Prime Minister confirms Jordanian efforts to contain Iraqi crisis
Jordan, Politics, 2/13/1998

Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Abdul-Salam al-Majali met with the National General Mobilization to Defend Iraq, a committee represents Jordanian parties and professional unions. Both deputy prime ministers, and the ministers of interior, foreign affairs and information attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Majali confirmed that he was eager to meet with the representatives of various political parties and syndicates to exchange ideas with them.

Majali reviewed all the diplomatic efforts Jordan has made with Arab League, Islamic Conference, the US, Britain, Turkey and both Russian and French envoys to settle the crisis via diplomatic methods. "Jordan will not stop its best efforts to contain the Iraqi governmental crisis by diplomatic means," Majali said.

The prime minister appraised the dialogue with the members of the committee to defend Iraq, "the clash of ideas promotes democracy but does not topple it," Prime Minister said.

Concerning the prohibition of rallies to support Iraq in such a circumstance, Majali said it was not a specific call being made to bar any particular rally; it was something common, "it was done without being coordinated with the government in advance." He said a public call opens doors wide to mercenaries to get much use of the rally to forward their goals.

"Jordan should keep its ability to make political movements, particularly with countries threatening to strike Iraq," he said. Jordan supported Iraq during its first war, he reminded attendees.

Prime Minister proposed a joint committee to recommend suitable methods by which people could express their support for Iraq.

"The extended meeting with the prime minister which lasted for more than three hours did not bear fruit," the head of the National General Mobilization Committee to support Iraq, Sulayman Arrar, told reporters at the end of the meeting, but the prime minister did not say that he was going to use force to stop the rally, he added.

Arrar said the committee refused the proposal made by Dr. al-Majali to establish a joint committee.

Demonstrations will move ahead Arrar said, "We are not creating any problems. We are not revolutionaries and the rally will not be for more than two hundred meters."

"The rally will not pull Iraq out of its sanctions but it expresses the views of Arab and Islamic people," in Jordan, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi Foreign Minister visits Jordan   (2/12/1998)
  Jordanian opposition holds solidarity rally with Iraq   (2/11/1998)
  23 Jordanian deputies want minister out over song and dance   (2/5/1998)

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