Thursday, January 29, 1998

Israeli ministerial team on FRD meets to prepare response to U.S. FRD proposal (see 1/26) for upcoming Netanyahu-Albright mtg. 1/31. (IDF Radio 1/29 in WNC 2/2; MM 1/30)

Israel, U.S. inaugurate 1st hot line linking Israeli DM, the U.S. secy. of defense by phone in case of security emergency. (ITV 1/29 in WNC 2/2)

Pres. Clinton sends televised greetings to Iranian people on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan; endorses Pres. Khatami's 1/7 call for cultural exchanges btwn. Iran, the U.S.; says U.S. regrets its estrangement fr. Iran. (MM 1/29; NYT, WP 1/30; MM 2/2)

Iraq's Dep. PM `Aziz departs on tour of Russia, France, Syria, Egypt as part of an Iraqi diplomatic campaign to counter U.S. mobilization of support for a strike on Iraq. (SA 1/29 in WNC 2/2) (see 1/28)