State Department spokesman Carl Bartch said today that Israeli Premier Golda Meir’s rejection Monday of an American-proposed temporary cease-fire in the Middle East was not seen by Washington as a “considered response.” He said that “As of today, we do not believe we have a considered response from any of the parties concerned.” Egyptian President Garnal Abdel Nasser has so far publicly indicated opposition to aspects of the American “initiative,” especially the apparent omission of the Golan Heights from the occupied territories Israel is called on to leave in connection with a peace settlement. Mr. Bartch, responding Saturday to Pres. Nasser’s rejection of the U.S. peace initiative in a speech last Friday, said that the Egyptian President’s stance was not the “considered response” the U.S. had awaited. Mr. Bartch also announced today that Soviet Ambassador Anatoly F. Dobrynin will meet Wednesday morning with Joseph J. Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and Southeast Asian Affairs. He did not disclose their specific agenda.
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