The State Department said today that the Reagan Administration favors “quiet diplomacy” to achieve its goals in Lebanon and will not discuss the “substance” or “modalities” of that process.
The Department’s deputy spokesman, Alan Romberg, disclosed, however, that U.S. special envoys Philip Habib and Morris Draper will be returning to the Middle East shortly, most likely this week. They were recalled to Washington last week for consultations with the President and briefed senior Administration officials on what the State Department described as “progress” made to date.
Habib’s mission covers both the situation in Lebanon and Reagan’s overall Middle East initiative. Draper has been concentrating on efforts to start negotiations between Israel and Lebanon for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon and security arrangements for Israel.
Romberg would not comment today on reports that Secretary of State George Shultz has suggested a “shuttle” by the American envoys between Jerusalem to Beirut to eliminate the issue of venue. Israel has insisted that its negotiations with Lebanon be held in Jerusalem and Beirut. The Lebanese government has refused.
THREE-PRONGED PLAN FOR LEBANON
Romberg stressed today that “The President has had a plan for Lebanon for some time” which “has three elements: assuring Israel’s security; restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty throughout the country; and the withdrawal of all foreign forces.”
However, he said, “Beyond that, in terms of either substance or modalities about what Ambassadors Habib and Draper are going to be doing, we simply are not going to be discussing it, reverting to our previous formalness. We think that is the most effective way of proceeding — through quiet diplomacy.”
SHULTZ, MUBARAK MEET IN ROME
Romberg had no comment on the meeting in Rome today between Secretary Shultz and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. According to reports from Rome, they met at the Egyptian Embassy for 30 minutes to discuss Middle East developments and Mubarak’s visit to Washington scheduled for the end of next month. Shultz was quoted as saying, “We discussed developments in the Middle East in which the U.S. and Egypt have such vital interests.”
Mubarak told reporters that their talk was aimed at preserving the diplomatic momentum in the Middle East peace process. He maintained that the whole Middle East question turns on the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers (from Lebanon) and the solution to the problem of the Palestinians.”
Romberg also declined to comment on reports that King Hussein of Jordan is coming to Washington next week to prepare to enter the Middle East negotiations. “Our position and hopes are quite clear and we wait to see where we go with that,” Romberg said.
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