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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 18, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Visit of His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan

President Clinton and His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan met today at the White House. President Clinton reaffirmed the United States' determination to support Jordan, a key ally in the Middle East, with economic and military assistance. The President praised the King's commitment to build a stronger economy and reiterated his strong support for Jordan's efforts to obtain debt relief from its major bilateral creditors.

The two leaders also discussed global, regional and other bilateral issues. Noting the strong mandate the Israeli people have given Prime Minister-elect Barak, they expressed confidence that the Middle East Peace Process would be invigorated and pledged to work for a successful conclusion. President Clinton and King Abdullah also agreed on the need for Iraq to comply with all United Nations Security Council Resolutions and pledged to do their utmost to get humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. President Clinton thanked the King for Jordan's strong support for NATO's efforts to resist and reverse ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and for its generous assistance to the Kosovo Albanian refugees.

President Clinton informed His Majesty of the establishment by the United States of the King Hussein Memorial Fulbright Scholarship as a tribute to the late King and to his efforts on behalf of peace and reconciliation. Finally, he told the King that he had asked the First Lady to travel to Jordan and Israel later this year on behalf of the American people.

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