Summary of Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu's meeting with Jordanian King Hussein. The two discuss Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the difficult position it put Jordan in, as well as each country's official stance on the conflict and other issues in the region.
October 4, 1990
Cable No. 1197 from Ambassador Nonoyama Tadayuki (Jordan) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'Meeting of Prime Minister Kaifu with Crown Prince Hassan (Briefing for Accompanying Reporters)'
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Telegraphic Copy [blacked out] 08-059
Number R199382 | Primary: Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy |
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 |
Meeting of Prime Minister Kaifu with Crown Prince Hassan (Briefing for Accompanying Reporters)
No. 1197 Top Urgent [blacked out]
1. The main points of the briefing that Watanabe Makoto, Director of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, gave on October 3 for accompanying reporters are as follows:
(1) The aforementioned meeting took place on October 3 in the royal palace for approximately 45 minutes from 18:30. Present from the other side were Zayd bin Shakir, Chief of the Royal Court, and Adnan Abu Odeh, political advisor to the King. Present from our side were Nonoyama Tadayuki, Ambassador to Jordan; Owada Hisashi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; and myself (Owada Makoto, Director, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau).
(2) [No text in this part before “(a)”]
(a) The Crown Prince explained as follows the principles on which Jordan stands regarding the Gulf crisis.
(i) Jordan, on the basis of its own history, cannot accept the acquisition of territory through war.
(ii) Jordan denounces Iraq’s invasion and annexation of Kuwait.
(iii) Jordan demands Iraq’s immediate withdrawal from Kuwait and the restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government.
(iv) Jordan is complying with the economic sanctions, but its economy as a result is on the verge of collapse.
(v) The issue of the so-called foreign hostages is an illegal act in violation of international law.
(vi) I wish to emphasize the need for a settlement by peaceful means and believe that Jordan can play an important role in that regard. In this connection, I am aware that there is no complete unification among the Arabs and also that the international community cannot wait forever for that unification. As seen in the recent tripartite talks among Morocco, Algeria, and Jordan, there is no contradiction between the idea among Arabs of supporting the multinational force and the position that there must be included Arab factors in the settlement of this issue. Therefore, what we need is for people from both positions to cooperate and devise a settlement.
(3) [No text in this part before “(a)”]
(a) The Crown Prince explained as follows the special character of the national crisis that Jordan faced in this situation.
(i) Jordan is a country joined, so to speak, organically to Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. When such a country implements economic sanctions, it may not be understood internationally how much hardship that country suffers. It is not only economic hardship. For example, when many refugees from the aforementioned countries leave those countries through Jordan, this is only the tip of the iceberg showing such organic links. I have asked the United Nations Secretary General in New York to name a special survey team to survey overall how many refugees in Jordan there are.
(ii) I strongly hope that the differences at present in relations with Saudi Arabia and in our positions are temporary ones.
(b) The Prime Minister replied to the above with the following statements:
(i) I express my respect for Jordan’s maintaining in the midst of difficult circumstances its principles of not recognizing armed invasion and of the need for the restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government and the release of the foreign hostages.
(ii) On account of those principles, Japan considers it necessary to persistently call for a peaceful settlement of the issue. For that, it is necessary for all the countries to observe the economic sanctions. I would like to have discussions on this matter.
(iii) In the expectation that Jordan will continue to observe the economic sanctions, Japan will provide Jordan with 100 million dollars of a total 600 million dollars in emergency commodity loans and 150 million dollars of previously discussed industrial and trade adjustment project loans (co-financing with the World Bank). I would like to have the details worked out at the working level. I would like to consider, in keeping an eye on future development, the possibility of further cooperation in coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international bodies.
(iv) Japan has so far given aid for accepting refugees either through international organizations or directly to Jordan. Two Japan Airlines aircraft will be landing the day after tomorrow in Jordan to repatriate refugees.
(c) The Crown Prince, wishing to express his respect for the above, cited an Arab proverb that “a friend in times of trouble is a true friend.”
(4) The Crown Prince, having heard the Prime Minister’s outlook for the future situation in the Gulf, replied as follows:
(a) In the middle of Security Council Resolution 660, which calls on Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, there is a stipulation that the issue should be settled following withdrawal by direct negotiations between Iraq and Kuwait and a stipulation that the Arab League should play a role in that. Consequently, according to the stipulation, Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait is unconditional, but I think that it may be conceivable to reach some sort of understanding after that in using these clauses. The tripartite discussions among Morocco, Algeria, and Jordan are based on such thinking.
(b) I think it may be necessary to consider for future discussion a formula like that of the Commission on Cooperation and Security in Europe (CSCE). I think that, among them, we may be able to achieve three points: agreement on the principle of renouncing military intervention in another country; working towards disarmament, with weapons of mass destruction at the center; and working towards regional economic development in creating a stability fund for both oil producing and consuming countries.
(c) In any event, Jordan, not influenced by any other country, including Iraq, acts according to its own principles. Although there are difficulties, I would like to continue doing everything in my power for the sake of a peaceful settlement.
(5) In reply to the above, the Prime Minister stated that he fully understood Jordan’s difficult position and finished by stating that he wished to continue cooperating on the Middle East’s future middle and long-term issues.
2. Main Questions and Answers
(Question) What are the tripartite talks among Morocco, Algeria, and Jordan?
(Answer) The talks took place on September 19 and 20 in Morocco. They are conducting the tripartite talks on the basis of the idea that the positions of Arab countries that support the multinational force and the position of those who argue for the need for an Arab settlement of the issue are not necessarily contradictory. That is to say, Morocco supports the multinational force, but Jordan and Algeria are the latter countries.
(Question) Do these two positions appear to be clearly contradictory?
(Answer) No, I do not think that this is necessarily the case. The other side offered no further explanation but, in seeking an international settlement, putting forth an Arab proposal for a settlement is possible. Is it not also possible to devise measures on how to proceed with the multinational force in the settlement proposal?
(Question) Has the Jordanian side’s language changed from the time of the Foreign Minister’s visit to Jordan?
(Answer) I do not think that it has changed in its principle.
(Question) What is the character of the loans for 150 million dollars?
(Answer) The Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) and the World Bank each will provide half the funding. Jordan in the past has carried out structural adjustments in the fields of industrial and export promotion. Talks have progressed on the idea of the World Bank providing financing for that and Japan providing the co-financing.
(Question) Will that 150 million dollars come from the aforementioned 1.4 billion dollars?
(Answer) The yen loan portion and the World Bank portion are both included in the figure. (End)
Briefing for accompanying reports about Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu's meeting with Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan during Kaifu's visit to the Middle East following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
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