His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the 3rd Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates, urging the Nobel Prize winners to employ their experience to provide young people in the Middle East with tools to build their future and acquire useful knowledge.

Addressing participants at “Petra III: Building a Better World,” the King said it was necessary to advance real initiatives in areas of concern — education, economic progress, health and the environment — to support the region's youth.

“More than half of our region's population is below the age of 18. This represents a significant generation coming of age. These young people are the ones who will shape the future. It is for them I wish to speak today,” His Majesty said.

“Now is the time to exercise your experience, your influence and your creative power, and put in place a process that works for those who need our help.… I am here to tell you that a central focus must be the future of young people, especially here in the Middle East,” the King added.

King Abdullah also highlighted the importance of working together to give the younger generation a future of hope.

The King also said in the opening session, “Here in the region, the youth face special challenges. Like their contemporaries around the world, they are facing huge dichotomies in the condition of humankind. In our region, conflict and economic hurdles are consuming the lives and the hopes of millions.”

The Jordan Times