Jordan Times
Tuesday, November 10, 1998
Tarawneh to visit S. Arabia today
AMMAN (J.T.) — Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh leaves for Saudi Arabia today for a one-day visit during which he will deliver a written message from His Majesty King Hussein to King Fahd.
Discussions between Tarawneh and Saudi leaders are expected to focus on “regional and bilateral matters” as well as “continued cooperation and coordination in various fields,” Information Minister Nasser Judeh told reporters yesterday.
Reuters, quoting unidentified officials, said Tarawneh's talks will focus on the latest crisis in Iraq, adding that the prime minister will discuss the possibility of resuming Saudi oil supplies if an Iraqi confrontation with the West cut Jordan's energy lifeline from Baghdad. Saudi Arabia stopped the flow of oil in 1990 in the wake of the Gulf crisis.
Tarawneh, making his first visit to Riyadh since being appointed last August, will convey King Hussein's greetings and appreciation to the Saudi monarch for his inquiry about the King's health.
King Hussein is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S.
Tarawneh will also convey the greetings of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hassan, the Regent, to the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz.
Prince Abdullah visited King Hussein in the U.S. in September.
Tarawneh will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib and Minister of Interior Nayef Qadi.
On Monday, His Majesty King Hussein received a telephone call from Sheikh Isa Ben Salman Al Khalifeh of Bahrain at which he inquired about the King's health, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.