Arab League chief in Jordan for a two-day visit
Regional, Politics, 2/5/1998

On his return back from his three-day visit to Baghdad, Friday, Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid, will start a two-day official visit to Jordan. He is to meet with Jordanian senior officials.

Abdul Mejuid, in Amman yesterday on his way to Baghdad, was asked whether he had a new initiative for Iraqi leadership to ease the current crisis between Iraq and the UN. Abdul Mejuid answered by saying that Iraq should fully comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

Abdul Mejuid in his expected visit to Amman will inform Jordanian officials of the conclusions reached in his talks with Iraqi leaders.

Upon his arrival in Amman yesterday, Dr. Abdul Mejuid was received by Jordanian Foreign Minister Dr. Fayez al-Taraunah. They discussed the latest developments and efforts being made by all parties to contain the crisis.

Al-Taraunah confirmed that Jordan supported Arab League efforts to ease the tension, "We want Arabs to act in such a serious crisis that faces Iraq and whole the region," al-Taraunah said.

He also informed Abdul Mejuid of the conclusions reached in his communications with his Arab counterparts. He told the chief of Arab League that they all supported such initiatives, "You are going to talk to the Iraqi authorities instead of all the Arab leaders," al-Taraunah told him.

"I discussed the nature of the next Arab step with Dr. Abdul Mejuid."al-Taraunah said,"It will be, no doubt, related to the developments in Iraqi crisis," he added.

Al-Taraunah reaffirmed Jordan's attitude concerning the refusal to use military force and called for, "diplomatic efforts and dialogue," to end the crisis.

Chief of Arab League confessed that his work was difficult and dangerous. "My task aims at avoiding any kind of military operations to end the Iraqi crisis," he said.

"Arabs wish to reach a settlement through peaceful means," Abdul Mejuid told reporters in Amman.

He said that he had no new ideas with him to offer in Baghdad, but, "I expect to meet Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and discuss the means on the table to settle the crisis peacefully."

"We all, firstly, adhered to certify the necessity that Iraq should fully comply with the UN Security Council Resolutions," he said. Those resolutions required specific procedures, he added.

Asked about statements by the US secretary of state concerning the agreement of Arab countries to launch a military attack against Iraq, Dr. Abdul Mejuid said that no Arab state agreed upon a military operation against Iraq.

Chief of the Arab League left Amman for Baghdad in a 950 km journey by car yesterday.

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