Summary of Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu's meeting with Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. During the discussion, the Crown Prince expresses the economic and political difficulties Jordan has faced following the invasion and enactment of sanctions against Iraq. In addition to asking for Japanese economic investment, he provides a description of Saddam Hussein's mindset.
October 4, 1990
Cable No. 1191 from Ambassador Nonoyama Tadayuki (Jordan) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'The Prime Minister’s Visit to the Middle East (Meeting with Prime Minister Badran)'
This document was made possible with support from The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Confidential
Telegraphic Copy [blacked out] 08-056
Number R198993 | Primary: First Middle East Division |
October 4, 1990 [time blacked out] | Sent [from] Jordan |
October 4, 1990 [time blacked out] | Arrived [at] Ministry |
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[to] Minister of Foreign Affairs | [from] Ambassador Nonoyama Tadayuki |
The Prime Minister’s Visit to the Middle East (Meeting with Prime Minister Badran)
No. 11191 Confidential Top Urgent [blacked out]
On October 3, the meeting of Prime Minister and Prime Minister Mudar Badran took place for approximately one hour from 19:30. Following is a summary of its main points. (Present from our side were Owada Hisashi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Nonoyama Tadayuki, Ambassador to Jordan; Watanabe Makoto, Director, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau; Kowata Shoshichi, Director, Economic Cooperation Bureau; Chino Tadao, Director, International Finance Bureau, Ministry of Finance; Hatakeyama Noboru, Director, International Trade Policy Bureau; Maki Otaro, Director, Coordination Bureau, Economic Planning Agency; and others. Present from the other side were the Finance Minister, economic officials, and others.)
1. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Badran said the following:
(1) Relations between Japan and Jordan are friendly, with exchanges between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Jordan. Jordan has maintained under the leadership of King Hussein a moderate position, and this political position of Jordan is important to the stability of the Middle East. Japan’s assistance to Jordan plays a great role in the stability of Jordan and, in turn, that of the Middle East.
(2) In the present Gulf Crisis, Jordan promptly supported the Security Council resolution for economic sanctions. Even while suffering a heavy economic blow on account of our economic relations with Iraq (40 percent of Jordan’s exports go to Iraq), we have observed the economic sanctions. Iraq, too, has suffered a heavy blow, as much of Iraq’s trade is via the port of Aqaba. Furthermore, Jordan has accepted 650,000 refugees from Iraq and Kuwait, which has also dealt a heavy blow to our economy.
In regard to the effect on Jordan’s economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated it at approximately 1.1 billion dollars and has calculated a possible further 52 million dollars in additional losses. Furthermore, the IMF is estimating losses of approximately 2.5 billion dollars for 1991 (hands over IMF report).
(3) We highly appreciate Japan’s economic cooperation to date. The two billion dollars in cooperation, with 600 million of that emergency assistance, is very gratifying. We hope that the portion allocated to Jordan will be commensurate with the economic losses that Jordan will suffer.
(4) In addition, we look forward to increased exports to Japan of Jordan’s phosphate ore, joint ventures between Japan and Jordan in such areas as phosphate ore development, and Japan’s cooperation in various fields, including long-term economic planning, insurance, agriculture, education, and electric power.
2. In reply, the Prime Minister said the following:
(1) I, too, am well aware that relations between Japan and Jordan are good and that relations between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Jordan are deep. I visited Jordan in 1985 as chairman of the Japan-Jordan Parliamentary Friendship League. In addition, understanding between our two countries has been increasing with the recent exhibition in Japan of Jordan’s ancient culture and such.
(2) In the Gulf crisis, I understand that Jordan, despite various difficulties, has been making efforts for the settlement of issues. We are aiming for a peaceful settlement by persistent efforts for the implementation of the Security Council’s resolutions. I understand Jordan’s major role in the stability of the Middle East and that Jordan has suffered a heavy economic blow on account of the economic sanctions. We have decided to provide Jordan, as an exceptional measure, financial assistance in the form of an untied emergency commodity loan of 100 million dollars at an ultra-low rate of interest and an industrial and trade adjustment project loan of 150 million dollars. I would like to leave the specific details to the administrative authorities. Together, the two amounts provided will come to 250 million dollars. We would like to consider subsequent assistance in keeping an eye on developments in the situation and on the basis of international cooperation. We strongly hope that Jordan will actively participate in international cooperation, particularly in the economic sanctions. I look forward to working together to promote international cooperation so that Japan can continue to promote cooperation with Jordan. In regard to the phosphate ore project, I understand that talks are under way at the private sector level. I will be watching them with interest and hope for good results.
(3) I appreciate that Jordan, even though facing difficulties with a large number of refugees, is providing emergency assistance and transport to refugees from a humanitarian point of view. Japan has already implemented the provision of approximately 100 million dollars in aid supplies to Jordan. In addition, Japan Airlines (JAL) is scheduled to send tomorrow a passenger plane to repatriate refugees under a contract with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Japan has so far given 22 million dollars in refugee aid and will continue to give as much support as possible.
3. Finally, Prime Minister Badran said that he wished to implement various economic cooperation projects as soon as possible. With that, he ended the meeting.
Passed to diplomatic missions in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, and the United States. (End)
Summary of Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu's meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Badran. Badran thanks Kaifu for Japan's economic commitment to the region to help alleviate the impact of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and subsequent sanctions enacted by the UN, hoping "the portion allocated to Jordan will be commensurate with the economic losses that Jordan will suffer."
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