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The Washington
Declaration
Israel
- Jordan - The
United States
(July 25th, 1994)
- After generations of
hostility, blood and tears and in the wake of years of pain and wars, His
Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin are determined to
bring an end to bloodshed and sorrow. It is in this spirit that His
Majesty King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Prime Minister
and Minister of Defense, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin of Israel,
met in Washington today at
the invitation of President William J. Clinton of the United
States of America. This initiative of
President William J. Clinton constitutes an historic landmark in the United
States' untiring efforts in promoting
peace and stability in the Middle East. The
personal involvement of the President has made it possible to realize
agreement on the content of this historic declaration.
The signing of this declaration bears testimony to
the President's vision and devotion to the cause of peace.
- In their meeting, His Majesty
King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have jointly reaffirmed the
five underlying principles of their understanding on an Agreed CommonAgenda designed to reach the goal of a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace between the Arab
States and the Palestinians,
with Israel.
- Jordan
and Israel
aim at the achievement of just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel
and its neighbors and at the conclusion of a Treaty of Peace
between both countries.
- The two countries will
vigorously continue their negotiations to arrive at a state of peace,
based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 in all
their aspects, and founded on freedom, equality and justice.
- Israel
respects the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in
Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem.
When negotiations on the permanent status will take place, Israel
will give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these shrines.
In addition the two sides have agreed to act together to promote
interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions.
- The two countries
recognize their right and obligation to live in peace with each other as
well as with all states within secure and recognized boundaries. The two
states affirmed their respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and political independence of every state in the area.
- The two countries
desire to develop good neighborly relations of cooperation between them
to ensure lasting security and to avoid threats and the use of force
between them.
- The long conflict between the
two states is now coming to an end. In this spirit the state of
belligerency between Jordan
and Israel
has been terminated.
- Following this declaration
and in keeping with the Agreed Common Agenda, both countries will refrain from
actions or activities by either side that may adversely affect the
security of the other or may prejudice the final outcome of negotiations. Neither side will threaten the other by use of force, weapons,
or any other means, against each other and both sides will thwart
threats to security resulting from all kinds of terrorism.
- His Majesty King Hussein and
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin took note of the progress made in the
bilateral negotiations within the Jordan-Israel track last week on the
steps decided to implement the sub-agendas on borders, territorial
matters, security, water, energy, environment and the Jordan Rift Valley.
In this framework, mindful of items of the Agreed
Common Agenda (borders and territorial matters) they noted that the boundary
sub-commission has reached agreement in July 1994 in fulfillment of part of the
role entrusted to it in the sub-agenda. They also noted that the sub-commission
for water, environment and energy agreed to mutually recognize, as the role of
their negotiations, the rightful allocations of the
two sides in Jordan River and Yarmouk River
waters and to fully respect and comply with the negotiated rightful
allocations, in accordance with agreed acceptable principles with mutually
acceptable quality. Similarly, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin expressed their deep satisfaction and pride in the work of the
trilateral commission in its meeting held in Jordan on Wednesday, July
20th1994, hosted by the Jordanian Prime Minister, Dr. Abdessalam
al-Majali, and attended by Secretary of State Warren
Christopher and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. They voiced their pleasure at
the association and commitment of the United
States in this endeavour.
- His Majesty King Hussein and
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin believe that steps must be taken both to
overcome psychological barriers and to break with the legacy of war. By
working with optimism towards the dividends of peace for all the people in
the region, Jordan
and Israel
are determined to shoulder their responsibilities towards the human
dimension of peace making. They recognize imbalances and disparities are a
root cause of extremism which thrives on poverty and unemployment and the
degradation of human dignity. In this spirit His Majesty King Hussein and
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have today approved a series of steps to
symbolize the new era which is now at hand:
- Direct telephone links
will be opened between Jordan
and Israel.
- The electricity grids
of Jordan
and Israel
will be linked as part of a regional concept.
- Two new border
crossings will be opened between Jordan
and Israel
- one at the southern tip of Aqaba-Eilat and
the other at a mutually agreed point in the north.
- In principle free
access will be given to third country tourists traveling between Jordan
and Israel.
- Negotiations will be
accelerated on opening an international air corridor between both
countries.
- The police forces of Jordan
and Israel
will cooperate in combating crime with emphasis on smuggling and
particularly drug smuggling. The United
States will be invited to participate
in this joint endeavor.
- Negotiations on
economic matters will continue in order to prepare for future bilateral
cooperation including the abolition of all economic boycotts.
All these steps are being implemented within the framework of
regional infrastructure development plans and in conjunction with the
Jordan-Israel bilaterals on boundaries, security,
water and related issues and without prejudice to the final outcome of the
negotiations on the items included in the Agreed Common Agenda between Jordan
and Israel.
- His Majesty King Hussein and
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have agreed to meet periodically or whenever
they feel necessary to review the progress of the negotiations and express
their firm intention to shepherd and direct the process in its entirety.
- In conclusion, His Majesty
King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin wish to express once again
their profound thanks and appreciation to President William J. Clinton and
his Administration for their untiring efforts in furthering the cause of
peace, justice and prosperity for all the peoples of the region. They wish
to thank the President personally for his warm welcome and hospitality. In
recognition of their appreciation to the President, His Majesty King
Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have asked President William J.
Clinton to sign this document as a witness and as a host to their meeting.
His Majesty King Hussein
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
President William J. Clinton
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