Monday, April 25, 1994

Secy. of State Christopher meets Jordan's King Hussein at latter's home at Ascot, nr. London. Sides reach compromise on UN searches of Aqaba-bound shipping. Under tentative accord, Lloyd's Register of Ships would search cargos for Iraq-bound contraband after they are landed at Aqaba. Jordan had threatened to boycott Arab-Israeli talks unless inspection issue resolved. (MM, NYT, WP 4/26; CSM 4/27)

Frmr. Palestinian negotiators Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi, Ghassan al-Khatib, and 21 other prominent Palestinians sign petition saying if PLO-Israel agreement permits continued expansion of settlements they will declare it "lacks legitimacy" and not binding on Palestinians. Petition says such an agreement would "not prevent the continued struggle of our people against the illegal actions of the Israeli occupier." (MM 4/25; NYT 4/26)

Israeli PM Rabin meets for 2 hours with Russian PM Viktor Chernomyrdin, signs economic and tax agreements. 2 leaders also discuss anti-Semitism, Russian aid to Syria, Iran. (MM, NYT, WT 4/26)