Vance Uncertain if His Mideast Visit Will Succeed in Renewing Negotiations

Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance said today after meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for two hours behind closed doors that he did not know if his visit to the Middle East will be successful in renewing Israeli-Egyptian talks.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the Middle East,” Vance told reporters. He said he is going to have face-to-face discussions to ascertain the current situation in Cairo and Jerusalem and to examine steps which would be considered necessary for a Middle East settlement.

However, Vance said the United States will not offer any proposals of its own during his trip and he did not expect a resumption of Egyptian–Israeli meetings during this trip. Vance is expected to leave for the Mideast late Friday, with Jerusalem as his first stop. His trip is expected to last five days.

MUM ON EGYPTIAN CRITICISM OF U.S.

Meanwhile, at the State Department, spokes-

Kaamel said after a 90-minute meeting in Cairo today with Alfred Atherton, the U.S. special envoy to the Mideast, that “It is a well-known fact that since, and even before, President (Anwar) Sadat launched his initiative and visited Jerusalem, our positions have been consistent and constructive.” He said he did not think that “anybody should feel disappointed at our approach.” He said that any possibility of Egypt reconsidering its decision would have to await Vance’s visit.

With regard to the reported shooting by Christian militia in southern Lebanon at the Lebanese government force moving into the area, Carter said he would not want to comment “on a very fluid and complicated situation.” However, the State Department spokesman reenforced his comment yesterday of strong U.S. support for Lebanese President Elias Sarkis’ decision to send 500 soldiers to south Lebanon towards points occupied by Christian militia friendly with Israel.

Seemingly going out of his way to warn Israel, Carter said: “We have been in touch with the governments in the area–including Israel–and have made our position known on this deployment. We believe it is imperative that all with influence on the south Lebanon situation should help facilitate the re-establishment of Lebanese government authority in that region.”