King Hussein of Jordan yesterday renewed his call for an international peace conference on the Middle East conflict while reaffirming his commitment to the accord reached last February II with the Palestine Liberation Organization in the search for a peace settlement.
Addressing the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies on the second day of his three-day visit here, the Jordanian monarch recalled that the United Nations has recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. For that reason, the King added, the PLO should be invited to participate in any meaningful negotiations which led to peace.
The international peace conference, according to Hussein, should be held under United Nations auspic-
with the participation of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and all the parties involved in the Mideast conflict. The Jordanian leader also urged the United States to participate in such a conference as a demonstration of a more positive approach to the conflict.
“Little can be achieved if the United States shirks its responsibilities as a superpower and as a champion of human rights, freedom and the right to self-determination,” said Hussein. “We hope the United States will participate and participate actively.”
Describing the situation in the Mideast as deadlocked, Hussein asserted that Israel has chosen to occupy Arab territories rather than take a course toward peace. “It’s totally unrealistic to think that a people subject to such conditions of occupation could stand passive,” Hussein said.
The Jordanian leader, who met with Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, also had talks with Prime Minister Jacques Santer and later with Foreign Minister Jacques Poos. Luxembourg currently holds the rotative presidency of the European Economic Community.
HUSSEIN OUTLINES FOUR-STAGE PLAN
Hussein, according to Poos, outlined during their private meeting a four-stage plan to bring about a settlement to the Mideast crisis. This is reportedly said to contain explicit PLO recognition of Israel and de facto recognition of the PLO by the United States.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Hussein, Poos said that the plan outlined by Hussein would include, as a start, a meeting between a Jordanian delegation and representatives of the U.S. The PLO, Poos said, would then announce explicit recognition of the State of Israel.
An international conference would soon follow, clearing the process to direct talks and a settlement of the conflict, according to Poos. The plan does not call for formal recognition of the PLO by the U.S. although it sees “de facto” recognition if both parties attend the international confab.
Poos told reporters that the PLO must still renounce terrorism, but added that the plan deserves the support of the EEC member states. Hussein is scheduled to leave today for Paris for meetings with President Francois Mitterrand.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
