Waldheim Recommends Extension of Unef Mandate in Sinai

Secretary General Kurt Waldheim recommended the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in the Sinai for another year in a report to the Security Council issued here last night. The current mandate of the 4178-member force is due to expire Oct. 24.

A UN spokesman said today that members of the Council met for private consultations late today to discuss Waldheim’s report. Waldheim warned in his report to the Council that the situation in the Mideast as a whole remained precarious and was likely to remain so “unless and until comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached.” He expressed the hope that “urgent efforts will be pursued by all concerned to tackle the problem in all its aspects, with a view both to maintaining quiet in the region and to arriving at a just and durable peace settlement.” Sources here said they do not anticipate any difficulties regarding the extension of UNEF’s mandate by the Council.

Waldheim also issued today a report on the Mideast in which he gave a factual summary of Mideast developments from the Six-Day War to date. The report, prepared by Waldheim as requested by the last General Assembly, will be discussed by the current session of the Assembly when the issue of the Mideast will be debated. Sources here said it is not clear when the issue of the Mideast would be discussed because of the current peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt.

Meanwhile, a group of 35 Arab and Third World countries introduced a resolution today to the General Assembly’s main political committee, calling on the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Israel. Among the sponsors of the resolution is Egypt. Diplomats here said the resolution will probably be adopted by the committee and later by the General Assembly. But they said it is not likely to be adopted by the Security Council where the Western powers can veto it.