U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DISPATCH VOLUME 5, SUPPLEMENT NUMBER 7, AUGUST 1994 PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS BREAKTHROUGHTS IN THE JORDAN-ISRAEL NEGOTIATIONS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE: Jordan-Israel Breakthroughs 1. President Clinton Hosts King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin Meeting in Washington, DC 2. U.S.-Jordan-Israel Trilateral Economic Committee Meeting at the Dead Sea 3. Inauguration of the Jordan-Israel Border Crossing Other Bilateral Negotiations 4. Developments in Other Bilateral Negotiations Multilateral Negotiations 5. The Multilateral Peace Negotiations Background Information 6. Fact Sheet: Middle East Peace Process 7. Fact Sheet: Middle East Peace Process: Meetings Following the Madrid Conference 8. Country Profile: Jordan 9. Country Profile: Syria 10. Country Profile: Lebanon 11. Country Profile: Israel ARTICLE 1: President Clinton Hosts King Hussein And Prime Minister Rabin Meeting In Washington, DC President Clinton, Secretary Christopher, Prime Minister Rabin, King Hussein, Text of Washington Declaration President Clinton Remarks announcing the July 25 Israeli-Jordanian meeting at the White House, Washington, DC, July 15, 1994 Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am pleased to announce today that King Hussein of Jordan and Prime Minister Rabin of Israel have agreed to my invitation to meet at the White House on July 25. I am also pleased that Speaker Foley, after discussions with Majority Leader Mitchell, has invited both leaders to address a joint meeting of Congress. And Hillary and I are delighted that both of them have agreed to join us at a dinner at the White House on that day. This historic meeting is another step forward toward achievement of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. The meeting will build on the dramatic progress made in the trilateral U.S.- Jordan-Israel meetings here in Washington last month and King Hussein's recent declaration in Parliament that he was prepared to meet with Prime Minister Rabin. It reflects the courageous leadership and the bold vision which both King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin have displayed as they work together to create a new future for their people and for all the region. On behalf of all Americans, I salute their commitment to peace. I have pledged my personal dedication to the goal of a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East. Accordingly, Secretary Christopher will be traveling to the region next week. I want to compliment him on his tireless efforts to achieve peace in the region and the contribution he has made to the announcement today. He will continue our efforts to achieve progress in the Israel-Syria negotiations. That also is a very, very important thing for us. I am committed to working to achieve a breakthrough on those talks as soon as possible so that we can make the dream of a lasting peace of the brave a reality. Secretary Christopher will follow up on the discussions that the President and King Hussein have had on this initiative, and he will proceed and participate in the U.S.-Jordan-Israel discussions. He will also meet with Chairman Arafat to review progress in implementing the Declaration of Principles on Palestinian self-rule. The Middle East is entering a new era. I will do everything I can to make certain that all the peoples of the region realize the blessings of peace that have been denied too long to them. This meeting on July 25 will be another important step on that long road.1 Secretary Christopher Opening remarks at a press briefing following the President's announcement, Washington, DC, July 15, 1994. Good morning. As the President said, I'll be following up on his important announcement when I travel to the Middle East starting Monday. Our goal remains the achievement of a lasting, comprehensive peace between Israel and its neighbors. On this trip that starts on Sunday, I will be focusing on three main areas: First, on the Jordanian track, I will be participating in a meeting--a trilateral meeting between the United States and Israeli and Jordanian officials who form the economic committee. For the first time, ministers from Jordan and Israel will be meeting publicly in Jordan, where they will set the stage for the summit meeting here in Washington on July 25. All of this, of course, is a powerful reminder that changes are taking place which are transforming the landscape in the Middle East. This promises to produce concrete results for the people that they can feel and see on the ground. The second part of my trip is on the Palestinian track, with Chairman Arafat's return to Gaza. The first stage of implementing the Declaration of Principles has been completed. Not unexpectedly, there have been problems along the way. But, on the whole, I would certainly agree with Prime Minister Rabin that the process has far exceeded expectations. Now the challenge for the Palestinians is to govern wisely and well. I plan to meet with Chairman Arafat and to review with him the steps that we in the international community are taking to ensure that the Palestinians have the support they need. I do want to underscore that I will also be pointing out to him the steps that I feel he must undertake to establish the accountability necessary to reassure the donor community. Finally, on the Syrian track, I will continue my talks with Prime Minister Rabin and President Asad. The intense negotiations between them, with our participation, have entered a new and important phase. Both sides have conveyed to us important ideas on the difficult issues that they confront. It is now important--it is essential--that they move forward in these discussions, and I am prepared to engage intensively with them. In the end, peace must come from direct negotiations between the parties, but we are certainly prepared to do our part. I want to add that just before coming in here that, as a courtesy, President Clinton called President Asad to tell him of the announcement that he was making today to make sure that he found out about it first from us. Jordan and Israel: A Day of Commitment, Hope, and Vision Remarks at White House welcoming ceremony, Washington, DC, July 25, 1994. President Clinton. History is made when brave leaders find the power to escape the past and to create a new future. Today, two such leaders come together--as we welcome King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin to the White House on this extraordinary occasion. On this morning of promise, these visionary statesmen from ancient lands have chosen to heal the rift that for too long has divided their people. They have seen the outlines of a better day where others have seen darkness. They have sought peace in place of violence. On both sides of the River Jordan there have lived generations of people who thought this day would never come. King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin have reached out to each other across the river--to build a future where hatred gives way to hope. The Koran instructs us, "Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend." And the Talmud teaches, "That man is a hero that can make a friend out of a foe." Before us today stand friends and heroes. King Hussein, Prime Minister Rabin: All Americans welcome your presence here today. You give us great hope that this house--our people's house--will be a constant witness to a lasting peace that spreads forth to embrace your region. King Hussein. Mr. President, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, ladies and gentlemen: Out of all the days of my life, I do not believe that there is one such as this in terms of the feelings, the emotions relating to a long, long struggle--the memory of those who passed away; the memories of the victims of war-- feelings toward the present and the future; feelings of responsibilities toward generations to come--and Israel and Jordan, the whole Arab world, and our entire region. For many, many years, and with every prayer, I have asked God, the Almighty, to help me be a part of forging peace between the children of Abraham, as Muslims, for the word Islam means submitting to the one God. This is a dream that those before me had--my dead grandfather, and now I. And to feel that we are close to fulfilling that dream and presenting future generations in our region with a legacy of hope and openness where normality is that which replaces the abnormal in our lives--which, unfortunately, over the years, has become normal--where neighbors meet; where people meet; where human relations thrive; where all seek with their tremendous talents a better future and a better tomorrow. This day is a day of commitment, and this day is a day of hope and vision. We must admit--Prime Minister and for myself--that we owe President Clinton and our American friends much in having made this possible. You are our partners as we seek to construct and build a new future in our region for all our peoples and for all mankind. Thank you very much, indeed, for your courtesy and kindness and the warmth of your reception. We are proud to be here with you today, sir. Thank you. Prime Minister Rabin. President of the United States; King Hussein, the King of Jordan: They say that the ancient custom of shaking hands developed out of the need to prove that neither person was holding a weapon. The first public handshake between His Majesty, the King of Jordan, and myself a minute ago symbolizes much more than that two people will no longer take up arms against one another. Honorable Mr. President, Your Majesty the King: What is actually described here--hundreds of millions of people around the world shake hands many times each day. It is perhaps the most routine action, done almost automatically, without thinking. And it is actually a greeting of peace that unites almost all of the peoples of the world. And, here, the handshake and excitement, the many photographers, the live broadcast of television to all corners of the globe--I share this excitement and know that at this moment in Jerusalem and Amman, perhaps all over the Middle East, a new era is dawning. What I do wish, Your Majesty, is that there will be another day of excitement--and another--and that finally no one will photograph our handshakes. It will have become part of the routine of our lives, a custom among all people, the behavior of every human being. And meanwhile, Your Majesty, the entire state of Israel is shaking your hand. Thank you. Signing of the Washington Declaration: A New Chapter Remarks during signing ceremony at the White House, Washington, DC, July 25, 1994. President Clinton. Your Majesties, Prime Minister and Mrs. Rabin, distinguished guests: Today, we gather to bear witness to history. As this century draws to a close, a new era of peace opens before us in ancient lands as brave men choose reconciliation over conflict. Today, our faith is renewed. As we write a new chapter in the march of hope over despair on these grounds and at this historic table, we remember the courage of Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, and the leadership of President Carter at Camp David 15 years ago; the efforts of President Bush to bring Israel and her neighbors together in Madrid two years ago; and that shining September day last year when Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat declared that their two peoples would fight no more. Today, in that same spirit, King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin will sign the Washington Declaration. After generations of hostility, blood, and tears, the leaders of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Israel will solemnly declare, with the world as their witness, that they have ended the state of belligerency between them. From this day forward, they pledge to settle their differences by peaceful means. Both countries will refrain from actions that may adversely affect the security of the other and will thwart all those who would use terrorism to threaten either side. The Washington Declaration is the product of much hard work. Less than a year ago, Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan and Foreign Minister Peres of Israel met here publicly for the first time. Together--with the wise counsel and persistent energy of Secretary of State Warren Christopher-- Israel and Jordan have pursued peace. And we are all in their debt. It takes but a minute or two to cross the River Jordan, but for as long as most of us can remember, the distance has seemed immense. The awful power of ancient arguments and the raw wounds of recent wars have left generations of Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians unable to imagine-- much less build--a life of peace and security. Today, King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin give their people a new currency of hope and the chance to prosper in a region of peace. Under the Washington Declaration, Jordan and Israel have agreed to continue vigorous negotiations to produce a treaty of peace based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin will meet as often as necessary to shepherd and personally direct those negotiations. Their objective is a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace between Israel and all its neighbors; a peace in which each acknowledges and respects the territorial integrity and political independence of all others, and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. In the meantime, Jordan and Israel have decided to take immediate steps to normalize relations and resolve disputes in areas of common concern. They have agreed to survey the international border based on the work of their boundary subcommission. They have resolved that negotiations on water resources should aim to establish the rightful allocation between the two sides of the waters of the Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers. They have determined that their police forces will cooperate in combating crime, with a special emphasis on drug smuggling. They have set up as their joint purpose the abolition of all economic boycotts and the establishment of a bilateral economic cooperation. And as of today, Jordan and Israel have agreed to take the first practical steps to draw their people together and to let the peoples of the world share in the wonders of their lands. They will establish direct telephone links; connect their two nations' electricity grids; open two border crossings between their nations, including one at Aqaba and Eilat and another in the north; accelerate the negotiations aimed at opening an international air corridor between the two countries; and give free access to third-country tourists traveling between their two nations. These are the building blocks of a modern peace and ancient holy lands. Your Majesty, after our first meeting, you wrote me a heartfelt letter in which you referred to your revered grandfather, King Abdullah. You told me that his untimely assassination at the entrance to Jerusalem Al Aqsa Mosque had come at a time when he was intent on making peace with Israel. Had he completed his mission, you said to me, your region would have been spared four decades of war. Today, 43 years later, Abdullah's grandson has fulfilled his legacy. And in the declaration you will sign, your role as guardian of Jerusalem's Muslim holy sites, Al Aqsa among them, has been preserved. And Israel has agreed to accord a high priority to Jordan's historic role regarding these holy sites in final status negotiations. Mr. Prime Minister, when you first visited me in the White House, you spoke eloquently of your soldiers' life, defending and guiding your nation through four bloody decades of struggling