Jordanian appointed culture minister in Bosnia and Herzegovina

AMMAN — Jordanian Samer Residat was recently appointed as the minister of culture and sports at the Canton of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Residat, who hails from the Irsheidat family in Irbid Governorate, some 80km north of Amman, has always been passionate about finding solutions to public issues and giving a hand to whomever needs it, his father, Mohammad, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old member of the Bosnian Democratic Front political party was born and raised in Sarajevo and has been living there with his Bosnian mother, after his father returned to Jordan once he finished his studies in engineering.

Samer completed his elementary and secondary education in Bosnia, and then came to Jordan when the Bosnian war erupted in 1992.

“Samer had to quit his studies in economics due to the war, and came to Jordan to study and work for six years,” Mohammad said, adding that his son has a bachelor’s degree in Arabic from Al al Bayt University in Mafraq.

While studying at the university, Samer insisted on getting a job in order to shape his personality and worked as a lifeguard at Al Hassan Youth City in Irbid for four years. He returned to Bosnia after the war ended to work in the tourism sector.

“He opened a travel agency, through which he organised trips to several countries in Europe and the region… he organised over 30 trips to Jordan,” Mohammad said, noting that his son is “very active” in his profession.

The father, who lives in Amman, attributed his son’s “success” to his discipline, dedication and hard work.

“My two sons and three daughters learned to work hard in order to realise the value of the position they aspire to occupy,” Mohammad said, adding that Samer’s independence led him to where he is today.

He urged all Jordanians at home and abroad to work hard to achieve their aspirations, and not to depend on the support of their parents, even if they are well-off.

Samer’s appointment on Monday, along with other ministers, was reported by Bosnia Today.  

The Canton of Sarajevo is the ninth of 10 cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; its cantonal capital is Sarajevo, which is also the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina.