Archive

Archive (Reagan Library)

Middle East: Reagan letter to Thatcher (peace process) [declassified 2000]

Document type: Declassified documents
Venue: White House
Source: Reagan Library: NSA Head of State File (Box 35)
Editorial comments: Declassified 28 March 2000. MT had written to the President on 8 February about her conversation with Mubarak in London.
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 322 words
Themes: Foreign policy (Middle East), Foreign policy (USA), MT contacts with Ronald Reagan
Declassified F96-107#173
By SMF, NARA, Date 3/28/00

Confidential

March 7, 1983

Dear Margaret: Thank you for your message on your conversation with President Mubarak. In my meetings with him, President Mubarak was just as forceful as he was with you in expressing his concerns about the situation in Lebanon and its potential effect on our ability to obtain a wider peace in the area. I told him that I shared these same concerns and was determined to obtain a timely resolution of the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations so that we could focus on a resumed and expanded peace process. My recent public statements on Lebanon and Ambassador Habib’s return to the region are all part of an effort to step up the pace of the Israeli-Lebanese negotiations. With the resolution of the Israeli Cabinet crisis, it is my intention that we will now make substantial progress.

While much attention is focussed on Lebanon, I have continued to pursue my peace initiative through contacts with King Hussein, the Saudis and others. I value your continued support of my initiative and hope you will renew your efforts to convince other Arabs of the importance of supporting Hussein’s entry to the peace process. I also hope that you will reiterate to Hussein the importance of his stepping forward soon. This decision by Hussein, more than any other factor, would compel the Israeli Government to reconsider its policies with regard to the occupied territories and my September 1 initiative. [end p1]

Your message was a welcome reminder of the close co-operation between us in the Middle East. I am grateful for that and will remain in close touch as we move ahead on Lebanon and the peace process.

With warm regards,
Sincerely,
Ron