to survive. You told me your people had had enough bloodshed, that this was the time to make peace. Ten months ago, you stood on this same lawn and shook the hand of Yasir Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian people. Today, you stand together with King Hussein, descendent of the Prophet Mohammed, to declare that Jordan and Israel have ended their conflict. In holding out to your people the hope of a normal, secure life, you, sir, have fulfilled the mission of your life and of all those who have fought by your side for so long. Now as we go forward, we must guard against illusions. Dark forces of hatred and violence still stalk your lands. We must not let them succeed. King Hussein, Prime Minister Rabin: As you and your people embark on this journey of peace, we know the road will not be easy. Just as we have supported you in coming this far, the United States will walk the final miles with you. We must all go on until we ensure that the peace you are seeking prevails in the Holy Land and extends to all Israel's Arab neighbors. Our common objective of a comprehensive peace must be achieved. Now as we witness the signing of this declaration and applaud the bravery of these men, let us remember that peace is much more than a pledge to abide by words on a page; it is a bold attempt to write a new history. Guided by the blessings of God, let us now go forward and give life to this declaration. For if we follow its course, we will truly achieve a peace of the generations. Thank you very much. [The declaration is signed.] King Hussein. President Clinton, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, ladies and gentlemen: And so it is that on this day, at this house of the great American people, we have been able to take a historic step which we hope and pray will be to the benefit of our peoples within our entire region-- Jordanians, Israelis, and others. This is the moment of a commitment and of a vision. Not all of what is possible is within the document we have just ratified, but it is a modest, determined beginning to bring to our region and our peoples the security from fear, which, I must admit, has prevailed over all the years of our lives; the uncertainty of every day as to how it might end; the suspicion, the bitterness, the lack of human contact. We are on our way now, truly, toward what is normal in relations between our peoples and ourselves, and what is worthy. We will meet as often as we are able to and is required, with pleasure, to shepherd this process on in the times ahead. At this moment, I would like to share with you all the pride I have in my people--the people of Jordan- -in their maturity; in their courage; in what I have been blessed with, their trust and confidence; and, I believe, in the commitment of the overwhelming majority to the cause of peace. The term used in international documents as have affected us so far is "the state of belligerency" and the "end of the state of belligerency." I think both in Arabic and in Hebrew, our people do not have such a term. What we have accomplished and what we are committed to is the end of the state of war between Jordan and Israel. Thank you so very much, indeed, Mr. President, for all your kindness. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you, all our dear friends. A warm thanks to the American people--our partners in the past, in the present, and in the future. And bless you and bless our march for the future and toward the future of peace in our region. Prime Minister Rabin. The President of the United States, His Majesty King Hussein of the Kingdom of Jordan, friends, ladies and gentlemen: I start with the Hebrew word, shalom. A million eyes all over the world are watching us now with great relief and great joy. Yet another nightmare of war may be over. At the same time, a million eyes in the Middle East are looking at us now with great heartfelt hope that our children and grandchildren will know no more war. Ladies and gentlemen: Today, we submit to our respective people a wonderful present. The declaration we have signed just now here in Washington is the closest thing to a treaty of peace. We have come a long way toward a full treaty of peace. And even though our work has not yet ended, it is my hope and belief that not long from today we shall return to sign a final and a permanent treaty of peace. Mr. President, Your Majesty: It is dusk at our homes in the Middle East. Soon, darkness will prevail, but the citizens of Israel and Jordan will see a great light. We have today taken a major step on the road to peace. We and Jordan have chosen to speak to each other rather than to continue the state of war. From here in the distance of thousands of miles from home, I would like to congratulate today the inhabitants of Israel and of Jordan, to remember the fallen in the wars on both sides, and to tell children on both sides of the border we hope and pray that your life will be different from ours. I believe that we are a small country with a big heart. We are aware of world agonies and suffering of human beings anywhere. At this hour, when we are celebrating here in Washington, Israeli defense soldiers and medical units are trying to save the lives of thousands, if not more, of people on the verge of death in Rwanda. But at the very same time, Israeli soldiers, a rescue team in Buenos Aires, on the invitation of the Argentinian Government, are endeavoring to rescue the lives or bodies of those who were attacked, killed, and disappeared--bodies of their own brothers, as well as of the other human beings, from buildings destroyed by vicious terrorists. This terrible crime was committed against Jews just because they were Jews. The Israeli rescue soldiers in Rwanda, as well as those in Argentina, together with their comrades in arms defending us at home, are on the same side of the same coin. Mr. President, Your Majesty, there is much more in the Washington Declaration than parties were planning when they decided to prepare this declaration 10 days ago. It bears witness to our ability in Israel and Jordan to accelerate our efforts toward peace, to overcome obstacles, to achieve a breakthrough, and to put an end to 46 years of hostility. Mr. President, thank you--thank you for all you have done for us and for what you will do. We embark on a road which must still be completed. And I am appealing to the United States--the leader of peace efforts in the Middle East--to assist those countries, those peoples who demonstrate courage and who take risks--risks for peace--because it is a worthwhile goal. The political achievements presented today to the public here in Washington are part of a whole agenda that must still be clarified in serious deliberations ahead of us--from the difficult subjects of boundaries and water, to trade and economic relations on which peace in our region will be based, and, of course, security and diplomatic relations. Our duty, starting today, is to turn the articles written on the paper into a living reality. This fine job could not have been completed without your leadership and determination in the Middle East peace-making. You have already established your place in our history, an honorable place. And thank you. Our heartfelt gratitude goes also to Secretary of State Warren Christopher and his peace team, who devotedly seek peace, and to generations of former U.S. administration members who have, for years, searched for a bridge between Israel, Jordan, and the other Arab peoples. Your Excellency, the President of the United States; Your Majesty, the King of Jordan; let me say a few words in Hebrew to the citizens of Israel who are watching us now: [Words spoken in Hebrew]. Thank you very much. A Milestone in the Transformation Of the Middle East Opening remarks by Secretary Christopher at a press briefing, Washington, DC, July 25, 1994. Good afternoon. Before taking your questions I want to step back and give a little perspective on today's historic events. The summit meeting today between King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin is really a milestone in the transformation of the Middle East. It foreshadows an end to one of the world's most intractable conflicts. The dreams of past generations are becoming today's diplomatic realities. An era of war is coming to an end. Lasting peace in the Middle East finally seems to be within grasp. Of course, to achieve a comprehensive settlement, which is our goal, much hard work remains. Fundamental issues must be resolved, not only on the Syrian track but on the other tracks as well. And as we continue this work, obviously, we must prevent the opponents of peace from overcoming the strenuous efforts of the parties. Nevertheless, there is now set in motion a process which I hope and believe to be irreversible. The ice is breaking. We have created a structure for negotiations that can endure in the future and carry us across the finish line. Negotiations between the Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians are now more firmly rooted than they have been at any time in the past. In the multilateral talks, as well, Arabs and Israelis are meeting not only around the world, but now in the region. And we are developing cooperative projects that show the face of peace to the people of the region. That is the structure for the future. Today's summit meeting represents, I think, something far more than just a symbol. As reflected in the Washington Declaration, it has also produced dramatic results. Most important, the state of belligerence, the state of war between Israel and Jordan, has finally come to an end after 46 years. Both sides have agreed to accelerate their negotiations toward a full peace between the parties. The Washington Declaration unlocks the enormous potential for economic cooperation between the two countries, so as to make possible the benefits of a warm peace even before the peace is formalized. I also feel that today's summit improves the environment for a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. The President and I will make every effort to work toward that end with Israel, Syria, and Lebanon, and with all of the countries of the region. We will continue to support agreements that have already been reached, to support the parties who have reached them, and to help achieve new breakthroughs. It is absolutely essential that we demonstrate to the friends and enemies of peace--to demonstrate to both of them that negotiations do work. To the Arabs and the Israelis who take risks for peace, I want them to know--the President wants them to know- -that America's voice will continue to be strong and resolute; that we will support them and will do what is necessary in common with their efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. Before I conclude, I would like to pay tribute to the American peace team, both those from here in the United States--from the White House and the State Department--as well as the ambassadors in the region. They have operated with a high degree of professionalism and skill. These are men and women who have devoted their professional lives to this effort. And, of course, today is a remarkable day for them and a day for the history books. The Washington Declaration Text released by the White House, Washington, DC, July 25, 1994. A. After generations of hostility, blood, and tears and in the wake of years of pain and wars, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin are determined to bring an end to bloodshed and sorrow. It is in this spirit that His Majesty King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin of Israel, met in Washington today at the invitation of President William J. Clinton of the United States of America. This initiative of President William J. Clinton constitutes an historic landmark in the United States' untiring efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. The personal involvement of the President has made it possible to realise agreement on the content of this historic declaration. The signing of this declaration bears testimony to the President's vision and devotion to the cause of peace. B. In their meeting, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have jointly reaffirmed the five underlying principles of their understanding on an Agreed Common Agenda designed to reach the goal of a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace between the Arab States and the Palestinians with Israel. 1. Jordan and Israel aim at the achievement of just, lasting, and comprehensive peace between Israel and its neighbours and at the conclusion of a Treaty of Peace between both countries. 2. The two countries will vigorously continue their negotiations to arrive at a state of peace, based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 in all their aspects, and founded on freedom, equality, and justice. 3. Israel respects the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem. When negotiations on the permanent status will take place, Israel will give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these shrines. In addition the two sides have agreed to act together to promote interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions. 4. The two countries recognise their right and obligation to live in peace with each other as well as with all states within secure and recognised boundaries. The two states affirmed their respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of every state in the area. 5. The two countries desire to develop good neighbourly relations of co-operation between them to ensure lasting security and to avoid threats and the use of force between them. C. The long conflict between the two states is now coming to an end. In this spirit the state of belligerency between Jordan and Israel has been terminated. D. Following this declaration and in keeping with the Agreed Common Agenda both countries will refrain from actions or activities by either side that may adversely affect the security of the other or may prejudice the final outcome of negotiations. Neither side will threaten the other by use of force, weapons, or any other means, against each other and both sides will thwart threats to security resulting from all kinds of terrorism. E. His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin took note of the progress made in the bilateral negotiations within the Jordan-Israel track last week on the steps decided to implement the sub-agendas on borders, territorial matters, security, water, energy, environment, and the Jordan Rift Valley. In this framework, mindful of items of the Agreed Common Agenda (borders and territorial matters) they noted that the boundary sub-commission has reached agreement in July 1994 in fulfillment of part of the role entrusted to it in the sub-agenda. They also noted that the sub-commission for water, environment, and energy agreed to mutually recognise, as a result of their negotiations, the rightful allocations of the two sides in Jordan River and Yarmouk River waters and to fully respect and comply with the negotiated rightful allocations, in accordance with agreed acceptable principles with mutually acceptable quality. Similarly, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin expressed their deep satisfaction and pride in the work of the trilateral commission in its meeting held in Jordan on Wednesday, July 20th, 1994, hosted by the Jordanian Prime Minister, Dr. Abdessalam al-Majali, and attended by Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. They voiced their pleasure at the association and commitment of the United States in this endeavour. F. His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin believe that steps must be taken both to overcome psychological barriers and to break with the legacy of war. By working with optimism towards the dividends of peace for all the people in the region, Jordan and Israel are determined to shoulder their responsibilities towards the human dimension of peace making. They recognise imbalances and disparities are a root cause of extremism which thrives on poverty and unemployment and the degradation of human dignity. In this spirit His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have today approved a series of steps to symbolise the new era which is now at hand: 1. Direct telephone links will be opened between Jordan and Israel. 