AMMAN — The difficult phase that the entire world is going through due to the COVID-19 pandemic is “an opportunity” for Jordan to achieve self-reliance, minimise dependence on grants and achieve economic independence, which is tied to political independence, making Jordan a stronger country, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz said on Thursday.

 

Speaking to Husna and JBC radio stations, Razzaz said that the entire world is facing “a new enemy”: The novel coronavirus. The challenge and opportunity lie in preparing for the worst-case scenario in this phase, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

To address the challenges in dealing with COVID-19, “one plan is not enough, but we have to prepare for multiple scenarios”, the primer minister said.

 

“We seek to raise awareness among all to flatten the curve and prevent the occurrence of hundreds of cases in a single day,” he added.

 

As for suspending in-class education for the majority of school students and resorting to remote education, the premier said that the government aims to “flatten the infection curve and safeguard citizens’ health”, noting that going on with in-class education for Tawjihi students is due to “the importance of this phase”.

 

Regarding the recently reintroduced military service, the PM noted that plans to prepare youth for the post-education phase did not achieve the desired levels over the past years, Petra reported.

 

The premier also pointed out that among plans is to incorporate the conscripts to the agriculture sector in a bid to increase national agricultural production and exports. 

 

Economically, the prime minister said that the government is aware of the complaints of the private sector, noting that the government has committees to help the most affected sectors of the pandemic, such as the tourism and transport sectors.

 

Razzaz reiterated the Kingdom’s unaltered stance on the Palestinian cause, adding that just and comprehensive peace will not be achieved if Israel continues its unilateral measures that undermine Palestinians’ rights to establish their independent state on their national soil with Jerusalem as its capital.