3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Tunisian president and Saudi interior minister discuss security cooperation    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



‘Daesh has no concept of humanity, religion, life'
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 25 - 05 - 2015

CNN's John Defterios interviewed King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman. The King talked about a range of subjects, including his country's economy, the need for investment in youth, and the challenges the region faces from the extremists of Daesh (the so-called IS)

John Defterios, CNN Emerging Markets Editor
So, first off, Your Majesty, I would like to talk about the economic re-launch. You've laid out a very clear economic re-launch blueprint here that is looking to take growth of just over 3% in 2014 to a baseline to just over five, but a high-target of 7.5%, in 10-years' time. What makes you think you can deliver those sort of numbers?
His Majesty King Abdullah II
Before the international financial crisis, a couple of years ago, we were at 7%, so getting back to 7% is actually, I think, doable; and, as you said, we are at three at the moment. We hope to be at four next year, and get ourselves back up to seven.
John Defterios
In fact, you've put forward a buffet for foreign direct investment of up to $20 billion over five years and I went back five years and your foreign direct investment is just below $9 billion. You're suggesting almost a doubling-up of foreign direct investment. How do you do that?
His Majesty King Abdullah II
We have learned lessons because of the regional turmoil. A lot of it is going into alternative energy, which is going to make Jordan into a powerhouse. We are gifted with 300 days of the year with beautiful sunshine; and because we are an energy-importing country, renewables are going to be very important. So there is a major leap in renewable energy in Jordan. And we are targeting to be an exporter of renewable energies to Europe and beyond, hopefully, at a later stage.
John Defterios
You have this very difficult challenge: About a third of the young-aged Jordanians who could be working right now are without a job. It is a similar tale throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
His Majesty King Abdullah II
Throughout the world actually. I think that is the major challenge that we all have − you know, the youth. But as you've pointed out, in the Middle East, the largest youth cohort in history, we're talking about 25 million jobs in the next decade. So this is why one of the reason we want to launch this because it is so important for us to get jobs for young people.
John Defterios
Concretely, you want to create 500,000 jobs over five years. Again, it sounds like you are setting the bar very high, but you need to deliver because of this 33% youth unemployment rate. It's quite painful.
His Majesty King Abdullah II
Jordan's export has been this human talent. And we are the workforce, the talented workforce, throughout the Middle East. That's always been our niche. So it is not something that we are trying to figure out how to do. It is something that we have always been able to do. But, now, how do we adapt Jordan and our young population to be able to take advantage of that.
We are a young population, tech-savvy, bi-lingual. So, a small country to be able to adapt to the region challenges is something that we have been usually fairly successful in being able to do. So, again, launching this new ten-year economic plan, I think it is actually something doable and within the grasp of Jordanian capabilities.
John Defterios
If I can take a step back. It is extraordinary that we are talking foreign direct investments and international companies coming in, and in the north ISIS took Palmyra, as a line of sight to Damascus. They took Ramadi in Iraq and have a line of sight from Baghdad. Who is going to make a bet on a region that has that much chaos? Did other partners, in particular those in the United States and the Gulf underestimate the threat of ISIS, which you said was enemy number one?
His Majesty King Abdullah II
…for Jordan looking north and east, it is our tactical enemy number one. We have 1.4 million refugees in Jordan, which is a tremendous burden for our country, but there is also displaced Syrians across our border, fairly safe, fairly stable. And I believe that people should start looking at how do we make that southern Syria area more conducive to a normal life.
John Defterios
If you look at the destruction of Palmyra, it is destruction of heritage. It is almost like the Middle Ages.
His Majesty King Abdullah II
So sad.
John Defterios
And, in fact, destroys the potential for tourism and these heritage sites
His Majesty King Abdullah II
Absolutely. To me it just makes no sense whatsoever, how these people think. I think they have no concept of humanity, of religion, of life; and I think it is just a wake-up call for all of us what this threat is.


Clic here to read the story from its source.