Jerusalem, 18 January 1996
COMPLETION OF SIGNING OF ISRAELI-JORDANIAN AGREEMENTS
(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
On Thursday, January 18, 1996, in Aqaba, Israel and Jordan will sign the
last of four bilateral agreements devolving from the peace agreement
between the two countries. They are:
1. Science and Culture Agreement. This will serve as a framework for
cooperation on projects in the fields of research and development,
professional training, and cultural exchanges.
2. Communication Agreement. This will legalize the existing postal
connection between the countries, and will create the infrastructure for
bilateral and regional cooperation in the field of telecommunications
(such as coordination of frequencies, etc.).
3. Aqaba-Eilat Agreement. This will create a framework for transforming
the Aqaba-Eilat region into a single district for cooperation in the
fields of tourism, industry, trade, environment and infrastructure,
including setting up an ocean park on both shores of the gulf.
4. Maritime Border Agreement. This determines arrangements for marking
the maritime border between the two countries. This is, in essence,
Israel's only recognized sea border.
Over the last few months, the following agreements have been signed:
Tourism, Border Crossings, Energy, Health, Environment, Police and the War
Against Drugs, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Agriculture, Transportation
and Civil Aviation.
The signing of the agreements today will conclude the process of
negotiation and peace-making, and the process of implementing and building
the peace will begin. The Supervisory Committee which coordinated the
contacts between the the various negotiating teams, and served as an
monitoring committee will thus conclude its activities and disband.
Three permanent working groups will continue to operate: the Jordan Valley
Development Committee (JRV); the Water Committee; and the Special Regime
for Zofar and Naharayim. All other contacts will be conducted through the
regular channels of embassies and the relevant ministries. The relations
which developed between the working groups in the various areas have
created a basis for dialogue and cooperation between the two sides.
The events today will open with a signing ceremony of the agreements in
Aqaba, with the participation of Prime Minister Shimon Peres, as well as
Foreign Minister Ehud Barak, who will sign the Agreement on Science, and
Culture and Communication Minister Shulamit Aloni, who will sign the
Agreement on Communications. Jordan will be represented by Crown Prince
Hassan, Prime Minister Bin-Shaker, and Foreign Minister Kabriti.
Following the ceremony, Prime Minister Peres and Prince Hassan and their
respective entourages will meet, after which they will sail on the royal
yacht to Eilat. In Eilat, the Prime Minister will host an official dinner
in honor of the Crown Prince, accompanied by guests from both countries.