1.
SV Mr. Ladgham seated (centre) with Brig. Hilmi of Egyptian Army on his right
0.06

2.
CU Ladgham listens to question in French, and replies in French
0.54

3.
SV (SAME SHOT) Ladgham listens to question in Arabic and replies in Arabic.
2.22


TRANSCRIPT: REPORTERS QUESTION: "Do you think that the Arab Mission will have to stay long in Jordan?"



LADGHAM: "It would be a very bad thing if they did. Because they could acquire bad habits thereby. We don't want this Arab Mission to become a permanent institution. If they did they might assume responsibilities they have neither the intention or possibility of assuming. That's why I think I have to end it as soon as possible, as soon as I have prepared the ground for the proper working of the Cairo agreements, and the Amman protocol. That will be the time to say that our Mission is at an end."




Initials CM/MR/PS/1149 CM/MR/ES.11.38



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Mr. Bahi Ladgham, former Tunisian Premier and Chairman of the Arab Peace Mission in Jordan, gave a press conference on Saturday (20 November) in Amman.

In an optimistic speech about the situation between the Jordanian army and the Fedayeen, Mr. Bahi said the Arab Mission's work would be over as soon as a basis had been achieved for the proper working of the Cairo agreements, and the Amman protocol.

Mr. Ladgham is at present a special Tunisian envoy as well as Chairman of the Arab Peace Mission. He is to become personal representative to President Bourguiba when he finishes his work in Jordan.

Mr. Ladgham gave no definite date for the ending of the Mission's work, but discounted the possibility of its becoming a permanent institution.

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Bahi Ladgham, Tunisian Chairman of the Arab Peace Mission in Jordan, answered questions on its future at a press Conference on Saturday in Amman.

Mr. Ladgham was asked by a reporter whether the Arab Mission would have to stay long in Jordan.

He replied that his would be a very bad thing, and would lead to their acquiring bad habits. He said he did not want to see the Arab Mission becoming a permanent Institution. If it did, he thought it might assume responsibilities they had not intended to assume, or seen any possibility of assuming. For this reason he thought he had to end the Mission as soon as possible, as soon as he had prepared the ground for the proper working of the Cairo agreements, and the Amman protocol. When that was done it would be time to say that the Mission was at an end.