Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon today urged Sylva Zalmanson, the former Soviet “Prisoner of Conscience,” to end her seven-day-old hunger strike, Ms. Zalmanson has been staging a hunger strike in front of the Isaiah Wall, across from the United Nations, to demand the release of her husband, Eduard Kuznetsov and her two brothers, Israel and Wolf Zalmanson, who have been in Soviet labor camps since their conviction in the first Leningrad trial December 1970. She is also demanding that if they are not released that she be allowed to return to the Soviet Union and visit them.
“In my opinion you have to end your hunger strike so you will be strong and healthy and will be able together to struggle for the release of your husband and other ‘Prisoners of Conscience’ in the Soviet Union,” Allon said in Hebrew during his 15-minute visit with Ms. Zalmanson, who told him that she feels weak and in pain. She said, nonetheless, that she will continue her hunger strike “until I will see some results.”
Allon said that the Foreign Ministry has taken a special interest in her husband’s case and is seeking his release on an individual basis. But when asked by reporters whether he discussed the case of Kuznetsov, who is serving a 15-year sentence, with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko last week, Allon refused to comment. He signed his name on a petition to release Kuznetsov. Allon was accompanied by Chaim Herzog, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN.
Earlier in the day, Allon held meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Rumania and Japan at their UN Missions. An Israeli spokesman described the meetings as “cordial,” adding that the situation in the Mideast and bilateral relations were discussed. Allon is scheduled to address the General Assembly tomorrow afternoon. Syria is scheduled to address the Assembly tomorrow morning. President Idi Amin of Uganda is scheduled to address the Assembly Wednesday and is expected to include an attack against Israel. On Wednesday evening, Allon will host a reception for diplomats, Israeli officials and newsmen in New York.
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