Minister of Government Communication and official spokesperson for the government, Dr. Mohammad Al-Momani, affirmed that the deeply rooted historical relations between Jordan and Egypt are the result of the mutual commitment of His Majesty King Abdullah II and his brother, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, along with their ongoing coordination and guidance to officials in both countries to strengthen the foundations of cooperation, develop its mechanisms, and continuously expand its areas.
اضافة اعلان
In an interview with Al-Ahram Al-Arabi magazine conducted by Editor-in-Chief Gamal El-Keshky and published Saturday, Al-Momani stated that these relations—built on sincere intentions, mutual trust, and respect—have reached a distinguished level that reflects a shining model of Arab joint action and bilateral integration guided by the wise vision of the two leaders.
Al-Momani noted that, on the bilateral front, the 33rd session of the Jordanian-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee, hosted by Amman last August, clearly demonstrated the strength of relations between the two brotherly nations.
He pointed out that this committee is one of the most regular Arab joint committees, having held its meetings continuously since its establishment, serving as an effective institutional framework for following up and implementing joint initiatives between Jordan and Egypt across various fields.
He added that the most recent session of the committee—held in the presence of Prime Ministers Dr. Jaafar Hassan and Dr. Mostafa Madbouly—reflected the advanced level of coordination between both sides.
The session resulted in the signing of ten agreements and memoranda of understanding in various fields that strengthen bilateral cooperation and open wider prospects for economic and investment integration between Jordan and Egypt.
Regarding Arab issues, Al-Momani stressed that the consistent coordination between Jordan and Egypt forms one of the key pillars of Arab and regional national security.
He added that the leaderships of both countries—His Majesty King Abdullah II and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi—are characterized by wisdom, balance, and pragmatism, working to mobilize all efforts and international relations in service of Arab causes, foremost among them the just and central Palestinian cause, which remains a top shared priority and vital interest for both Jordan and Egypt.
Al-Momani emphasized that no effort or dialogue concerning Arab issues can be effective without a central and active role for Jordan and Egypt, noting that the ongoing political consultation and coordination between the two countries is a cornerstone in unifying Arab positions and coordinating regional efforts.
He further noted that Jordan and Egypt share almost identical stances on the Palestinian cause, both supporting the two-state solution and rejecting any plans for the displacement of Palestinians, while maintaining a prominent humanitarian and relief role in supporting the people of Gaza.
When asked about the role of national media in supporting and protecting society from negative influences, Al-Momani said that media is synonymous with awareness and serves as its main instrument across national, social, cultural, and informational dimensions.
He explained that the media’s role goes beyond delivering information—it also entails building solid media and information literacy based on objectivity, neutrality, and the reinforcement of accurate knowledge while countering misinformation. This, he said, represents the first line of defense against deception, rumors, and false information.
Al-Momani noted that the government views media as a key partner in shaping awareness and forming sound public opinion. This approach has positioned Jordan as a regional leader in developing a comprehensive national framework for media and information literacy.
He pointed out that the launch of the National Strategy for Media and Information Literacy in 2019 marked a major step forward in this direction, and that work is currently underway to implement the second national plan early next year, with the goal of strengthening public awareness and fostering responsible media culture.
He stressed that enhancing media awareness has become a pressing need to protect society from digital and informational chaos, particularly amid the irresponsible use of modern media and social networking platforms by some individuals.
Al-Momani explained that this reality necessitates a comprehensive partnership between public and private media institutions and the governments that set relevant policies and strategies. He noted that Jordan has already embodied this concept in practice, with the Ministry of Government Communication working to expand its implementation nationwide.
Discussing the core principles underpinning Jordan’s Government Communication Strategy, Al-Momani said that communication is the government’s primary tool for building a healthy and sustainable relationship with citizens.
He explained that effective communication is based on clear foundations—transparent information flow and active feedback channels with citizens—creating a collaborative framework that strengthens trust and fosters constructive engagement between the state and society.
He added that Jordan’s strategy is guided by solid principles that form the essence of institutional communication work—transparency and disclosure, participation and positive engagement with all groups, and integration with national media to ensure their right to access information. These principles, he stressed, reflect the government’s commitment to an open and responsible communication environment that enhances trust and serves the public interest.