2. The electricity grids of Jordan and Israel will be linked as part of a regional concept. 3. Two new border crossings will be opened between Jordan and Israel--one at the southern tip of Aqaba- Eilat and the other at a mutually agreed point in the north. 4. In principle free access will be given to third country tourists traveling between Jordan and Israel. 5. Negotiations will be accelerated on opening an international air corridor between both countries. 6. The police forces of Jordan and Israel will co- operate in combating crime with emphasis on smuggling and particularly drug smuggling. The United States will be invited to participate in this joint endeavour. 7. Negotiations on economic matters will continue in order to prepare for future bilateral co- operation including the abolition of all economic boycotts. All these steps are being implemented within the framework of regional infrastructural development plans and in conjunction with the Jordan-Israel bilaterals on boundaries, security, water, and related issues and without prejudice to the final outcome of the negotiations on the items included in the Agreed Common Agenda between Jordan and Israel. G. His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have agreed to meet periodically or whenever they feel necessary to review the progress of the negotiations and express their firm intention to shepherd and direct the process in its entirety. H. In conclusion, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin wish to express once again their profound thanks and appreciation to President William J. Clinton and his Administration for their untiring efforts in furthering the cause of peace, justice, and prosperity for all the peoples of the region. They wish to thank the President personally for his warm welcome and hospitality. In recognition of their appreciation to the President, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have asked President William J. Clinton to sign this document as a witness and as a host to their meeting. His Majesty King Hussein Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin President William J. Clinton Shaping a Better Future For the Middle East Remarks in exchange of toasts at a White House state dinner, Washington, DC, July 25, 1994. President Clinton. Your Majesties, Prime Minister and Mrs. Rabin, all our distinguished guests: Welcome to the White House. Today we have seen history in the making. And tonight we celebrate this marvelous occasion with King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin and all of you who for so long have supported their efforts for peace.It is a special pleasure for Hillary and for me to welcome Queen Noor and Mrs. Rabin, who, in their devotion to the health and well-being of the children of their nations, prove that the quest for peace is not the only cause that knows no borders. Today's signing of the Washington Declaration is the handiwork of many. But it is safe to say we would not be here tonight were it not for the persistent and farsighted efforts of Crown Prince Hassan, Foreign Minister Peres, and our Secretary of State, Warren Christopher. I want to express my special gratitude to Secretary Christopher, who has brought such great energy and devotion to this task, and to applaud all three gentlemen for their efforts. The Washington Declaration is a blueprint, both inspiring and practical; a foundation for lasting peace between two peoples who have been divided for too long. It is also clearly a personal tribute to two brave leaders, both called upon at a young age to shoulder enormous responsibilities--one, to be a king, the other a defender of his people--brought together now at long last in the common cause of peace. King Hussein, tonight we recall again the legacy of your grandfather and mentor, King Abdullah, a man who dreamed that one day on both sides of the River Jordan, Arabs and Jews could live together in peace- -and who lost his life for that dream of peace. At the age of 17, when most of us were still in school, you were left to shoulder the great weight of leading your people. In the 42 years that have passed, you have led your kingdom through the stormy waters of the Middle East. You have improved the lives of your people and endowed your nation with a spirit of tolerance, civility, and compromise. You have built bridges between the Arab world and the United States through your actions as an advocate for stability and through your marriage to the Queen, herself a daughter of Americans who came from the Arab world. For that, we, sir, are in your debt. Today, you have moved to erase the divisions between the people of the two sides of the River Jordan. Tonight, it can truly be said that you have fulfilled the legacy of King Abdullah. Mr. Prime Minister, tonight we honor you, a son of the land of Israel. Your parents, Nehemya and Rosa, were among the first pioneers who came to Palestine. Like so many others of their generation, they devoted their lives to building a national home for the Jewish people. Schooled in the science of agriculture, you once planned to devote your life to making the fields and deserts of Israel come alive. But at the age of 19, you answered the call to join the Palmach, destined to spend your life fighting to establish and defend the nation of Israel. Now, after a life consumed by war, you have become the architect of a great peace, building a homeland your parents could only imagine: a peaceful, prosperous land at harmony with its neighbors, a land where a new generation will be free to cast aside its weapons and fulfill your dream to make the valleys and deserts bloom. Tonight, we honor you and the fulfillment of your legacy, sir. These two men have crossed much hostile territory so that their children and their children's children need fight no more. They have earned this peace, and we are all in their debt. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to rise and join me in a toast to these men of courage, to their fine families, to the peoples of Jordan and Israel, and to the promise of peace. [A toast is offered.] King Hussein. President Clinton, Prime Minister Rabin: Sir, your words have touched us deeply. And today has been, indeed, a unique day--for myself, for the people of Jordan, for the Prime Minister and the people of Israel--for all those who have yearned for the breaking of a new dawn in our region where energies and resources and talents can together have an opportunity to flourish, can together build a better future which is the right of all. The reports from Jordan are what I had expected them to be--those of joy and hope for the overwhelming majority of our people. I understand in Israel it is the same. To a very large extent, sir, none of this would have been possible without your help, without the help of our friends in the United States. And I speak of friendship that has grown over many, many years--a friendship of which we are proud--and a partnership between us all in the cause of peace and a better future for our people, for our region, and for the world. I have felt over the recent past that many of us in our part of the world--both in Israel and in Jordan- -had to begin the inevitable readjustment, psychologically, after so many years of denial of our right to live normally together, to build, and to move ahead. And as I have said before, unfortunately, the abnormal became normal, which is, indeed, a tragic state of affairs. I hope that in signing the Washington Declaration, the Prime Minister and I can help shepherd the process ahead to not only achieve peace between our two countries and our two peoples, but to create the rebirth of hope and confidence in our people in terms of our credibility and our commitment. Ours is total before you all, and I believe that why it will succeed in Jordan is not because of our own feelings alone but because, as in Israel, we have a democracy in Jordan. We have a people who share with us in shaping our future. Democracy, pluralism, respect for human rights is a path that we have taken, and we hope that we will influence others by example through our continuing along this road. So it's not a case of an individual or a small group of people. What we have achieved today, sir, is something that we leave for all our people to protect and to cherish in the times ahead. For Noor and me, and for all my colleagues from Jordan, we thank you, Mr. President, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, and our dear friends for the warmth of your welcome, for your support, and for your friendship. We need you with us in the times ahead. We need you with us not only as old friends, but as partners in shaping a better future for our entire region. Prime Minister, it has been a great pleasure, and I'm sure that--tired as you might be after years and years of a search for this day, this beginning-- we'll go back to our region with renewed vigor and energy and determination to achieve beyond this point all the dreams and hopes of our people. Thank you very, very much, indeed. And, please, join me in a toast to the President of the United States, to peace and friendship between us for all times. [A toast is offered.] Prime Minister Rabin. The President of the United States, Your Majesty, distinguished guests--the American side, the Jordanian side, the Israeli side: When I had to think of what I will toast after such a moving, exciting day, many memories came up in my mind. For me, Mr. President, Your Majesty, the Washington Declaration between Jordan and Israel symbolizes to me much more than the overall Arab-Israeli conflict. It's true that for a long time we had to face uncertain areas--we continue to face the rejection, the objection to the existence of Israel as a Jewish, viable, independent state. And we have seen--all through our efforts to bring about peace, to find a solution--two main obstacles. One of them is the psychological obstacle: the walls which are built of prejudices on both sides, animosity, and bloodshed, on many occasions without any justification. The practical issues have been magnified--have been seen by both sides as much more complicated, bigger, more difficult--because of the psychological walls. The first and the foremost responsibility of the leaders of the countries of the region in their aspiration to solve the conflict, to build structures of peace, to create cooperation and understanding--the main and the foremost responsibility is to tackle, to bring down, the walls of psychology that put apart, put aside, and create barriers between peoples, because leaders can bring peoples and countries to sign peace, but the real peace is between peoples on both sides. The only peace that I will consider to be a peace is the peace that the average citizen in the street will sense and will realize that something has been changed, that there are different interrelationships, that there is no more fear and no more threat of use of violence in whatever form. Coping with these psychological walls is the most important task of whoever tries to bring about a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its sectors. For me, today was a unique day, and I'll be frank. I started a war of independence in Jerusalem against the Jordanians. It was the first war that I waged, that I was engaged in. I always respected Jordan and the King of Jordan, King Hussein, as the most noble, reasonable, unique personality-- even when we were not at peace, even when we were engaged in conflict. I don't believe that there is in the Arab world another leader that, in his long term of being the leader of his country, has shaped and changed the situation and brought to his people and to his government and in each way of life the values, the way of life, and the behavior of the average citizen. Therefore, on many occasions in the past, I dreamt, I believed, that a peace with Jordan would be the first. I will not disclose secrets of 20, 21 years ago. I believe that His Majesty understands what I mean. But today, when we stood together on your invitation, Mr. President of the United States, and we shook hands and signed a declaration--in a way to me, personally--a circle of my life reached a certain point. I was born in Jerusalem. I am the first and only Prime Minister of Israel that was born there. I had to fight for Jerusalem. But I believe that the values of Jerusalem--for Jews, for Muslims, for Christians--carry with them certain responsibilities that Your Majesty and I have to carry and to shoulder upon ourselves. I remember the end of the 1948-49 war. We believed, then, in peace. We hoped that that war would end it. It took too long. I believe the two of us have seen hopes that faded, tragedy that took place. Now we are on the verge of opening a new chapter, I believe, not only to the Jordanian people and to the Israeli people. I believe that the relations between Jordan and Israel can serve as a symbol and as an example to others. I would like, Mr. President, to thank you for your efforts, for the efforts of your Administration and the Secretary of State working with our Foreign Minister. Because I believe, as you once said, Mr. President--you said it vis-a-vis Israel; I believe it has to be said to every country in the Middle East--that without taking risks, without making compromises, we will not achieve peace. But you have to bear in mind, Mr. President, as you know, that the results of any agreement, when it is signed, have to be translated to the life of the peoples and the countries that signed it. They have to realize that a change has taken place, that lives are safer, that their life is improved educationally, economically, socially. The United States has played in modern history a unique role, since the end of the Second World War, in encouraging peace and stability in the world. You have played the same role in every agreement that was reached between an Arab country, Arab people, and Israel. And, believe me, Mr. President and my other American friends, by beautiful words alone, realities are not changed. The dream, the desire, the courage to carry them out are important. But sometimes they have to be nourished, assisted in a way so that the countries and the peoples will realize the reason and meaning of peace not by the beautiful words, but by the change of their lives--that peace brought something new to them. We, today, made another major step toward peace. I always admired and trusted His Majesty King Hussein, and I believe his signature; when he signs, he means it. Together, Jordan, Israel, and the United States--under your leadership and during your term, Mr. President--are here the second time to pay our respects to efforts that brought a change in the Middle East. If we continue to work together, I believe that we will see more steps in your term and in my term which, by the way, have to be ended for both of us if we are not reelected and, hopefully, we will be in November 1996. It's a lot of time. Much can be done. And if I raise my toast, I will raise it for those who have the courage to change axioms, to overcome prejudices, to change realities, and who make it possible. To them; to you, Your Majesty; to you, President Clinton; to all those who believe and support and are ready to assist the continuation of peace in the region: l'chaim. [A toast is offered.] Jordan and Israel: A Journey Toward Peace Address to a joint meeting of Congress, Washington, DC, July 26, 1994. King Hussein. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, honored guests, Members of Congress, ladies and gentlemen: It is an honor for me to stand before you--the representatives of the great American nation--on this historic occasion. We have now become partners in shaping the future of all our people. We seek for them a future of peace, stability, and security--the prospects for which are growing before our eyes. It is a heart-warming sight for those of us who have continuously pursued this goal throughout our lives. We in Jordan have always sought a bold peace. We have been conscious of our responsibilities toward the coming generations--to ensure that they will have the certainty of leading a dignified and fulfilled life. We have sought a peace that can harness their creative energies, to allow them to realize their true potential, and to build their future with confidence--devoid of fear and uncertainty. None of this can be achieved without establishing a direct dialogue at the highest level of leadership. This meeting in Washington, at the invitation of President Clinton, represents the beginning of a new phase in our common journey toward peace between Jordan and Israel. It is a milestone on the road toward comprehensive peace in our region. This meeting was preceded by a trilateral Jordanian- American-Israeli meeting at which my brother, Crown Prince Hassan, represented myself and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres represented Israel. The trilateral working group was established under an agreement completed at that meeting hosted by President Clinton at the White House in October 1993. Following my recent visit to the United States, in light of the status of negotiations, I decided to share with my people the realities affecting our search for peace. In a meeting with members of our Parliament, I addressed the entire Jordanian nation. I have been rewarded by their approval and support. Their expression of confidence has always been the foremost consideration in my life. All of Jordan is here with me today. We also remember, today, the three generations of gallant Jordanians and so many others who sacrificed themselves for the cause of Palestine. Every household in Jordan has sent a son to answer the Arab call. Many have not returned. Their sacrifice has made it possible for me to be here today. My family has also paid a heavy price. My great grandfather, the leader of the great Arab revolt for freedom, independence, and unity, lies buried next to the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. I was by the side of my grandfather, King Abdullah, at the doors of Al Aqsa Mosque when he was martyred. He was a man of peace who gave his life for this ideal. I have pledged my life to fulfilling his dream. He, too, is here today. Mr. Speaker, in our meeting today, I hope you will find a clear message to the American nation and to the world. We are, together, committed to work tirelessly to banish forever the abnormal conditions which have dominated our people's lives. We want normality and humanity to become the prevailing order. Although we have labored for so long under conditions of hostility, I am certain that we can see these conditions for what they are--emblems of an unnatural and sinister state. We have all known the portents of this state--the fear of death, the silence of isolation--and we have all felt the fear that has mesmerized us, preventing us from moving forward to create, together, a bright future for the coming generations. What we are witnessing today, God willing, is a progression from a state of war to a state of peace. These unique circumstances allow us to take bold steps. Our meeting now represents a revolt against all that is unnatural. It is unnatural not to have direct and open meetings between our respective officials and their leaders in order to grapple with all aspects of the conflict, and, God willing, to resolve them. It is unnatural not to wish to bridge this gulf, across which we have all paid a shattering toll in blood and tears--the waste of our youth and the grief of our forefathers. We have suffered this loss together, and it will leave its impact on all of us far into the future. The two Semitic peoples--the Arabs and the Jews-- have endured bitter trials and tribulations during the journey of history. Let us resolve to end this suffering forever and to fulfill our responsibilities as leaders of our peoples and our duty as human beings toward mankind. I come before you today fully conscious of the need to secure a peace for all the children of Abraham. Our land is the birthplace of the divine faiths and the cradle of the heavenly messages to all humanity. I also come before you today as a soldier who seeks to bear arms solely in the defense of his homeland; a man who understands the fears of his neighbors and who wishes only to live in peace with them; a man who wishes to secure democracy, political pluralism, and human rights for his nation. I come before you today encouraged in the knowledge that the Prime Minister of Israel and his government have responded to the call for peace. They have recognized the Palestinian people and their rights and are negotiating with their chosen leadership in accordance with UNSCRs 242 and 338. For our part, we will never forget Palestine--not for a moment. We in Jordan were the first to shoulder our responsibility, and we were the most adversely affected by the legacy of the Palestinian tragedy. And still our people in Jordan remain one united family--irrespective of their origins-- sharing equally, free to choose their political future and destiny. My religious faith demands that sovereignty over the holy places in Jerusalem reside with God and God alone. Dialogue between the faiths should be strengthened; religious sovereignty should be accorded to all believers of the three Abrahamic faiths, in accordance with their religions. In this way, Jerusalem will become the symbol of peace and its embodiment, as it must be for both Palestinians and Israelis when their negotiations determine the final status of Arab East Jerusalem. I come before you today fully confident that progress will be made on the Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli tracks of the peace process and toward the achievement of comprehensive peace. Mr. Speaker, the state of war between Israel and Jordan is over. We have accepted UNSCR 338 which calls for negotiations between the parties concerned--under appropriate auspices--to establish a just and durable peace in the Middle East. We have accepted UNSCR 242, which sought acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of every state in the area, and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries, free from threats or acts of force. I want to reaffirm, without any reservation, that we, together with the other parties concerned, have exercised our sovereign right to make peace. We are moving forward and tackling, one by one, all the problems listed in our common agenda. We have great faith in our joint progress toward the ultimate goal--the culmination of all our efforts--a Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. In this, we take courage from the words of God, in His holy book, The Koran: Then if they should be inclined to make peace, do thou incline towards it also, and put thy trust in Allah. Surely, it is he who is all-hearing, all- knowing. (The Koran, Chapter 8, Verse 61) Mr. Speaker, I value the long friendship between Jordan and the United States, inherited from the era of my grandfather. I have sought over 34 years, since the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, to ensure that it be honest and true. It has been a friendship built of mutual respect and common interests. I am proud to remind you how we stood shoulder to shoulder during the long years of the Cold War. And now, together, we share a great hope- -to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East. We believe that an enduring partnership for cooperation and development between Jordan and the United States is essential to the realization of this dream. We aim to build a better future under peace; to change the pattern of life for our people from despair and hopelessness to honor and dignity. We want to fashion a new commonwealth of hope on our ancient soil. We want all voices to be heard in shaping a new regional order. If we are to achieve our aims, all of us must be given the opportunity and the tools to play our part in this historic endeavor. The creative drive of our region has been crippled by the conflict; the healing hand of the international community is now essential. It should never be forgotten that peace resides, ultimately, not in the hands of governments, but in the hands of the people. For unless peace can be made real to the men, women, and children of the Middle East, the best efforts of negotiators will come to nought. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President: I have come before you today to demonstrate that we are ready to open a new era in our relations with Israel. With the help and cooperation of this august body, the peace we all want can be achieved. With your help, I am certain that the imbalances between our societies can be remedied and that the sources of frustration and enmity can be eradicated. It is in this spirit and with these hopes that I share this platform with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. To all of you and to the American people, I offer my thanks for your kindness, hospitality, and for all your support. May God bless you all. Wa Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu. Prime Minister Rabin. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, distinguished Members of the Congress, His Majesty the King of Jordan: I start with the Jewish word shalom. Each year on memorial day for the fallen of the Israeli-Israel's walls--I go to the cemetery of Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. Facing me are the graves, the headstones, the colorful flowers blooming on them, and thousands of pairs of weeping eyes. I stand there in front of that large, silent crowd and read in their eyes the words of the young, dead soldiers. As the famous American poet, Archibald MacLeish, entitled--the poem from which I take these lines. I quote: "They say, whether our lives and our death were for peace and a new hope or for nothing, we cannot say. It is you who must say this." Mr. Speaker, we have come from Jerusalem to Washington because it is we who must say--and we are here to say--peace is our goal. It is peace we desire. With me here in this house today are my partners in this great doing. Allow me to refer to some Israelis that are with me--here with you. Amiram Kaplan, whose first brother was killed in an accident, whose second brother was killed in a pursuit of terrorists, whose third brother was killed in war, and whose parents died of heartbreak. And today he is a seeker of peace. Moshe Sasson, who, together with his father was an emissary to the talks with King Abdullah and to other missions of peace: Today, he is also an emissary of peace. With me, a classmate of mine from the elementary school, Chana Rivlin, of Kibbutz Gesher, which faces Jordan--who endured bitter fighting and lost a son in war. Today, she looks out of her window, onto Jordan, and wants the dream of peace to come, too. Avraham Daskal, almost 90 years old, who worked for the electric company in Trans-Jordan and was privileged to attend the celebrations marking King Hussein's birth, is hoping for peace in his lifetime. Dani Matt, who fought against Jordan in the war of independence, was taken prisoner of war and devoted his life to the security of the state of Israel. He hopes that his grandchildren will never know war. And Mrs. Penina Herzog, whose husband wove the first threads of political ties with Jordan with us here in this [inaudible]. The mayor of Eilat, Mr. Gabi Kadosh, which touches the frontier with Jordan and will be a focus of common tourism; Mr. Shimon Cahaner, who fought against the Jordanians, memorializes his fallen comrades and hopes that they will have been the last to fall; Mr. Talal al-Krienawi, the mayor of a Bedouin town in Israel, who looks forward to renewing the friendship with their brothers in Jordan; Mr. David Coren, a member of a kibbutz which was captured by the Jordanians in 1948, who awaits the day when the borders will be open; Dr. Asher Susser, a scholar who has done research throughout his adult life; and Dr. Sharon Regev, whose father was killed while pursuing terrorists in the Jordan Valley, and who yearns for peace with all his heart: Here they are before you. All of them wanted to come. Here they are--people who never rejoice in the victories of war but whose hearts are now filled with the joy of peace. I've come here from Jerusalem on behalf of those thousands of bereaved families, though I haven't asked their permission. I stand here on behalf of the parents who have buried their children, of the children who have no fathers, and of the sons and daughters who are gone but return to us in our dreams. I stand here today on behalf of those youngsters who wanted to live, to love, to build a home. I've come from Jerusalem in the name of our children who began their lives with great hope and are now names, graves, and memorial stones, old pictures in albums, fading clothes in the closets; whose lips are chanting Kaddish, the Jewish memorial prayer, ringing in my ears the words of the same famous Archibald MacLeish, who echoes the plea of the young, dead soldiers who say, "relieve you our death, give them their meaning." Let us give them meaning. Let us make an end to the bloodshed. Let us make true peace. Let us today be victorious in ending war. Mr. Speaker, the debate goes on. Who shapes the face of history-- leaders or circumstances? My answer to you is we all shape the face of history; we the people--the farmers behind our plows, the teachers in our classrooms, the doctors saving lives, the scientists at our computers, the workers on the assembly line, the builders on our scaffolds; we, the mothers blinking back tears as our sons are drafted into the army; we, the fathers who stay awake at night worried and anxious for our children's safety; we Jews and Arabs; we Israelis and Jordanians; we, the people--we shape the face of history. And we, the leaders, hear the voices and sense the deepest emotions and feelings of thousands and millions and translate them into reality. If my people did not desire peace so strongly, I would not be standing here today. And I am sure that if the children of Amman and the soldiers of Irbid and the women of Es Salt and the citizens of Aqaba did not seek peace, our partner in this great quest, the King of Jordan would not be here now, shaking hands, calling for peace. We bear the responsibility. We have the power to decide, and we dare not miss this great opportunity, for it is the duty of the leaders to bring peace and well-being to their peoples. We are graced with the privilege of fulfilling the duty for our people. This is our responsibility. The complex relations between Israel and Jordan have continued for a generation. Today, so many years later, we carry with us good memories of the special ties between your country--Your Majesty--and mine, and we carry with us the grim reminders of the times we found ourselves at war. We remember the days of your grandfather, King Abdullah, who sought avenues of peace with the heads of the Jewish people and the leaders of the young State of Israel. There is much work before us. We face psychological barriers. We face genuine practical problems. Walls of hostilities have been built on the River Jordan which runs between us. You in Amman and we in Jerusalem must bring down those barriers and walls--must solve those concrete problems. And I am sure that we'll do it. Yesterday, we took a giant step toward peace which will embrace it all--borders and water, security and economics, trade boycotts, tourism and environment, and diplomatic relations. We want peace between countries, but above all, between human beings. Beyond the ceremonies, after the festivities, we will move on to the negotiations. They will not be easy, but when they are completed, a wonderful, common future awaits us. The Middle East--the cradle of the great monotheistic civilization, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--the Middle East that was a valley of the shadow of death will be a place where it is a pleasure to live. We live on the same stretch of land: The same rain nourishes our soil; the same hot wind parches our fields. We find shade under the same fig tree. We savor the fruit of the same green vine; we drink from the same well. Only a 70-minute journey separates these cities--Jerusalem and Amman--and 46 years. And just as we have been enemies, so can we be good and friendly neighbors. Since it's unprecedented that in this joint meeting two speakers will be invited, allow me to turn to His Majesty. Your Majesty, we have both seen a lot in our lifetime. We have both seen too much suffering. What will you leave to your children? What will I leave to my grandchildren? I have only dreams to build a better world--a world of understanding and harmony, a world in which it is a joy to live. This is not asking for too much. The State of Israel thanks you--thanks you for accepting our hand in peace, for your political wisdom and courage, for planting a new hope in our hearts and in the hearts of your subjects and the hearts of all peace-loving people. And I know that you enjoy the highest esteem of the United States--this great America which is helping the bold to make a peace of the brave. From this hall that represents freedom, liberty, and democracy, I would like to thank President Clinton, the former presidents of the United States, Secretary of State Christopher, former secretaries of state, and former administrations. To you--the Speaker and the Vice President, we are more than thankful to you--the distinguished Members of the Congress, representatives of the American people, and to you--the wonderful people of America. I do so because no words can express our gratitude to you and to the American people for each of your generous support, understanding, and cooperation, which are beyond compare in modern history. Thank you, America. God bless America. Tomorrow, I shall return to Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel and the heart of the Jewish people. Lining the road to Jerusalem are rusting bulks of metal--burned-out, silent, cold. They are the remains of convoys which brought food and medicine to the war-torn and besieged city of Jerusalem 46 years ago. For many of Israel's citizens, their story is one of heroism--part of our national legend. For me and for my comrades in arms, every scrap of cold metal lying there by the wayside is a bitter memory. I remember--I remember it as though it was just yesterday. I remember then I was their commander in war. For them, this ceremony has come too late. What endures are their children, their comrades. It's their legacy. Allow me to make a personal note. I, military I.D. number 30743, retired general in the Israel Defense Forces in the past, consider myself to be a soldier in the army of peace today. I, who served my country for 27 years as a soldier--I say to you, to Your Majesty: This is the only battle which is a pleasure to wage--the battle for peace. Tomorrow, on the way up to Jerusalem, thousands of flowers will cover the remains of those rusting armored vehicles, the ones that never made it to the city. Tomorrow, from those silent metal heaps, thousands of flowers will smile to us with the word peace--shalom. In the Bible, our book of the books, peace is mentioned in its various idioms 237 times. In the Bible--from which we draw our values and our strength--in the book of Jeremiah, we find a lamentation for Rachel, the matriarch. It reads: "Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for their works shall be rewarded, saith the Lord." I will not refrain from weeping for those who are gone, but on this summer day in Washington, far from home, we sense that our work will be rewarded as the prophet foretold. The Jewish tradition calls for a blessing on every new tree, every new fruit, on every new season. Let me conclude with the ancient Jewish blessing that has been with us in exile and in Israel for thousands of years, and allow me to do it in Hebrew. Blessed are you, O Lord, who has preserved us and sustained us and enabled us to reach this time. God bless the peace. Thank you. Toward a Lasting Peace Between Israel and Jordan Opening remarks at a White House press conference, Washington, DC, July 26, 1994. President Clinton. Good afternoon. I am happy to once again welcome King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin. In the last two days, history has been made in Washington, and a brighter future has been built--a future that offers more peace and security not only for the people of Israel and Jordan, but also for the people of the United States. With great courage and foresight, the King and the Prime Minister have united in their conviction that it is time to end more than four decades of bloodshed and loss. They have demonstrated that contact can overcome conflict, that direct talks can produce peace. They have declared an end to the state of war between their two countries and have determined to secure a lasting peace. They have personally committed to making sure that a treaty is concluded as rapidly as possible. When we met yesterday, the King, the Prime Minister, and I agreed to designate representatives to ensure that the provisions of the Washington Declaration are implemented quickly. In a week of extraordinary sets of events, this morning we witnessed another, as the King and the Prime Minister appeared jointly before Congress. Their eloquent remarks articulated a common vision of cooperation that will yield specific and concrete benefits for all peoples on both sides of the Jordan River. The outpouring of support by Members of Congress for these two heroes of peace, I believe, clearly reflects the feelings of all the American people. As I've made clear since my first meetings with the King and the Prime Minister, America will stand by those who take risks for peace. We will support leaders whose boldness and wisdom are creating a new Middle East. Today, I have reaffirmed to Prime Minister Rabin that as Israel moves forward in the peace process, the constant responsibility of the United States will be to help ensure its security. I also have reaffirmed to King Hussein my determination to assist Jordan in dealing with its burden of debt and its defense requirements. I am working with Congress to achieve rapid action on both these matters. The United States is committed to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East and an end to hostility between Israel and all her Arab neighbors. I spoke yesterday with President Asad of Syria and reaffirmed my personal dedication to achieving a comprehensive peace. Secretary Christopher has devoted a great deal of time and effort to the negotiations with Syria, and I have asked him to return to the region soon to continue that work. In these two days, we have taken great strides on the road to peace. But even as these two leaders have come together, the enemies of peace have not been silent. In recent days, terrorists have struck in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in London. We will not, we must not, allow them to disrupt this peace process. This week's events here in Washington and the bravery of King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin prove that a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is within reach. Inspired by the extraordinary events of the last two days, now we go forward with a new sense of determination and a new sense of confidence to take the next steps in the days and weeks ahead. King Hussein. Mr. President, Prime Minister Rabin, ladies and gentlemen: These have been unique days in our lives--yesterday and today. They have witnessed dreams, hopes, and prayers realized in terms of an end to the state of war between Jordan and Israel. More important, in terms of our determination to move ahead in executing our duties toward our peoples-- toward our peoples in the entire region in the present and in the future--that they live secure in peace with the ability to come together, for the opportunity to give their talents a chance to make a difference, to create at the breaking dawn of peace in the Middle East what is worthy of them. I would like, Mr. President, to thank you very, very much, indeed, sir, for your personal support and continued interest. We are proud to have you as our partner. We are proud and happy that these meetings between myself and Prime Minister Rabin have taken place here in Washington. We are overwhelmed by all the warmth and support that we have seen during these last two days. We recall and appreciate the efforts of the Secretary of State, the efforts of so many friends here that enabled us to get this far. I hope, together, we will build from now on and will continue and succeed in giving all our peoples the chance to live under conditions that have been denied us, certainly, as far as I'm concerned, throughout my life. And I am proud to say that the overwhelming majority of Jordanians rejoice with me, as I am sure is the case in Israel and here in the United States. Prime Minister Rabin. Mr. President, Your Majesty King Hussein, ladies and gentlemen: I believe that the last two days represent a landmark in the positive developments toward peace in the Middle East. I believe to understand the meaning of what has been done by Jordan and Israel--with the assistance and support of the United States--it has to be looked at in proportion to what the trends are today in the Middle East. We see two conflicting trends in the Middle East-- one, the rise of extreme, radical Islamic terrorist movements within the Palestinian side, within the Lebanese side, in other Arab countries, derived from a certain source that each purposely is undermining any possibility to achieve peace. I believe that we see their fingers in the international terrorist acts that have taken place not so long ago--in Thailand, in Buenos Aires, in London--in addition to what goes on from Lebanon, and in the territories by the extreme, radical Islamic terrorist groups. It's an all-out war waged by these elements against the possibility of the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its parts. I believe that they have an infrastructure of terror all over the world. We saw it lately in Argentina. I don't want to talk about what's going on here, in Europe, in the Far East, in addition to the Middle East. And, therefore, what we have done in the last two days is a major step of brave people on both sides to come up and to say we are making an important, important phase toward peace, because the Washington Declaration is, first and foremost, an end of a state of belligerency--or as the King declared, end of a state of war. Believe me, today in the Middle East, to reach commitment by the countries of the region for nonbelligerency--no violence, no terror-- can be the greatest contribution to peace in the region and not only in the region. Between Jordan and Israel, we have reached the end of the state of belligerency. But there is a need beyond the end of war, threats of war, violence and terror to build a structure of peace--the relations of peace. We lay the foundations to this world, to this work, to this place. The test will be to what extent we will succeed in building this structure of peace--to reach the kind of relations between Jordan and Israel that the man in the street in Amman and in Tel Aviv will call peace. Therefore, hard work is before us. We are committed, I believe, on both sides, to do what is needed in addition to the elimination of war--to build the relations of peace. We need your assistance, Mr. President, in doing so. The first responsibility lies with the parties--with Jordan and Israel. But without the United States-- the leader of peace in the region--and, hopefully, other countries and the European Union assisting those who take risks--calculated risks for peace--we will not achieve it in the way and the pace which it is needed. We open a new chapter. We created a new landmark. But the road is still, hopefully, not too long--but still work has to be done. We will do it. We need the participation of those who preach peace to translate their words to realities, to practical support of those who take the risk for peace. (###) ARTICLE 2: U.S.-Jordan-Israel Trilateral Economic Committee Meeting at the Dead Sea Text of Joint Communique, Secretary Christopher, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Al-Majali, Foreign Minister Peres, Department Statement Joint Communique Text of the joint communique of the U.S.-Jordan- Israel Trilateral Economic Committee released by Secretary Christopher, Jordanian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Al-Majali, and Israeli Foreign Minister Peres, Dead Sea, Jordan, July 20, 1994. The U.S.-Israel-Jordan Trilateral Economic Committee held its fifth meeting on July 20, 1994, at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel in Jordan. At this meeting, the American delegation was headed by Secretary of State Warren Christopher, the Jordanian delegation by Prime Minister Abd al-Salam Majali, and the Israeli delegation by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. The three parties expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of Jordan for hosting this historic meeting. The Trilateral Committee--established in October 1993 under the auspices of President Clinton by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hassan and Foreign Minister Peres--reviewed recent progress in the peace process. The Committee noted favorably the Israeli-Jordanian bilateral negotiations held in the region on July 18-19, 1994, and the intention to continue these discussions next month. The delegations reiterated their intention to energize efforts to promote further progress on the Israel- Jordan track, looking forward to the meeting between His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin in Washington on July 25, 1994. The Trilateral Committee also reviewed recent progress on its work and reached agreement on a number of future activities. The delegations agreed, in preparation for the meeting in the White House next week, to work on a Master Plan for the Development of the Jordan Rift Valley. Meetings of experts earlier today indicated a substantial convergence of views on such a scheme and a common approach on proceeding. The experts will continue their meetings later today and tomorrow, and an intersessional meeting will be organized to unify the planning criteria and develop detailed terms of reference. The United States agreed to facilitate further the continued work on the Master Plan. The Trilateral Committee also agreed to continue work on trade/finance/banking, civil aviation, tourism, and establishing a road link between the two countries. On trade, the parties agreed on the establishment of a set of principles concerning trade and commercial relationships between the two parties in the context of a peace treaty. On civil aviation, the parties agreed to establish a joint team to explore aviation routes serving the interests of both countries and flight safety. On tourism, the parties agreed to a travel and tourism arrangement and to establish a trilateral commission to facilitate cooperation in this area, specifically the opening of a crossing point in the Eilat-Aqaba area for tourists who are third country nationals. Finally, the parties agreed to conduct a preliminary site survey of a road linking Jordan, Israel and Egypt in the vicinity of Eilat and Aqaba. The three ministers agreed to meet again periodically in the region, starting in the near future. Intersessional meetings of experts will also be organized to continue work on specific projects. Secretary Christopher and Jordanian King Hussein Opening statements at a news conference, Amman, Jordan, July 20, 1994. King Hussein. I welcome you, once again, sir, to Jordan, with our dear friends and with colleagues at this very interesting moment in the life of this region. As you know, we are moving with hope that we are close to fulfilling a very dear objective-- the establishment of a just, comprehensive, and durable peace in this region. My meeting with the President during my last visit to Washington was a very important one in the sense that it convinced me of the need to address my people to move on a very dear issue and objective to all of us--that of establishing peace. I did so, and I am proud of the reaction of the overwhelming majority of people in this country--their maturity and their trust. As you know, we have, over the last two days, had meetings in the area of the border between us and Israel. And today we will attend, as a partner, the trilateral meetings on the Dead Sea. In the next few days, I will meet Prime Minister Rabin in Washington as guests of President Clinton and have the privilege of--sharing with him- -addressing the joint Houses of Congress. I hope that all this reemphasizes our total commitment to the course of peace and a better future for our people, for all people in this region--to move from what is abnormal toward what is normal in human relations. Once the problems are resolved--we are at the beginning of serious negotiation, but we are encouraged by what we have seen already. We are determined to move ahead. And I believe that my meeting with the President and with Prime Minister Rabin will enable us to shepherd the process forward in the times ahead through our commitment, hopefully, to the same objective. I welcome you, once again, to Jordan and to share the success of this visit to this region. And I share with you the hope that we will be moving toward the breaking of a new dawn of peace in this region and a comprehensive peace. Thank you very, very much. Secretary Christopher. Thank you, Your Majesty. It is a great pleasure, as always, to be back here in Jordan and to be a guest of the King. We thank the Jordanian people and him for the graciousness of their hospitality, which is always very apparent when we are here in Jordan. The steps that the King has outlined, taken together, are genuinely transforming the landscape here in the Middle East. Together they represent a milestone in the peace-making process. I think the King deserves great credit for his courage in moving decisively ahead in this way. Through his courage and his leadership, I think King Hussein has once again demonstrated what we have long known-- that he is a man of great vision dedicated to moving forward the interest of not only his own people, but the people of the region and, especially, the cause of peace. I want him to know and I want the people of Jordan to know that America stands ready to do everything we can to assist in this process, which, of course, has to fundamentally rest on the shoulders of the parties. But, nevertheless, we are prepared to take any step that we can to assist the parties in this historic pursuit of peace in this region. So, thank you, Your Majesty, for your hospitality here. I look forward to the remainder of my trip here to Jordan and then to being a couple of more days in the region. Thank you, Your Majesty. Secretary Christopher, Israeli Foreign Minister Peres, and Jordanian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Al-Majali Addresses at the meeting of the U.S.-Jordan-Israel Trilateral Economic Committee, Dead Sea, Jordan, July 20, 1994. Secretary Christopher. Prime Minister Al-Majali, Foreign Minister Peres, members of the Israeli delegation, members of the Jordanian delegation, members of the United States delegation, ladies and gentlemen: On behalf of the United States, I am greatly honored to participate in this historic occasion at this legendary spot. For the first time, a Foreign Minister from the State of Israel has come openly to Jordan to meet with his counterpart in the name of peace between their two peoples. Mr. Ministers, the distances you traveled here today were relatively small, but the history you make by your presence is great. To a troubled world, you send forth a simple message that captures our vision and strengthens our faith that the scars of war can be healed, the divisions of memory can be overcome, peace between Arab and Jew can be achieved. Today, Israel and Jordan are stepping from the old into the new. An era of war is coming to a close. The cries of this ancient land for peace are finally being realized. Today, you lead your nations away from the hatreds of the past--hatreds that have wasted the talents of your people and robbed the dreams of your children. As we meet here today, we can proclaim to the people of Israel and the people of Jordan, the people of the Middle East, and, indeed, the people of the world, the time of destroying life is past, the time of building peace has come. For the U.S.-Jordan-Israel Economic Committee, today's historic meeting represents not simply a symbol of hope for a stricken land: It is also a practical instrument by which Jordanians and Israelis can achieve genuine reconciliation. Since President Clinton launched the trilateral talks last October at a meeting with Crown Prince Hassan and Foreign Minister Peres, we have made truly great strides. At this, the committee's fifth session, we begin negotiating the details of concrete projects that will foster new patterns of trust and cooperation between Israel and Jordan. These projects will serve as building blocks, the foundation upon which a lasting settlement can be based. They will promote economic development and, most importantly, they will deliver real benefits to the people of Jordan, the people of Israel, and, in time, the people of this entire region. These projects, in short, represent the face of peace. During these two days, the committee has had the opportunity to once again advance our common agenda. Perhaps no sector offers more immediate promise than tourism. Today, Israel and Jordan contain some of the world's most treasured historical, cultural, and religious sites, including, of course, this very spot where we are sitting today--the Dead Sea. Cooperative efforts to facilitate travel between the two countries could quickly result in a significant boost in tourism, and that would generate much- needed jobs and revenue, attracting foreign investment. Indeed, when one sees this place, it is really exciting to contemplate the burst of tourism, the burst of interchange that would be bound to follow the decrease in tensions. We are, of course, encouraging rapid progress on other longer term projects as well. We believe that early agreement should be reached on a start-up date for construction of a road linking Israel and Jordan in the vicinity of Eilat and Aqaba. This project could, in turn, serve as the forerunner of a larger effort to develop an integrated regional transportation system, containing all the modes of transportation. Our goal in this effort should be clear: to put in place the infrastructure vital to a new era of regional cooperation and prosperity. This is why we are also supporting the committee's efforts to devise a comprehensive plan for the Jordan Rift Valley, to work out bilateral trade and financial relations, to develop cooperation in civil aviation, and to establish a transborder national park. Each of these projects can weave the bonds of mutual interest and human contact that are the critical reinforcements of peace. Mr. Ministers, I need not remind you that our work here, and that being done in the bilateral talks between Jordan and Israel, takes on an even greater significance in light of recent events. Only a few days from now, on July 25 in Washington, President Clinton, King Hussein, and Prime Minister Rabin will convene at the White House for a historic summit meeting. By undertaking this unprecedented action, they, the leaders of our three nations, have signaled their determination to make every effort to reach a comprehensive and lasting peace. We here today can do no less. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that their efforts, that their leadership, will succeed. President Clinton has vowed that the United States stands firmly with these countries that have shown the courage and the vision to undertake risks for peace. As Jordan and Israel continue on the path of reconciliation, they should know that America, working with the entire community of the world, will do everything in its power to help ensure a new future of security and prosperity. Mr. Ministers, the future beckons us. Our responsibility is clear: to join together in making for this great and holy land a new era of peace and hope--a peace that is enduring because it is comprehensive, a peace not just of treaties, but of commerce and human exchange, a peace that is just and secure for Israel and Jordan and the rest of their neighbors in this area. So, here by the shores of the Dead Sea, let us rededicate ourselves to honoring life. Here from the lowest point on earth, let us set our sights at scaling the heights of peace. That is the course that our interests demand. That is the future that our people and our children deserve. Thank you very much, Mr. Minister and Mr. Minister. Foreign Minister Peres. Prime Minister Majali and the Jordanian delegation, Secretary of State Warren Christopher and the American delegation, my friends from the Israeli delegation, ladies and gentlemen: It took us 15 minutes to fly over to and it took us 46 years to arrive at this time and this place of peace and promise. Historically, we started at the same point. Politically, we are now embarking upon the same destiny to bring an entirely new situation to our people. It is time for peace. The people desire it; the land needs it. The Dead Sea, silent and deep, may become a symbol of new life. The Ha'Aravah Desert, which like a knife cuts the valley in two, can become a unifying element, a domain of bloom between our two countries. The meeting today must remind us of a place, of a date, of a destiny. The place, not far from here, in Al-Quwayrah, north of Aqaba--that is where the younger brother of the late King Abdallah, Amir Faysal Bin al-Hussein, met with the leader of the Jewish people, Dr. Weizmann. It was a first meeting of representatives of two national movements. Faysal summarized his views in a letter he sent to Justice Felix Frankfurter in March 1919, from which I quote: "We feel that the Arabs and the Jews are cousins in race, having suffered similar oppressions at the hands of powers stronger than themselves. We are working together for a reformed and revived Middle East, and our two movements complete one another. Indeed, I think that neither can be a real success without the other." A promising voice in the prevailing wilderness. The date is July 20. The founder and the leader of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Majesty King Abdallah, emerged as a man of farsighted vision and appropriate political judgment. His kingdom was based on human and Arab values. He introduced the policy that offered peace before war, peace instead of war, peace to end war. He negotiated this policy with many of us. Some of these negotiations bore fruit; others saved lives. Yet, partly, they failed in the face of existing suspicions. Nonetheless, they laid a foundation for a unique relationship, hidden and open, between Jordan and Israel. We never forgot the need for peace even in the gloomy days of open warfare. King Abdallah was assassinated in front of his young grandson, His Majesty King Hussein. This occurred July 20, 1951, the very same day of our meeting now. He gave his life for the cause of peace. Nothing can mark his life and death more than the arrival of peace on the very same date. The destiny is peace. The silent pledge of the wise king became the destiny of his grandson, His Majesty King Hussein, and the expectations in disciples of the Israeli leaders who looked to every opportunity to bring an end to wars to create a new opening with our neighbors. His Majesty King Hussein demonstrated stamina in the face of uninvited dangers, and he has shown courage in riding impending opportunities. What is taking place today, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Secretary, may be the light at the end of the tunnel we have crossed, and may end the swing of the pendulum, which has swayed from the pole of blind hatred stemming from misunderstandings often created by neither of us to the pole of political trust serving permanently the needs common to us all. Time has arrived to disperse old shadows, to permit legitimate peace and promising economy to play their proper role in our destinies. Time has come for our families, whose roots spring from the tents of Abraham to invite hospitality instead of perpetuating hostility. No more hostage. We can host each other gladly and easily. The border between Jordan and Israel is the longest we have with any of our neighbors. We can mark it now by mutual agreement in respecting the sovereignty and the integrity of each of us. The border touches three triangles--a Jordanian- Israeli-Palestinian one, a Jordanian-Israeli- Egyptian one, a Jordanian-Israeli-Syrian one. Facilitated by our great friend, the United States of America, its President, and its Secretary, we brought reason and agreement to two of those triangles. We do not intend to exclude the third one. Negotiations between Jordan and Israel do not call for the postponement of the negotiations with Syria and Lebanon. Our aim remains to reach a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, to build a new Middle East of peace. Peace with Jordan is central to the construction of a new Middle East. The centrality of its location, its impressive, civilized, and tested tradition may provide a real advantage for a durable rapport for a framework of peace and security in the region. We are now beginning to move and move openly. Peace needs daylight. The path ahead, the path we shall negotiate, may be full of hurdles and long in distance. But I do not harbor the slightest doubt that we can overcome the hurdles, shorten the distance, and reap early benefits, both for our people and for the other people in the Middle East. I am convinced that the construction of a new Middle East will attract investors from all over the world. This ancient land, which cannot be forgotten, may become the new opportunity which cannot be overlooked. The peace process will not end with the signature of our political leaders. Indeed, only then will it begin. And our target should be that before the end of the 20th century, we will face a new political and economic landscape: a landscape where borders will be open; where Jordanians will not be stopped at Eilat and Israelis in Aqaba; where new sophisticated industries will offer job opportunities to the young generation; where waterways will cover the brown deserts; where seaports and airports will be combined to serve all tourists--to visit holy places, to be cured in hot springs, or to view beautiful antiquities; where the skies will be open to competitive aviation and land distances will be shortened by new railways and highways; where water and oil will be carried in pipelines laid to answer economic needs rather than strategic wars; and where the electricity systems will be connected to save billions of dollars. Even before the sunset of the century, we can, together, reclaim land lost to desert. We can reclaim sea water to irrigate new fields, new gardens, new cities. We can change the face of the map and create a new structure of life. We have prepared our view of how the future will look in a rather detailed manner, and I am sure, from what I know, that you are ready likewise. We can transform a boundary of gloom into a valley of hope. Farmers will then replace soldiers. Greenhouses will come instead of barracks. Dunes will submit to plantation. Nature and reason have issued an invitation to this effect. The minerals of the Dead Sea, the innocence of the landscape, the varying levels of the terrain, the fatigues of the war--all of them await a new soul and a new hand. What was started on October 1 last year in the White House--the trilateral agreement reached between the President of the United States, the Crown Prince of Jordan, and myself--and what is happening today will crown the summit meeting in Washington between President Clinton, His Majesty King Hussein, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin. It should become the start of a new era. None of us can permit it to fail, and all of us must make a dual attempt to bring durable peace and promising economy to our needs. We shall have to demonstrate that a geographic rift has been transformed into an economic backbone and a political divide has become a valley of wisdom. To cherish the memory of our fallen youngsters is to build the correct future for the youngsters who follow in their ways. This time, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Secretary, history is on our side. We are offered a strong and fresh wind. Our sails must be ready. Thank you. Prime Minister Al-Majali. In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate [preceding phrase in Arabic], Secretary of State of the United States of America Mr. Warren Christopher, Foreign Minister of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen: Peace and God's blessings be upon you [preceding phrase in Arabic]. These are, indeed, vital and critical moments which historians shall cherish and poets shall relish. They will be recorded in the annals of history in block letters, for they separate at the edge between peace and war, construction and destruction, and even life and death. Indeed, as you mentioned, Mr. Foreign Minister, 43 years ago on the same day, the very date, the founder of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan paid with his life the price of his vision of peace in the holy city of Jerusalem at Al-Aqsa Mosque, at a time when emotions were running high and events were dictating violence and warfare. The late King Abdallah was the voice of reason and the statesman who advocated wise judgment. His deep sense of belonging to his Sharifian Al al-Bayt lineage and his strong attachment to this region account for his relentless efforts to achieve a just and honorable peace. It is our duty here to cherish his memory by achieving the kind of peace and coexistence that he aspired and worked for. Honorable guests, ladies and gentlemen: The Jordan Valley where we stand right now is where history and geography marched hand in hand to shape the course of humanity. In this very place near the Dead Sea, men of dedication and brave hearts took upon themselves to call for the worship of God to combat evil and preached justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. The good men of God eventually won, and evil was buried under those heavy waters of the sea that we see. Our meeting today is neither an accident nor a hasty last-minute get-together. Men of good hearts have invested several lifetimes to make it possible. We should dignify their toil with honorable peace that is just, permanent, and comprehensive. This plenary session held in Jordan is the result of the meeting that was hosted by President Clinton in Washington, DC, between His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hassan Bin Talal and Mr. Shimon Peres on October 1, 1993. At that event, Crown Prince Hassan presented a global vision of peace that would be based on the conceptual framework of cooperation rather than a mere listing of economic projects. Indeed, the introduction of this concept, which has been absent from our vocabulary in this region for too long, serves to underline the nature of the solid peace that we seek. Technicians can always draw projects where cooperation can take place. It takes courage, creativity, and imagination, however, to lay the foundation for such cooperation. Let us, then, contribute to the building of peace, which His Majesty King Hussein qualified as one which future generations can accept and build on. His Majesty's vision of peace is one where all parties gain. It is not a zero sum effort. It is a peace that honors man and woman to live in a secure world, free from poverty, hunger, and inequality. He has dedicated his life to pursue a defensible peace where rifts are bridged and cooperation is based on mutual respect. Peace to His Majesty means building societies where democracy, freedom of expression, and pursuit of happiness are available to all without discrimination. In less than a week, a major development that shall capture the fancy of the whole world is planned. President Bill Clinton and Mr. Thomas Foley will host His Majesty King Hussein and Mr. Yitzhak Rabin at the White House and at the United States Congress. This truly historical moment should serve as the takeoff to a new era in the region, where peace and prosperity shall prevail. Washington should also be appreciated and thanked for its positive and constructive role in advancing the cause of peace and accelerating our march toward it. On September 14, 1993, both Jordan and Israel signed in Washington the Common Agenda. That agenda still arouses the admiration of experts for its subtlety, balance, and comprehensiveness. It reflected realism by addressing all issues of contention. It embodied hope because it charted a transparent and tractable course of action, and it radiated optimism by focusing on human needs and aspirations. The integrity and unity of that Common Agenda is the basic characteristic. While we may apply a step-by- step approach to deal with its articles, it must be implemented in its entirety. Building peace is like writing a book: It is carefully crafted, chapter by chapter, but the book is never complete until all chapters are written and produced. The successful bilateral meetings which occurred during the last two days in Wadi Araba stand as witness that our focus should be placed on the substantial issues. The resolution of such issues is an essential part for the success of the peace process as a whole. The movement of negotiations to the region and in Jordan is a clear indication of the concurrence of both Israel and Jordan to go all the way to chart a future not just for themselves but for the whole region. We in Jordan, under the wise Hashemite leadership of His Majesty King Hussein, have given a lot for the cause of peace. This persistence on the path toward a better future entailed many sacrifices. Every war caused us huge losses in human lives, mass movements of people into Jordan, and loss of territory. We did more than our share in postwar stabilization at the expense of our limited resources. We continuously had to go through very painful adjustments to cope with substantial changes in our demography and geography. We fully realize the huge responsibility we have to shoulder in the maintenance of peace. This undertaking can be performed but can only be borne by a strong and stable Jordan. We in Jordan believe that comprehensive and just peace should have a human face. The long suffering of the Palestinian people and refugees should be ended, and their rights must be acknowledged and fairly dealt with. Security cannot be achieved while millions of Palestinians are denied their legitimate human rights. The sons of Abraham, may peace be upon him, are the adherents to the three monotheistic religions. They must resolve the issue of Jerusalem. Sovereignty over the holy places of Jerusalem is only for God, and, in His name, we should respect and honor that right. Mr. Christopher, Mr. Peres, ladies and gentlemen: Let us work for peace. The road is long and arduous, but dedicated men always walk it to the end toward a new dawn. Our trilateral meeting symbolizes the dedication of these concerned parties to wage peace. It also embodies the will of the world community, as represented by the United States of America, to make our region a valuable asset to the world. Let us hope that the achievements we score here are replicated on other tracks of negotiations for the assurance of its continuity. Foreign Minister Peres. Let us take this opportunity of our presence at this historical site to appeal to both of our people to transcend the conflicts of today and defy the state of siege in order to embark upon thinking of the harmony of tomorrow. From what I heard in your statement today, sir, it is clear to me that the creative thinking required to make real peace is there. The vision is slowly but surely becoming a reality. With sincerity and good will, the people of our two countries, as part of this region so long denied justice and security, will begin to enjoy the fruits of peace. We ask God, the omnipotent and the all merciful, to guide us on the rightful path for the good of all men and women of all ages. Thank you, sir. U.S.-Jordan-Israel Trilateral Economic Committee Statement released by the Office of the Spokesman, Dead Sea, Jordan, July 20, 1994. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Jordanian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abd al-Salam al- Majali, and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres presided over an unprecedented meeting at a Jordanian hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea July 20. In this historic meeting--the first gathering of the U.S.-Jordan-Israel Trilateral Economic Committee at the ministerial level in the region-- the three parties discussed numerous initiatives designed to address pressing regional problems faced by the Israelis and Jordanians. The ministers also undertook preparations for the July 25 summit meeting between President Clinton, Prime Minister Rabin, and King Hussein in Washington. The Trilateral Economic Committee was inaugurated by President Clinton in October 1993, when he met with Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan and Israeli Foreign Minister Peres at the White House. The United States participates in this committee as a catalyst to help achieve agreements on concrete projects. Private sector involvement and investment also will be crucial to take advantage of the opportunities identified by the trilateral group. Four previous sessions held in Washington and Europe resulted in adoption of a practical approach to addressing economic problems and proposals for a wide range of near- and long-term projects. The cumulative effect of these meetings was to create a framework within which practical projects are now being developed. In addition to a bilateral agreement on banking, the group has placed a special focus on tourism with concrete projects taking shape on joint tourism, marketing, a cooperative park project to promote tourism and protection of common marine resources in the Gulf of Aqaba. Facilitation of travel to both countries by third-country visitors also is under study. In the area of infrastructure, the Trilateral Committee is working toward construction of a road linking Jordan and Israel in the vicinity of Aqaba and Eilat. Experts also are addressing practical cooperation in civil aviation matters. Following the opening session today, experts from the three countries will continue to meet in Jordan through July 21. (###) ARTICLE 3: Inauguration of the Jordan-Israel Border Crossing Prime Minister Rabin, Secretary Christopher, Crown Prince Hassan, King Hussein Remarks at the inauguration of the Jordan-Israel border crossing at Aqaba, Jordan and Eilat, Israel, August 8, 1994. Prime Minister Rabin. Your Royal Highness, the Secretary of State of the United States, Prime Minister of Jordan, the Foreign Minister of Israel, ministers of the Governments of Jordan and Israel, ladies and gentlemen: The stagemaster working in the service of history has done us a great favor today. He has chosen this site as the ideal backdrop for the new relationships being formed between Israel and Jordan. We are, literally, seated at this time and this place, all of us--Israelis, Jordanians, and Americans--on the remains of the past. We are sitting on an old minefield, which was cleared only three days ago. This is what divided Israel and Jordan for decades. This is the field in which death and destruction was sowed. We are sitting at this time and at this place, all of us--Israelis and Jordanians--before the future. To our right and to our left stand the new Israel- Jordan border crossing terminals which sprang up overnight. In a short time, tourists and businessmen from all over the world will start to pass through here from Eilat to Aqaba, from Aqaba to Eilat, from Israel to Jordan, and from Jordan to Israel. Three days ago, this was a wilderness--only sand and more sand. Today, this place teems with new life. Three weeks ago, the dream of peace was far away. Today, it is materializing --telephone lines, tourism. Soon it will seem as though this is the way it has always been. Ladies and gentlemen: Friends say to us that the pace of events is too fast; we cannot keep up; wait a moment. Your Royal Highness, our friends in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: We have waited 46 years. We have gone through war, pain, and suffering to prevent further loss. And so, we cannot wait even one day more. It looks like the walls of hostility are tumbling down before our eyes, and all this would have been impossible had not the two peoples--the Jordanians and the Israelis and their leadership--wanted this to happen. This is the first stop on a long journey. There are still problems, difficulties, obstacles, and challenges ahead. But the farsightedness which has characterized our contacts in the past and which has compelled us to take the first steps toward peace and the spirit of responsibility and pragmatism--that in the end we will reach comprehensive peace with the Kingdom of Jordan and with all our neighboring Arab countries. Ladies and gentlemen: In the Arava, of which Isaiah says in the Bible, "The wilderness and solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." We hereby declare the Arava border crossing between Israel and Jordan now open. Mazel tov. Congratulations. Secretary Christopher. Your Highness, Prime Minister Rabin, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: The great American author, William Faulkner, once proclaimed "man will not merely endure; he will prevail." Today, again, your two countries fortify our faith in that basic proposition. Through 46 years of pain and suffering and conflict, Israel and Jordan have endured. Their war is over. Now peace will prevail. Today, Israel and Jordan are lifting