JOINT STATEMENT
U.S.-JORDANIAN-ISRAELI TRILATERAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE
JUNE 6-7, 1994
Washington, D.C.
The fourth meeting of the U.S.-Jordanian-Israeli Trilateral Economic
Committee was held in Washington on June 6-7, 1994. The group met in
plenary, and as in previous meetings, convened in two sub-groups: on
trade, banking and finance, and on cooperative projects.
Among the results of this trilateral:
On trade, banking and finance
- Jordan and Israel agreed to begin work on a draft framework which would
explore and outline future trade and economic relations between the two
countries.
- Both sides discussed in detail, both bilaterally and with the U.S., their
respective economic agreements with the Palestinians.
- Both sides will continue their consultations on banking issues.
- Jordan and Israel proposed to invite participation by Palestinians in a
new trilateral forum for discussion by mutual agreement of trade, banking
and finance issues which affect the three parties. The U.S. may also be
invited to participate in some aspects of these discussions.
On cooperative projects
The parties agreed to engage on a number of issues simultaneously:
- The parties discussed Jordan's and Israel's conceptual papers on their
comprehensive development plans for the Jordan Rift Valley. The U.S. will
assist the parties by merging these into an umbrella master plan which can
serve as a basis for a sub-group trilateral meeting on the subject in the
region in July 1994.
- The parties agreed to convene a sub-group trilateral meeting of experts on
tourism in the region in July, which will include representatives from the
private sector. Special focus will be tourism promotion in the Dead Sea and
Aqaba-Eilat areas.
- The parties will designate one official each who will be responsible for
trilateral coordination on a transboundary cultural heritage park in the
Rift Valley. To this end, the U.S. has proposed a trilateral site visit to a
U.S. national park next month which could serve as an appropriate model for
development in the region.
- The parties agreed in principle on the utility of constructing a road to
link Jordan, Israel and Egypt in the vicinity of Aqaba and Eilat. To follow
up on discussions, the parties will conduct a preliminary site survey in the
region in July, 1994. Concurrently, Jordan and Israel will initiate their
negotiations on the common boundaries per their Common Agenda of September
14, 1993.
- The three sides agreed to convene an experts' level meeting in the region
to discuss cooperation on civil aviation. This, too, is projected for July,
1994.
In addition, Israel and Jordan, following consultations held on the occasion
of the trilateral meeting, reached a number of understandings in the context
of bilateral negotiations leading to a Treaty of Peace, as stipulated in the
Israeli-Jordanian Common Agenda, as follows:
A. The two sides have concluded common sub-agendas in the fields of water,
energy and the environment and security, borders and territorial matters.
B. Agreement was reached to set up a Commission on Boundaries, Security,
Water and the Environment and Related Issues, and relevant sub-commissions
on each item, to discuss the sub-agendas and other matters as agreed.
C. The other parts of the Common Agenda will then be negotiated.
D. Meanwhile, negotiations on economic matters will continue, in order to
prepare for future bilateral cooperation.
E. The results of the negotiations will be incorporated into drafts which
will form parts of a Treaty of Peace.
F. The negotiations on the above will take place in the region, starting in
July, 1994.