Allon to Visit Rumania

Foreign Minister Yigal Allon will visit Rumania shortly–possibly before the end of this month–to return the visit to Israel last September by the Rumanian Foreign Minister George Macovescu. An official announcement of the visit is expected here and in Bucharest shortly. Allon received the Rumanian Ambassador, Ion Covaci, at his office yesterday and they are understood to have finalized details of the trip.

Rumania is the only Communist bloc country to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Israel although they diverge sharply on most aspects of the Middle East conflict. The two countries also maintain trade relations and have exchanged visits on the ministerial level. Rumania has consistently followed an activist foreign policy line based on maintaining good relations with most states and offering its good offices to mediate in international disputes. Its leaders have often stressed the view that small and medium-sized nations should have a role in the solution of major world problems.

Rumanian President Nicolae Ceausescu visited Cairo and Damascus briefly about ten days ago in what appeared to be a Rumanian initiative to bring about some diplomatic progress in the Middle East. Macovescu’s visit here last September was officially described as friendly and constructive. But the Rumanian side stressed their support for an independent-Palestinian state–which Israel opposes–and that support continues to be a key part of Rumanian Middle East policy.

Since Macovescu’s visit, Israel’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Haim Barlev, visited Bucharest where he conferred for two hours with Ceausescu. Rumania’s Minister of Agriculture subsequently paid an official visit to Israel.