Al-Momani said that the strategy adopted by the Ministry of Government Communication is grounded in clear, practical, and scientific approaches that focus on safeguarding national interests and building a strong partnership with stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive vision for Jordanian media.
He emphasized that this relationship is based on responsible freedom, mutual trust, professionalism, and sincere service to the national interest.
Al-Momani also noted that the government continues to develop its communication and media systems by keeping pace with the latest global strategies and modern communication tools.
This development, he said, directly enhances the performance of government communicators—especially official spokespersons—who play a leading role in shaping and supporting communication messages and presenting the institutional image of ministries and government bodies in a modern and professional manner.
He highlighted that the strategy includes specialized training and qualification programs for spokespersons, as well as the establishment of a dedicated regulatory framework governing their work, focusing on empowerment and capacity-building.
Regarding Arab media cooperation and Jordan’s role in advancing it, Al-Momani stated that Jordan has always been and will remain committed to supporting joint Arab media efforts.
He explained that the unprecedented regional circumstances—alongside accelerating globalization, rapid information flow, and the communication revolution, as well as the growing threats of misinformation targeting Arab youth—necessitate stronger Arab coordination in the media domain.
Jordan, he said, seeks to build narratives, tools, and media content that serve Arab causes and safeguard Arab identity and culture.
He emphasized that the challenges facing the region in recent years cannot be addressed solely from a political angle, as they carry multi-dimensional consequences requiring collective awareness and unified Arab discourse.
Fortifying the Arab mind, especially among youth, he added, requires opening channels of dialogue through modern media platforms within democratic boundaries that provide answers, encourage participation, and promote engagement in decision-making.
He stressed that responsible use of technology and communication tools, pride in Arab identity, and defending just Arab causes through truthful and accurate information are essential pillars in facing these challenges.
On the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on journalism and media, and potential risks, Al-Momani stated that Jordan is committed to harnessing technological advancements to serve all sectors.
He clarified that concerns about AI do not stem from replacing human intelligence, but rather from its misuse—particularly since AI algorithms depend on the data provided by humans.
He added that every challenge posed by AI also presents opportunities, as the technology is now an unavoidable reality that should be approached with awareness rather than fear.
AI applications, he noted, have revolutionized media and content creation and enhanced data analysis capabilities to unprecedented levels, though they also raise ethical and professional concerns such as content manipulation, privacy breaches, deepfakes, and the spread of misinformation.
He stressed that dealing with AI’s opportunities and challenges requires not fear but sound practices, digital literacy, and the training of media professionals in modern technologies.
Al-Momani emphasized the need for media institutions to strengthen cooperation with academic and AI research entities to keep up with developments, adopt best practices, and rebuild public trust through reliable information verification.
At the state level, he suggested developing regulatory frameworks for AI use that address content management, access based on age categories, and mechanisms for reporting ethical or privacy violations.
Regarding Jordan’s modernization vision programs and the role of government communication within them, Al-Momani said that modernization is a sustainable path, and that the Jordanian state’s project in its second centennial represents a comprehensive reform endeavor.
He explained that His Majesty King Abdullah II has called for the launch of comprehensive modernization plans covering political, economic, and administrative dimensions—strategic priorities aimed at empowering Jordan’s youth to build a confident, capable future and set an example for others.
He added that Jordan’s modernization programs are rooted in a democratic vision and genuine partnership with all segments of society.
These programs, he noted, are the result of open national dialogues characterized by transparency and inclusiveness, involving political parties, official institutions, civil society organizations, universities, youth, women, and the private sector. Each group contributed within its respective committees and sessions to defining the main features of the modernization vision.
He said that these discussions and workshops, which often included the participation of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, have produced tangible achievements in advancing political development and enhancing citizen participation in decision-making.
He added that recent sessions with public and private sector experts aimed to review progress in implementing the first phase of the Economic Modernization Vision (2023–2025) and to prepare the second executive program (2026–2029) in a participatory manner that reflects each sector’s priorities and translates them into actionable projects.
— (Petra)
