President Anwar Sadat of Egypt said today that Egypt raises no conditions for a new round of the Geneva peace talks except the participation of the Palestinians. In an exclusive interview with the Austrian radio, Sadat said “The Palestinians must take part because we will have to work out a lasting peace for the Middle East in Geneva. There is no lasting solution possible without the participation of the Palestinians,” Sadat declared, “The key question is not Sinai or the Golan Heights but the Palestinians.”
Sadat said the superpowers are responsible for a success of the Geneva talks. “But the trump cards are in the hands of the Americans, because they provide Israel with everything–with bread, butter, and guns.” In case of a failure of the Geneva talks a very dangerous situation would be created, Sadat said. “I fight for peace, but if there is no peaceful solution possible we will not be afraid of a fifth Middle East war.”
Sadat said he was looking forward to his summit meeting with President Ford in Salzburg next week, “It will be very important to discuss the Middle East situation with the President after the failure of the peace mission of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,” he said. At the same time he stated he would not object to a new Middle East mission by Kissinger “in the context of a dimension of peace.”
In his interview, Sadat also said Egypt would welcome an expansion of the participating parties at the Geneva peace talks in order to prevent “a polarisation of the super powers.” He stated that, “It is my opinion that this is the time Europe could do more to reach a solution of the Middle East problem.” Sadat added that he would welcome the participation of more European politicians at Geneva such as Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky. “I’m very happy to meet my friend Kreisky in Vienna,” Sadat said.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