the spirits of a wounded region by reminding it of the courage and honor, the compassion and sacrifice that two peoples can demonstrate in the search for peace. From this ancient and sacred land a new message of hope and reconciliation, born of blood and tears, has gone out. The longings and prayers of generations of Arabs and Jews are being fulfilled. Just two weeks ago, King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin came together at the White House to sign the Washington Declaration. There, with the world as their witness, they declared an end to the conflict between their two nations. There, they pledged to build the bonds of a real and lasting peace between their peoples. Today, half a world away, that promise is being redeemed. Here, in the land of miracles, the rhetoric of peace-making is being translated into reality. With the eyes of the world once more upon them, Israel and Jordan have acted with boldness and courage. A crossing point is opened, a wall torn down. The burden formed by decades of fear and suspicion has been eased. The area where we meet today is heavy with history and emotion. It is a place of legendary achievement where, in 1917, the forces of Emir Hussein, great- grandfather of Jordan's King and Crown Prince, won the battle for Aqaba. It has been a place of tension, whose lands and nearby waterways have been the source of heated disputes and even war between Israel and its Arab neighbors. And it has been a place of longing, where Israelis and Jordanians could stand on the beaches of Eilat and Aqaba and see each other but not know each other. Today, that begins to change. By bringing to life the promise of the Washington Declaration, we will weave together the fabric of human contact and mutual interest that is the foundation of genuine peace. Through open borders and open phones, road links and air links, economic cooperation and security coordination, Jordan and Israel will, step by step, transform their relations as well as their region. We know that there is yet much work to do. We know that forces of hatred are using terror and violence to undermine our efforts. They must not and shall not succeed. We must continue to push ahead until our goal is achieved. The only route home for all of us lies through the gates of a comprehensive and lasting peace between Israel and Jordan and between Israel and all her neighbors. As President Clinton pledged last month in Washington, "Just as we have supported you in coming this far, the United States will walk the final miles with you." Your Highness, Mr. Prime Minister: For you and your peoples, history has come full circle. From this place, at this time, the road of reconciliation between Arab and Jew has, literally, been opened again. Now, we must take it. The journey ahead remains long, but our step is ready. Our vision is clear, and our destination lies plainly in sight. It is peace--full peace: peace for Israel; peace for Jordan; peace for all the peoples of the Middle East. Thank you. Crown Prince Hassan. Prime Minister Rabin, Secretary of State Christopher, Foreign Minister Peres, ladies and gentlemen, friends: It gives me great pleasure to join you all today to inaugurate the Aqaba-Eilat border gate. It is, indeed, a significant step toward the full implementation of the provisions of the Washington Declaration, signed at the White House by His Majesty King Hussein together with President Clinton and Prime Minister Rabin. The Declaration comes after years of relentless efforts by His Majesty King Hussein to obtain a durable and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Without prejudice to the outcome of the negotiations on the delineation and demarcation of our common boundaries, the opening of this border gate demonstrates our joint commitment to make a concrete contribution to peace-making. Our presence here today signifies our determination to translate our intentions into tangible realities on the ground. Only in this way can we overcome the legacy of suffering and torment that dominates the daily life of our peoples and poisons the conduct of regional and international relations in this part of the world. Jordan and Israel lie at the heart of the Middle East and constitute an important confluence between three continents--Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has always been our vision that, under conditions of peace, the Middle East would be marked by the free movement of persons, capital, and goods across national frontiers. The Aqaba-Eilat border gate represents a physical demonstration of our desire to promote interregional transportation networks. Our region is the birthplace of civilization; it is the crossroads of different cultures where their interaction has produced the sophistication that has enthralled mankind throughout the ages. Henceforth, third-country citizens will be able to marvel at this precious heritage. It is only the first step in the long search to realize our vision of normal and harmonious good neighborliness. Let this gateway be a token of our resolve that soon our peoples will be able to share, exchange, and marvel at their common legacy. Allow me to reiterate--Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Secretary--what I said when I met with President Clinton and Foreign Minister Peres at the White House last October. The fundamental task of peace- building is to alleviate the prevalent conditions of poverty and deprivation in many segments of our societies. We agreed on the need to put an end to the politics of despair and dispossession. Peace should relate directly to the basic interests of those who bore the brunt of war by building material interdependence in major economic spheres. Let the opening of this border gate in this particular location mark the foundation stone on which we intend to build our common future. [In Arabic; below is unofficial translation.] To our great Jordanian people, who have always sought peace and justice, I say that this day that witnesses the inauguration of this border crossing must be viewed as a symbol of the passage of the just peace which we envision for our future generations. Indeed, the challenges of peace require further commitment, effort, and labor to translate the slogan of peace into realities of prosperity and progress on the ground. Peace, it should be added, must spark our innovative abilities to turn this desert into a success story to be remembered by succeeding generations. You have always stood firm and steadfast behind your Hashemite leadership--in peace as well as in war, and have unfailingly been the best of family in adversity. God willing, you shall always remain--as His Majesty, the leader, has always known you to be- -the best kinfolk when a new dawn breaks on this region which has long suffered agony and bitterness. At this place, I cannot but recall the souls of our faithful martyrs--the martyrs of 1948 and 1967 and of all the long years of struggle. These martyrs gave their blood in defense of the rights of their people and of their homeland to a secure and prosperous life. Throughout history, Jordan has been a gateway through which civilizations have passed and a junction upon which various trends have converged, none of which has ever altered the true identity of this country. We have always been a bridge to hope and good. I recall that Jordan was the gate to hope for scores of thousands of people who passed through this homeland during the Gulf crisis. We shared with them what little water, food, and medicine we had. Today, we open this crossing point to our guests from other countries to give them the opportunity to see the facts and our cultural heritage with their own eyes. In turn, they may convey to their peoples and nations a humanitarian message about the region's dire need for development and all that development requires in terms of water, energy, and infrastructure which will contribute to the alleviation of the suffering of our Jordanian individuals. This crossing point also stands as an assertion of our understanding of the concept of adaptation and communication with the world without forsaking our rights. What we witness today is yet a further message to the world that the conflict in this region has gone on for too long and that we are determined that it go on no longer. [End Arabic translation.] Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Secretary of State, Foreign Minister Peres: Let it be a testimony to our joint commitment to turn the Jordan Rift Valley into a valley of hope, development, and prosperity for all our peoples. A durable peace must be underpinned by the will to do away with disparity and social injustice and build a commonwealth of shared human interest. If I may quote the Bible--[quotation in Hebrew]--the English translation of which is "Turning the valley of trouble into a gate of hope." Thank you and salam alaykum. Opening remarks at a press conference, Aqaba, Jordan, August 8, 1994. King Hussein. I wish to begin by expressing my warmest welcome to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, and to all our friends who join with us today in this meeting here in Aqaba, Jordan, and who have taken part in yet another step which was agreed upon--the inauguration of the road link between Aqaba and Eilat for tourists and visitors to use in the times to come. We have had the chance to look at all the progress that has been achieved so far in terms of the Washington Declaration. I have had an opportunity to express, once again, our appreciation for President Clinton's hospitality, for the warmth with which we were received--both Prime Minister Rabin and I--in Washington, and all the support that we received. We feel, as we address you today, that we are friends and partners moving with determination, vision, and commitment toward building the foundations for a comprehensive peace in this region but, essentially, moving to address all the problems that need to be faced and addressed, adequately, to ensure that beyond words, deeds occur that can transform this region to what it should be. I would like to seize the opportunity, on this occasion, in addressing our Israeli viewers to say that I am very happy, indeed, to have this opportunity, once again, to reiterate what not only I feel, but that I am proud of how the overwhelming majority of the people of Jordan feel, in terms of a commitment to peace and to the future that is the right of generations to come to enjoy and protect and thrive under. It is really hard at times to believe that so much has happened in a very short space of time. Yesterday--today--I was recalling that it was only two weeks ago that the first meetings took place here at our common border. And almost just about that since we received the kind invitation to visit Washington and our visit there. But we are determined, we are committed, and we are confident that, with God's blessings, we will fulfill our duties toward generations to come and live in peace. The kind of peace that I have felt with myself is something I have never experienced over the many, many past years. I hope it is something that we will leave for all peoples--for men, women, and children--to live with and enjoy in the future. We remember those who have fallen, and, indeed, it was also a very moving experience for of us today to see their children come together and to see many within our military forces, who stood on different sides of an issue at a point in the past, meet in friendship and hope and optimism regarding the future. Once again, Mr. Prime Minister, I welcome you very heartily and all your colleagues and also the Secretary. Thank you so much. Prime Minister Rabin. Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Secretary of State: First and foremost, I would like to thank you in the name of my colleague to the cabinet--the Foreign Minister of Israel--and my other colleagues for the most gracious and warm hospitality here in Aqaba. I believe that on July 25, when we met in Washington and we signed together the Washington Declaration, it was a landmark in the history of the Middle East, in the history of the relations between Jordan and Israel, and a landmark in the history of the road to peace. It was not just a Declaration; we see that within two weeks we have started to implement it. Yesterday, telephone connections were made between Jordan and Israel, between Israel and Jordan. And Your Majesty had a telephone call from the President of Israel-- President Weizman. Today, Your Highness, myself, the Secretary of State, and our colleagues opened a real opening of a border that was closed. Symbolically, this crossing--international crossing between Jordan to Israel, between Aqaba and Eilat-- is in a place that served as a mine field for many decades. The mines were cleared; the road is free; the future is in pursuing what we have started now. I don't believe that this could be achieved without your vision and courage, Your Majesty. You led your people through difficult periods, and you make the right decision now--a very courageous decision-- that, no doubt, changes the face of the Middle East today. I believe that what we have started will be continued, and we will find many issues on which we can cooperate. You mentioned, Your Majesty, that we in a small group discussed the details of the negotiations, that tomorrow we will start in two places--in the tent in the Arava for the last time and in the Dead Sea Company Hotel on our side. I am sure that, through intensive negotiations, we will find ways to overcome obstacles and differences, as we have succeeded to do until today. I believe that what has started in Washington by the Washington Declaration, no doubt, is a new chapter, not only in the relations between Jordan and Israel, I believe that it serves as an example of what can be achieved in the relations with Israel and the other Arab countries--between the other Arab countries and Israel--because, after all, our mutual purpose-- goal--is comprehensive peace to solve, once and forever, the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its entirety. I would like also to thank the Secretary of State for the U.S. help--the personal involvement of President Clinton and you, Mr. Secretary, in bringing about and assisting so that these events-- historic events--will take place. We rely on the continuation of the U.S. assistance and support to the development of the relations between Jordan and Israel--politically, economically, and otherwise. We believe that the United States has shown great leadership in helping--assisting the parties to the conflict to overcome it. As you said, Your Majesty, in your famous speech on the lawn of the White House: We achieved the end of war; we are in the process of building the structure of peace. Thank you very much, Your Majesty, in the name of all of us here. Secretary Christopher. Your Majesty, Your Highness, Prime Minister Rabin, Prime Minister Majali, ladies and gentlemen: Today is a reflection of a great deal of work that has been done by a number of people over many years. Many of them are here in our presence. Two are certainly here at the table. Your Majesty, when I reflect on the fact, I suppose it is accurate to say that it is almost 43 years that you have been pursuing the goal that comes about today. It is a very good thing for the world to see this happening today with all of the intractable problems that face the world. It is a tonic to know that some seemingly intractable problems do have their solutions. It was entirely appropriate today that we focused primarily on the bilateral relationships between Jordan and Israel-- for those two countries now have an opportunity to demonstrate what the real benefits of peace are, to show the world what a warm peace is, to show the