President Carter and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt completed their discussions today, after four meetings in 24 hours, without indicating publicly what proposals on the autonomy negotiations will be made to Israeli Premier Menachem Begin when he comes here next week for the second round of Carter’s dual summit talks.
At a White House dinner last night and in their remarks to reporters this morning following their final session, the two leaders spoke of “full autonomy” for the Palestinians and the essentiality of a “comprehensive” settlement in the Mideast.
But Carter said, “No decision could be reached because Israel must be consulted as well.” He said that Begin has been kept informed of the discussions that took place here and will be provided with a “full report” following Sadat’s departure. The President added that Sadat, in turn, will be kept fully informed of his discussions with the Israeli leader next week.
Although he did not indicate what transpired in his talks with Sadat, Carter said today “We have had, perhaps, the most for reaching discussions these last two days in my own experience as President concerning the many issues that effect our two nations.” He said the meetings were “a good exploratory opportunity for us” to “detect differences between us (the U.S.) and the people of Egypt.” He did not elaborate.
Neither Carter nor Sodat referred, in their public statements, to substantive issues discussed or likely to come up in the autonomy negotiations, such as the status of Jerusalem, Israel’s security needs or a Palestinian state, the latter officially opposed by the U.S. as well as by Israel.
CARTER STRESSES FULL AUTONOMY
In his toast at the White House dinner last night, Carter spoke of the “organization of a self-governing authority” on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He said:
“The people of those two territories are granted autonomy and, as Prime Minister Begin said many times, in the presence of President Sodat and me, not just autonomy, full autonomy — full autonomy, he said many, many times. It is important for us to know that the (Camp David) agreement calls for a strong local police force and for that local police force to be interrelated with law enforcement officials in Jordan and in Egypt and in other surrounding countries.”
Carter hinted that the U.S. may help in the resettlement of Palestinian refugees when he said: “The nations involved, that is Egypt, Israel, we and others, should provide for the resolution of the problem of the Palestinian refugees.”
SODAT UNDERLINES DRIVE FOR ‘GENUINE CHANGE’
In his response, Sodat said, “If a comprehensive settlement was a necessity at the time we began our endeavor, it is an absolute must today.” He declared: “We shall spare no effort in our concerted drive to effect a genuine change in the West Bank and Gaza. A real transfer of authority must take place and a new era of reconciliation should begin. This would be in the interests of all nations, not the Palestinian people alone.”
The Egyptian leader added, “No one benefits from the continuation of occupation and the perpetuation of conflict. No one profits from the escalation of tension and the deepening of suspicion and distrust among those who live in the same region.”
Addressing reporters in the White House Rose Garden today, Carter spoke of elements “spelled out so plainly and specifically in the Camp David accords” including “realization of security for Egypt,” “recognition of sovereign rights,” Israel’s “security within recognized borders, recognition of Palestinian rights” and “recognition that the Palestinians must have a voice in the determination of their own future.”
Sodat, in his parting comments, said “At this moment there are lots of difficulties and new developments in the area where we live — namely Afghanistan, Iran, the threat to the (Persian) Gulf — all this, in my view, should enhance the efforts for finding an agreement of full autonomy for the Palestin- ians” as set forth in the Camp David documents.
Sodat emphasized that the “Palestinian question is the core and crux of the whole problem in the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli conflict.” He credited President Carter’s “decision to act as a full partner” in the discussions as “a turning point in the history of the conflict and behind all the achievements in the last two years.” Sodat concluded. “As I promised before, I shall never let you down.”
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.
