The United States is “looking forward to a visit later this year” by Jordan’s King Hussein, who is sending two of his top advisors to Washington next week, the State Department announced Monday.
Jordanian Prime Minister Zeid Rifai and Foreign Minister Taher Masri will meet with Vice President George Bush, Secretary of State George Shultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. They will be in Washington April 6-7.
“The Prime Minister is not a substitute for the King. It’s simply another opportunity to exchange views with our close friends,” said State Department spokesperson Phyllis Oakley.
Hussein turned down an invitation to visit the U.S. early this year reportedly because of anger over of the Reagan Administration’s sale of arms to Iran. Jordan is a supporter of Iraq in the Gulf war.
The Iranian arms disclosure came at a time when the Reagan Administration has dropped plans to push for the sale of mobile Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Jordan because of continued congressional opposition. Supporters of Israel in Congress argue that the missiles would greatly weaken Israel’s air superiority.
ANTICIPATED JORDANIAN POSITION
But the Reagan Administration is proposing a 29 percent increase in military aid for Jordan next year, which was cut sharply this year because of budgetary constraints. The Jordanian officials are likely to push for American support for an international peace conference. The conference has been rejected by Israeli Premier Yitzhak Shamir because it would include participation by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Soviet Union.
“We are willing to explore all possibilities, including an international conference, that may lead to the immediate objectives of direct negotiations,” said Oakley. She reiterated the U.S. position is that its “goal is a just and lasting peace through direct face-to-face negotiations.” The State Department said it expects a visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak soon, who had also turned down an invitation to visit Washington because of anger over the Iranian arms sales. Mubarak is also a supporter of an international peace conference.
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