Arabs, Africans, Communists Stage Walkout when Israeli Addresses Unctad Parley

A mass walkout was staged at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) here today when Zeev Sharef, Israel’s Minister of Commerce and Industry and head of the Israeli delegation, mounted the rostrum to make his initial address before the international gathering. Leaving the chamber were the entire Arab bloc, most African delegations and the Communist bloc delegations with the notable exception of Rumania. The walk-out was joined by Pakistan, Afghanistan and some members of the Indian delegation.

The demonstration, with its clearly political motive, injected an unsavory note into what all of the delegates agree, at least officially, is a non-political parley. UNCTAD was convened to devise global strategy toward helping underdeveloped nations advance in areas of trade and commerce.

Mr. Sharef was apparently unaware of the walk-out when he delivered his speech and was unruffled when he learned of it afterwards. However it was noted by observers here that the incident was the first in which a Soviet representative deliberately walked out when an Israeli of ministerial rank addressed an international forum. Rumania’s failure to leave with the other Communist countries was seen as evidence that Rumania continues to maintain cordial relations with Israel, Rumania was the only Communist country that did not sever diplomatic relations with Israel after last June’s Arab-Israeli war.

Ambassador Michael Comay floor chairman of the Israeli delegation, noted at a press conference later that Israel has “very good relations with Rumania and we have recently concluded a trade agreement with them.”

At this morning’s UNCTAD sessions, the Arab delegates and the USSR carefully refrained from mentioning the Middle East or Vietnam – the two global hot spots – in their speeches, Two Communist bloc nations did, however. The Czech delegate referred to Vietnam and the “recent aggression against some of the Arab countries.” Yesterday, the Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Trade, Ivan Boudinov, charged that “American aggression” in Vietnam and Israel’s refusal to withdraw from its “illegal occupation” of Arab territory were obstacles to the aims of the conference. The Bulgarian delegate was sharply rebuked by Ambassador Comay for making political references at a non-political conference.

This, and India’s pressure on the Arabs not to embitter the proceedings, apparently caused the restraint shown later on by speakers from Iraq, the United Arab Republic and the USSR.

Mr. Sharef, in his address, called for liberal measures to promote trade with nations trying to develop their industry and commerce, supported by a flow of aid. The alternative, he warned, would be the development of several closed and unequal blocs.