Jordan Times
Monday, January 26, 1998
Talks with Mubarak 'extremely successful' - Monarch
AMMAN (J.T.) - His Majesty King Hussein on Sunday described his
short visit to Cairo and his talks with Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak as fruitful.
"This extremely successful visit enabled me and my brother
President Mubarak to talk about current affairs which we are
living through and the requirements of the next stages,"
King Hussein said on return back home Sunday evening.
In reply to a question on the aim of his visit, King Hussein
said: "You can assume that the aim of the visit is to serve
our causes and the status of our [Arab] Nation in the present and
in the future and to help it face all the developments."
On the peace process, the King said that the issue was tackled in
depth and an appropriate conclusion was reached in this regard.
"This is a very hard moment for the history of the region
but I hope that we will we work together in the future to be in a
position that enables our nation to face the challenges."
"I hope that we will witness some changes that would push
the peace process to where it should actually have been,"
the King said.
Replying to a question on Iraq, King Hussein said: "We have
not discussed the subject of Iraq... because Iraq behaves
according to its wishes and the outside world responds in
different ways and we are, regrettably, out of the picture."
King Hussein and Mr. Mubarak held a closed-door meeting during
which they reviewed the latest developments in the Middle East,
particularly the peace process and the obstacles hindering its
progress, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.
The two leaders stressed the need for safeguarding the peace
process and overcoming all obstacles facing it, Petra reported.
Thy also discussed bilateral relations, the scopes for promoting
them further, as well as issues of common concern to both
countries, the agency said.
Also discussed at the meeting were questions pertaining to Arab
solidarity and coordination to put the peace process back on
track.
King Hussein, who paid a short visit to Egypt, was accompanied by
Prime Minister Abdul Salam Majali and Royal Court Chief Awn
Khasawneh.
The King was received upon arrival at Cairo airport by President
Mubarak, Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal Janzouri and senior
Egyptian officials.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa told reporters that King
Hussein's visit marks the "beginning of a series of
inter-Arab consultations."
The talks with the sovereign "follow the meetings in
Washington," Mr. Musa said, adding that "Israel's
opposition to progress is dangerous."