U.S. plans arms for Jordan

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 6

U.S. plans arms for Jordan

NZPA-AP Washington A high-ranking American State Department official told a sharply critical House of Representatives sub-com-mittee yesterday that the President, Mr Ronald Reagan, would soon announce plans to sell advanced American fighterbombers and anti-aircraft missiles to Jordan. Faced with opposition from virtually all of the dozen Congressmen at the hearing, Richard Murphy, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian affairs, said, “the United States must be prepared to respond to the defence needs of those willing to take risks for peace. “A Jordan arms package would improve Jordan’s military capability

potential aggression. It would also demonstrate to those who want to block peace and question the seriousness of American staying power in the search for peace.” Lee Hamilton (Democrat), chairman of the foreign affairs sub-committee on the Middle East and Europe, pressed Mr Murphy to say when the arms measure would be sent to Congress. It was now awaiting Mr Reagan’s final approval and “I would anticipate an early notice,” Mr Murphy replied. Mr Reagan had already pledged to King Hussein that the United States would support Jordan’s security requirements, and he said that the Pentagon had certified that the Jordanian request for Tigershark or Fighting Falcon jets and

advanced Hawk anti-air-craft missiles was justified. This was the first public declaration that the sale, which is strongly opposed by Israel and congressmen who support Israel, was almost certain to go ahead. King Hussein, who will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, is due in Washington on September 30 to confer with Mr Reagan. It was unclear whether the arms proposal would be submitted to Congress before or after the visit. Under law the arms sale, which is expected to amount to more than ?USI billion, would go ahead unless both Houses of Congress passed resolutions disapproving of it. Mr Reagan could then veto such legislation, but Consjgss could override his acti3r

A key question raised by several members of the committee was whether such a sale complied with the 1986 Foreign Aid Bill, which requires the President to certify that before such an arms sale is made Jordan has committed itself to recognising Israel and beginning prompt negotiations with Israel. Mr Murphy praised King Hussein for his efforts this year and said that the Administration believed he had met the condition in the Foreign Aid Bill. King Hussein has proposed that the United States meet a group of Jordanians and Palestinians in a preliminary meeting. That would be followed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s accepting the American conditions for recognising it — acceptance

of Israel’s right to exist and key United Nations Security Council resolutions. Then, the King has proposed, there should be an international conference, at which Jordan would meet Israel across the table. The meeting with the joint delegation has not been held yet because the United States will not sit down with P.L.O. members. A list of seven Palestinians sent to Washington in July for inclusion in the delegation included only three whom Washington deemed acceptable. Mr Murphy disclosed yesterday that King Hussein insisted that four of the seven be in the delegation. Mr Murphy also said that agreement had not been reached on how to ensure that direct talks with Israel take place promptly.