citizens is that development programmes in governorates and municipalities are strong, and that there is governance and sound management within municipalities.

Resources are limited, but the issue to a large extent is an issue of management.

When we find machinery idle and people at home instead of at their workplaces, we have a problem.
When, overnight, machinery goes out into the streets and people are at work, this means things were not in good order.

The issue of resources has always been a challenge for Jordan, but the issue of management is one where I believe there is significant room for improvement.

Question: There is rapid acceleration in events and developments. We see the continuation of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and we see Israeli attempts to impose new facts on the ground, particularly in the West Bank. We hear statements from some Israeli officials about displacement and about so-called maps of Greater Israel. My direct question: how do you follow and read these developments?

Answer: First, with regard to Gaza, I believe the priority is to ensure the consolidation of the ceasefire, move quickly to the second phase, and implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.

In reality, the United States played an extremely important role in reaching the ceasefire and imposing this plan on the Israeli side, and we hope to proceed with it quickly.

The most important thing is the rejection of the annexation of the West Bank, and this was one of the very important matters to which the U.S. administration committed.

The humanitarian situation remains extremely painful. Only about 20% of the required aid reaches Gaza today, especially under these difficult conditions and during the winter season.

We have always tried, as Jordan, to help, and we were pivotal in humanitarian support for Gaza during periods when aid was completely cut off.

His Majesty the King’s efforts were pioneering in delivering support to our brothers there. This is an extremely important matter that must be addressed quickly, and it is among our core priorities.

Of course, Gaza cannot be separated from the West Bank, nor from Israeli escalation and rapidly intensifying extremist policies in the West Bank and in Jerusalem.

Settlement policies are extremely dangerous, and the Palestinian people cannot be ignored.

Today, the mere presence of the Palestinian people on their land and their steadfastness is the greatest expression of resistance, because steadfastness itself is resistance. Their mere presence on Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza is resistance. We are concerned with ensuring that the Palestinian people remain on their land. As for displacement, it is completely rejected and is considered a crime against humanity.

Ultimately, what governs our international and regional relations is one thing: Jordan’s interest, security and stability first and last. Nothing overrides that. This is the source of our decisions and what guides our foreign policy.

The efforts of His Majesty the King and of Jordanian diplomacy have been extremely important in defending the rights of the Palestinian people over the past two years and over past decades.

His Majesty the King has repeatedly warned, in every speech before the United Nations General Assembly, that failure to find a solution to the Palestinian issue will lead to the continuation of the conflict.

Some once thought the conflict had ended, but in reality, failure to reach a just solution to the Palestinian cause will fuel the conflict in different forms and dimensions.

I do not believe that any state or any party wants to see this conflict continue for decades to come, given its impact on all the peoples of the region.

Extremist policies in Israel will ultimately lead to increasing Israel’s global isolation.

We have seen the extent of global discontent with these extremist policies, the level of global support for the Palestinian state, and the recent recognitions.

God willing, reason will prevail. I believe our efforts as Jordanian diplomacy are not individual efforts, but Arab efforts, and they must be unified Arab efforts working with the international community towards one goal.

Question: The path of cooperation between Jordan and Syria. Over the past period, nearly a year has passed since the new rule in Syria. How do you assess, specifically, the course of this cooperation and relations between Jordan and Syria?

Answer: Syria’s success is Jordan’s success, and the success of the entire Arab region.
We are doing everything we can to support our brothers in Syria so that they can rebuild their institutions, rebuild their country, and succeed as a prosperous and secure state that exercises its sovereignty over all its territory.

Syrian security is part of Jordanian security.

Our shared border is long, and we have suffered because of it for decades.

Today, we reject policies of intervention and aggression against Syria, especially from the Israeli side, and we work with our Syrian brothers in all fields to provide possible support.

We want to be part of Syria’s reconstruction and part of Syria’s success.

There are more than 1.25 million Syrian citizens and Syrian refugees in Jordan.

It is true that some have returned, but the majority remain in Jordan. Therefore, it is necessary for Syria to succeed on the path of stability and reconstruction, and we will remain supportive of it on all these paths.

Question: Is Jordanian policy continuing with the policy of voluntary return for Syrian refugee brothers, and also, as you said, engagement with our brothers in Syria in several sectors, including security and borders?

Answer: Yes, it is a policy of voluntary return in cooperation with international civil society organisations.
Security and borders are, of course, a core and pivotal issue. But as important as they are, there is also the issue of water, which is a strategic and national security issue.

It is necessary to reach a fair agreement with the Syrian side regarding water.

There have been positive indications from the Syrian side in this regard so far, and we hope to move faster on the water file with our brothers in Syria.

Question: If you allow me, a group of quick questions. The first: did you perform national service? And the second part of the question: how do you view the return of the national service programme?

Answer: I was honoured to perform national service more than 36 years ago, for a period of two years.
Of course, it is an honour for every young man to wear the emblem of the Arab Army and to train in the school of the Arab Army that produces men, personalities and leaders.

What distinguishes national service is that it brings together sons of the nation from all its regions and all its segments. It brings together the farmer, the trader and the doctor, from the desert, cities and rural areas.

They sleep in one barracks, eat at one table, train and crawl in the same field.

This creates a very important condition among different segments of society. I believe the training, even though it is for three months, includes diversity and content that are necessary for today’s youth, and I believe it will be very beneficial for those who have the opportunity to participate in or are called up for national service.

This is an effort and a subject that His Majesty has long wanted to advance. Thank God, with personal follow-up from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the programme has returned, the service has returned, and we have reactivated it. God willing, in the coming period we will be able to develop it further.

Question: Since you served alongside His Majesty the King for eight years as Director of the Office of His Majesty, and also served four years as Director of Policies, what did you gain from His Majesty the King?

Answer: I do not believe there is a leader in the world who has been able to face all these challenges over a quarter of a century and earn the respect of the world for his wisdom and the faith of his people in him, like His Majesty.

First, His Majesty never surrenders to bleak expectations. He always looks for opportunities to overcome challenges. His Majesty always looks for solutions in the most difficult issues. It is always about solutions.
The level of perseverance, determination and resolve in his leadership is truly distinctive, and I believe we all learn from him every day. The degree of persistence, attention to detail and continuous follow-up, even until late hours of the night, is remarkable.

His Majesty speaks with us and follows up on matters and details that were part of the daily meetings.
In addition, he insists on field engagement and communication with citizens.

I believe His Majesty the King’s leadership style is a school for any official in our country.

Question: Are you thinking of conducting a new cabinet reshuffle?

Answer: A reshuffle is not a goal in itself. I do not favour frequent reshuffles, frankly, unless there are reasons that necessitate any change. Otherwise, I will not think about a reshuffle.

Question: A quick message, specifically to young people.

Answer: I hope that Jordan will always be the place where they realise their ambitions, the place where they find opportunities, that values their competencies and rewards their efforts, that is always the best place for them, and that their belonging to this country will always remain strong.

//Petra// AF

End

11/01/2026 21:15:18