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Initials AK/V/BHH/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN ARRIVE IN BONN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO BEGIN A STATE VISIT TO WEST GERMANY. THE WEST GERMAN PRESIDENT, DR. HEINRICH LUEBKE, THE CHANCELLOR, DR. LUDWIG ERHARD, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET TOGETHER WITH THE ENTIRE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WELCOMED HIM AT THE AIRPORT.

ON A BLEAK, GREY DAY THE ONLY SPLASH OF COLOUR CAME FROM THE FLAGS OF WEST GERMANY AND JORDAN FLUTTERING OVER THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE KING AND HIS WIFE, PRINCESS MUNA, WERE GREETED BY THEIR GERMAN HOSTS, AMBASSADORS OF THE ARAB COUNTRIES IN BONN PAID THEIR RESPECTS IN A RED-CANOPIED STAND. THEN, THE ROYAL GUESTS WENT IN A CAVALCADE OF CARS INTO THE CAPITAL.

THE 29-YEAR-OLD MONARCH IS VISITING WEST GERMANY AT A TIME WHEN BONN'S MIDDLE EASTERN POLICY IS ENTERING A NEW AND POSSIBLY DIFFICULT PHASE. THE BONN GOVERNMENT IS UNDER PRESSURE TO COMPLETE GERMAN RESTITUTION TO THE JEWS FOR WARTIME PERSECUTION BY ESTABLISHING RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL. BUT SHOULD THIS BE DONE, ARAB COUNTRIES WOULD RETALIATE BY RECOGNISING EAST GERMANY. THIS WOULD RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE CUT OF LINKS WITH THE ARABS BY WEST GERMANY - A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC REVERSE.