Visit of King Hussein of Jordan
Statement by the White House Press Secretary.
June 17, 1980

Let me begin with a few brief comments on the meeting between President Carter and King Hussein this morning.

They met this morning for about 2 hours, with advisers on both sides. A list of the participants will be posted at the conclusion of this briefing. They began their talks with a strategic overview of the entire area: the consequences for regional security of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; the situation in Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and the gulf, and Lebanon, as well as the West Bank.

Each leader discussed the measures that his government is taking to achieve the common objective of helping to preserve the stability and independence of states in the area. They also shared their analyses of current efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. They agreed—as was apparent from their statements at the arrival ceremonies this morning—that the objective of both countries is a comprehensive peace.

Their discussions, as you know, will continue tomorrow morning, and the King will be meeting with Secretary Muskie tomorrow as well.

Let me say in characterization that it is the view of the President that these discussions were both very frank and extremely cordial and constructive.

NOTE: Press Secretary Jody Powell read the statement at 1:35 p.m. at his regular briefing for reporters in the Briefing Room at the White House.

Participants in the bilateral meeting included:
American side
PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER
SECRETARY OF STATE EDMUND S. MUSKIE
ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS VELIOTIS, U.S. Ambassador to Jordan
AMBASSADOR SOL LINOWITZ, Personal Representative of the President for Middle East Peace Negotiations
HAROLD SAUNDERS, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
ROBERT HUNTER, National Security Council staff member

Jordanian side
HIS MAJESTY HUSSEIN I, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
His EXCELLENCY ’ABD AL-HAMID SHARAF, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
HIS EXCELLENCY AHMAD LAWZI, Chief of Royal Court
LT. GEN. AMER KHAMMASH (Ret.), Minister of Court
LT. GEN. SHAME ZAID BIN SHAKER, Commander in Chief of the Jordan Armed Forces
HIS EXCELLENCY FAWAZ SHARAF, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States