President Nixon resigned his office on 9 August and was succeeded by Vice President Ford. One of the first moves of the new administration was to invite Middle Eastern leaders for talks in Washington. The first to arrive was King Hussein of Jordan. In the course of his talks, the King again demanded that Israel withdraw its forces from the strip along the river Jordan as part of a possible disengagement of forces agreement with Israel. The Israel government sought to clarify its position on this matter and the Foreign Ministry Spokesman issued a statement on 18 August saying that "Israel has rejected and will reject the Jordanian demand for withdrawal along the river Jordan as part of what Jordan terms disengagement of forces." Text of the U.S.-Jordan statement and the Israel Foreign Ministry reaction follow:
Joint Statement:
His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan paid a visit to Washington August 15-18, at the invitation of the President. The President hosted a dinner in honor of His Majesty and Queen Alia. The President expressed his pleasure that His Majesty was the first head of state to visit Washington in the new administration. His Majesty also conferred with the Secretaries of State and Defense and met with members of Congress. His Majesty was accompanied by the Prime Minister of Jordan, Mr. Zaid Rifai.
The talks were held in the atmosphere of friendship and understanding traditional in relations between the United States and Jordan. The President and His Majesty pledged that the two countries will continue to work closely together for the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The President stressed the continuity of United States' policy in his regard as in all other aspects of American foreign policy and affirmed his commitment that the United States would continue its determined efforts to help bring a peace settlement in the Middle East. The discussions between His Majesty and the President and Secretary of States were a constructive contribution to the consultations now underway looking toward the next stage in negotiations for a just and durable peace in the Middle East. It was agreed that these consultations will continue with a view to addressing at an appropriately early date the issues of particular concern to Jordan, including a Jordanian-Israeli disengagement agreement.
The President and His Majesty reaffirmed the close ties of friendship between the United States and Jordan and pledged to continue their efforts to strengthen the bonds which join the two countries in mutually beneficial cooperation. Specifically, His Majesty and the President recalled that the joint U.S.-Jordanian statement issued June 18 at the end of President Nixon's visit to Amman announced that Jordan and the United States agreed to establish a joint commission to oversee and review at a high level the various areas of cooperation between the two countries. In fulfilling this agreement, the U.S. and Jordan have pledged to make every, effort to expedite the development of an effective structure of cooperation and have agreed on the following concrete steps:
The United States and Jordan have established a general Jordan-United States joint commission under the chairmanship of the Jordanian Prime Minister and the U.S. Secretary of State. The first meetings of this commission were held during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington August 5-8 and August 16-17 during which promising areas of mutual interest were identified.
The commission will sponsor a meeting on economic development, trade and investment before the end of the year to review plans for Jordan's economic development and identify additional areas in which the United States can be of assistance. Work will begin immediately in Amman and Washington to prepare for this meeting.
The commission will also explore possibilities for increased American private participation in Jordan's economic development and ways of increasing trade between the two countries. Mr. Daniel Parker will head the American. delegation to the economic meeting, which will also include representation from various government agencies. The Jordanian economic delegation will be headed by Dr. Khalil Salem, President of the National Planning council.
The commission will arrange meetings on military assistance and supply problems at a mutually acceptable date to review implementation of continuing U.S. assistance to the Jordanian armed forces and to advance planning for future assistance. Jordan's Chief of Staff, Major General Zaid Bin Shaker, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Ambassador Robert Ellsworth, will head the perspective delegations.
It was further agreed that Jordan and the United States will give attention to the means by which educational, cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries can be enhanced.
Finally, the President and His Majesty agreed that they would remain in close contact with each other with a view to giving their full support to the efforts being made to achieve peace in the Middle East and to the further strengthening of the ties between their two countries.
His Majesty expressed the hope that the President would be able to visit Jordan at some future date. The President said he would be happy to do so.
Israel Reaction:
In reply to question by reporters on Israel's reaction to the joint statement by the U.S. president and the Jordanian king published today (Sunday) in Washington, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said: The government of Israel welcomes the declaration of the U.S. president that his government would persevere in its efforts for the attainment of a just and durable peace in our region. The president also emphasized the continuity of the American foreign policy on this subject, as on others.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that in the joint statement published in Jerusalem at the conclusion of his visit in Israel, President Nixon had reiterated the American commitments in respect of Israel's security and her right to exist within secure borders. The government of Israel is prepared, as it has repeatedly declared, to strive for a peace settlement with Jordan. Israel, however, has rejected and will reject the Jordanian demand for an Israeli withdrawal along the Jordan River as part of what Jordan terms "disengagement of forces."
Reference to this subject in the statement by President Ford and King Hussein does not alter Israel's stand.