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Telegraphic Copy [blacked out] 04-045
Number R202057 | Primary: First Middle East Division |
October 8, 1990 [time blacked out] | Sent [from] Egypt |
October 9, 1990 [time blacked out] | Arrived [at] Ministry |
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[to] Minister of Foreign Affairs | [from] Ambassador Yamada Chusei |
The Prime Minister’s Visit to the Middle East (Luncheon with Egyptian President Mubarak)
No. 1862 Secret Urgent (Priority Processing) [blacked out]
Concerning Outgoing Telegram No. 1828,
President Hosni Mubarak on October 3 hosted an unofficial luncheon from one o’clock to 2:15 in the afternoon, as per Jordan Telegram 1184. (Present from the other side were Prime Minister Atef Sedky, Foreign Minister Abdel Meguid, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Atef Ebeid, and Ambassador to Japan Wahib El-Miniawy. Present from our side were Ambassador to Egypt Yamada Chusei, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Owada Hisashi.) It was social conversation for the most part, but the following two issues came up.
1. The Proposal of France’s President Mitterand
President Mubarak: That the second point in the Mitterand proposal does not refer to the restoration of the legitimate government and has language about the restoration of the sovereignty in Kuwait by a democratic process are problems. That is to say, it does not clearly mention the principle of the legitimate government’s restoration. In Kuwait, the first thing to do is to restore the legitimate government. After that, it is enough to leave it to Kuwait’s people themselves to decide what to do about the form of government. Outside interference should be excluded. If this point is not made clear, as in the Mitterand proposal, it could happen, with the increasing Iraqification of Kuwait, that Iraq’s fait accompli will be accepted. In Kuwait, there is even the National Assembly. On the other hand, in Iraq there is nothing democratic. The president is not elected but made himself president and holds the position for life. When I expressed in an interview with Le Figaro my doubts regarding the Mitterand proposal, the French Foreign Ministry issued the clarification that the French government’s position was that of the legitimate government’s restoration. I can accept the Mitterand proposal if they make this point clear.
2. Desert Greening
Prime Minister Kaifu brought up the conversation with Minister of Cabinet Affairs Ebeid in the car on desert greening, reported in outgoing telegram 1837. This Ambassador also introduced the information that the inauguration ceremony for a Japanese pilot farm using a water-retaining medium (Japanese cooperation in desert development, Egypt’s Bustan area) would take place tomorrow, October 4. The Prime Minister said that he thought it would be good if Japan could cooperate on this issue. (End)
Summary of Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu's luncheon with Egyptian President Mubarak in the wake of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Among issues discussed were French President Mitterand's proposed response to the invasion and a desert greening project in Egypt.
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