Date: 12 August 2007
Title: His Majesty King Abdullah II Letter to the Jordanian Youth Published in Al Rai Newspaper on the Occasion of the International Youth Day 2007

In the name of God, the most Merciful, the Compassionate

Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Editorial Staff of Al Rai Newspaper,

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you,

We have always been keen to hold a dialogue with youth and turn to them for inspiration, that stems from their resolve and zealous ambition, that encourages all of us in Jordan to provide our youth, male and female, with the means for achievement, success and preparedness for a future of promise.

Accordingly, it was my wish, on the occasion of the International Youth Day, to address, through Al Rai youth supplement, the youth of our homeland, male and female, specifically and directly, to renew my firm belief in them and reaffirm the hopes I hold for them, and to tell them: you are the bearers of Jordan's message, and the ones who, with God's will and grace, seek to achieve Jordan's progress and prosperity.

You, our Jordanian youth, face responsibilities and challenges that fall into a special category. To start with, you are the largest segment of society, and second, you are the ones who are going to live and reap the outcomes of Jordan's developmental process, which we hope will have positive outcomes, with God's help.

And because you carry a heavy load, dear youth, and shoulder a great responsibility, as great as your will and ambitions, you are required to be up to this responsibility and worthy of this load, because Jordan's future is being entrusted to you, and because Jordan's future starts today and you are the homeland's tomorrow and its limitless horizon. Thus, we will never abandon our role in support of youth, and will always be keen to provide you with all the tools of knowledge and skills of excellence, so that you will realize your ambitions and those of the homeland.

You, our youth, are responsible for playing an effective role as a social force that leaves its mark on society's movement and orientation. We do not want youth to be denied their own opinions, God forbid, or indifferent to the developments around them, or unaware of the danger posed by the regional challenges surrounding us. We also do not want for our youth to have a confined economic horizon, nor do we want them to be reluctant to take initiatives, or to give generously and work.

Hence, in the framework of this keenness on a youth role that is effective and impressive, and to realize a cherished principle by breaking the cycle of stagnation and lack of initiative in order to stimulate youth and activate their role, the "We Are All Jordan" initiative was launched. It is a first step on the path towards change and modernization. This initiative was launched to satisfy the wishes and aspirations of Jordanian youth. It is now their own; it is their project, and it is no more just a verbal initiative or a declaration of intent. Rather, it is a tangible reality, established to provide Jordanian youth with a solid framework for getting together and holding dialogue, and rebuild confidence in institutionalized youth work that is wise, mature and responsible and aims to realize the homeland's interests through accumulating and polishing expertise.

We surely expect this initiative to mature and to yield other accomplishments that would lead to the emergence of a national youth leadership that is mature and capable, actually, of taking the lead, to assert the political, social and economic role of which youth are worthy, and that demonstrates its worthiness and eligibility for participation, with all the dimensions and values that participation carries.

Today we renew our unlimited support for the youth of Jordan, the homeland's hope and future, and say to them: youth of dear Jordan, we are behind you, supporting you to win, because it is with you that we win. We urge you to show loyalty in what you do, and give sincerely and unconditionally to the homeland. And we urge the youth to seek to entrench a pure national youth culture based on the essence of the principles of the Great Arab Revolt, which the Hashemites led followed by the Arab youth in the second decade of the last century. We also say to you that we still face the same challenges, and we urge you to establish a youth culture to be passed from one youth generation to another in which all Jordanians, male and female, stand firmly by each other to practice their citizenship and the privilege of their belonging to dear Jordan.

Our collective national identity, which was, and which will remain, the state's backbone, needs enthusiastic Jordanian youth committed to the homeland, who would revitalize the state and give it new momentum, who believe in a noble goal which is Jordan's renaissance, and see themselves as the responsible partners who are able, through their work and enthusiasm, to pave the way to realize that noble goal.

Proud Jordanian youth, we would like this international day to be your day too, so that it will make a real difference in awareness, maturity and shouldering responsibility. Every one in his or her own capacity is required to effect the kind of change and reform that enhances the sense of belonging to Jordan and its people, because reform is the individual's wish before it becomes the public's mood. It is also norm of life to yearn for achievement and positive change. We urge you to make of our universities minarets of education and incubators of awareness, respect for diversity, acceptance of the other and refusal of isolation and seclusion. And we urge you to make our media the Jordanians' eye on the truth and the authority for accountability for the homeland's sake, first and always. And we urge you to make all of our public and private institutions stories of success and excellence, and to make our brave armed forces the homeland's invincible shield.

Youth of our dear homeland, you should know that the homeland's future is in your hands, and that you are the most prominent among those who make it. You are most qualified to shoulder this responsibility. Carry on with the march of national construction, modernization and prosperity. All of Jordan is behind you, supporting you in every step you take.

May God bless you.

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you.

Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein
Amman,
12 August 2007