Cable No. 1202 from Ambassador Nonoyama Tadayuki (Jordan) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'Prime Minister Kaifu’s Visit to Jordan (Tea with the Crown Prince)'

Secret

Telegraphic Copy                                                                    [blacked out]               04-046

Prime Minister Kaifu’s Visit to Jordan (Tea with the Crown Prince)

No. 1202         Secret              Top Urgent      [blacked out]

On October 4, Prime Minister Kaifu, at the invitation of Crown Prince Hassan, conversed with the Crown Prince for approximately 30 minutes while having tea with him. Following is a summary of the conversation’s main points. (Present were Owada Hisashi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Nonoyama Tadayuki, Ambassador to Egypt. Interpreter: Tsuruoka Koji).

1. At the outset, the Prime Minister apologized that, although he had planned to tour the refugee camp with the Crown Prince as guide, the Iraq meeting went on for a long time so that he had to cancel the tour. The Crown Prince replied in saying that he, too, had met Deputy Prime Minister Ramadan, who had arrived yesterday around 11 o’clock. The Crown Prince said that perhaps it was because the Deputy Prime Minister was not in charge of diplomacy that he was active in dialogue with foreign countries and in breaking Iraq from its diplomatic isolation. The Crown Prince also said that he appeared, at least, to be ready to consider any proposal.

2. Then, when asked by the Crown Prince concerning his impression of his Iraq meeting, the Prime Minister said the following:

(1) Today was the first dialogue. I emphasized that Iraq relieve the present tension and bring about a change in the situation

in withdrawing from Kuwait, realizing the restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government, and implementing the release of all foreigners. I emphasized that, with nearly the entire international community calling for such changes, Iraq carry out these actions by making a courageous decision.

(2) I said that, if the situation changes, then, as President Mitterand and President Bush say, there can be created an atmosphere to advance peace in the Middle East.

(3) In reply, the Iraqi side, after going over the historical background and such, said that settlement of the Gulf crisis must take place at the same time as peace in the Middle East. Our positions differed concerning this point.

(3) [sic – should be remark (4)] I had a good meeting with Deputy Prime Ministers Ramadan thanks to the cooperation of the Crown Prince and others in Jordan’s government. Deputy Prime Minister Ramadan and I agreed to continue talks.

2. [sic – second “2.” in document] In reply, the Crown Prince said the following:

(1) Regarding the Gulf crisis and peace in the Middle East, Iraq’s point of view is that there is no realization of simultaneous withdrawal from the occupied territories in both cases. The same principle relates to both issues. That is to say, they are issues with parallel principles.

(2) It was confirmed at the US-Soviet summit at Helsinki that, as with the Gulf crisis, there should be a response to the issue of peace in the Middle East. President Bush said at the press conference after the summit meeting that he did not wish to dilute interest in the Gulf crisis but that he recognized as well the importance of peace in the Middle East. I (Hassan) had a similar reaction when visiting the area myself yesterday. No one I (Hassan) met – Secretary of State James Baker, Assistant to the President Brent Scowcroft, and the senior State Department officials – avoided the issue of peace in the Middle East.

(3) It is simply a matter of starting with what should be done first.

(In reply, the Prime Minister explained that Japan’s position was the same. Easing tensions came first but, if the atmosphere were improved, we could then move to the next stage.)

(4) I completely agree. The pressing business at hand is to ease the worsened tensions, and France and the Soviet Union are making last-minute efforts. In fact, the Soviet delegation yesterday tried to persuade King Hussein to fly with them to Baghdad. The King declined to go to Baghdad, however, saying that he had done everything that he had to do. Negotiations are taking place. In the end it is a question of whether Kuwait will accept them.

(5) Waging war with Iraq would further militarize the region, including Iran. I cannot even imagine what the scenario would be. In the event that Iraq prepared missiles against Israel, Israel, with satellite intelligence from the United States, would launch a counterstrike. I wonder if this would violate Jordan’s airspace. There is also reporting that the US military would use Jordanian territory. In short, what is clear is that Jordan would be reduced to scorched earth.

Jordan will not open its borders to extremists. Jordan at present faces two challenges: radicalization in the short term and security among sovereign states in the long term. Palestinians of the West Bank are more united than ever, and King Hussein is highly popular. It would be no surprise, however, if there were forces trying to use the current situation to their advantage.

3. The Crown Prince then said the following:

(1) Because Saudi concerns regarding Jordan are profound, King Hussein has gone so far as to say to the Saudi king that it would be good if (Hussein) abdicated the throne and Jordan joined Saudi Arabia in a confederation. That Saudi Arabia is putting pressure on Jordan is completely incomprehensible.

(2) Jordan is making moves with an eye to the future. However, the Gulf states are only talking about aid but in fact are not providing any aid at all.

(3) Western friends are saying that Jordan’s existence is necessary for peace in the Middle East, but if support to Jordan does not accompany such talk, I am even inclined to suspect that their true intent is to try to make Jordan give up Jerusalem. Jordan’s foundation is that of Jordanians and Palestinians, the most educated people in the Middle East. Taking action that Jordan’s people do not accept would drive them to fight.

(4) Both Secretary of State Baker and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze have said that they cannot wait for Arab unity to build a new world order, but Jordan now has nothing to lose.

(5) Even if in the next three or four weeks some officer who had received money from outside Jordan were to assassinate the King and me, I would like our friends to remember that at least we died in defending the principle of survival. Jordan cannot keep danger at a distance by simply paying off extremists, as the Gulf states do. The trend towards violence in this region is growing increasingly intense.

4. In reply, the Prime Minister said the following:

(1) I fully understand the difficult situation in which Jordan finds itself.

(2) Japan’s position is to continue its persistent efforts for the peaceful realization of Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait, the restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government, and the release of all foreigners.

(The Crown Prince asked that Jordan’s position not be misunderstood because Jordan was not sending troops to the multinational force. The Prime Minister replied that he fully understood.)

5. At the end, the Prime Minister explained Japan’s contribution regarding refugee assistance. The Crown Prince replied in requesting the provision of non-military aircraft from NATO to repatriate the refugees before the winter. With the coming of winter, the tents would have to be replaced with prefabricated housing, which was expected to be very difficult. The Prime Minister replied that Japan intended to cooperate to the fullest extent on refugee assistance, ending the meeting.

Request that you pass this telegram to other diplomatic missions that you find relevant.

Passed to Embassy in Turkey (VVVVV). (End)