Brazil agreed to join Israel in combatting international terrorism, but Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban discounted the possibility of Brazil playing a peacemaking role in the Middle East. After two days of official contacts between Eban and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mario Gibson Barboza in Brasilia last week, Israel and Brazil affirmed “the interests of their governments in strengthening international law through adequate legal instruments in order to deal with the threat that international terrorism represents for civilization.” The communique also stressed” the firm decision of the governments to adopt the necessary measures and initiatives against such threat.”
At a news conference following Eban’s meeting with President Emilio Garrastazu Medici, the Israeli Foreign Minister emphasized the need for Israel and the Arab nations to negotiate directly an end to the Middle East conflict. He said that Israel “accepts with gratitude whatever other governments, which have prestige on both sides, can do–Brazil, for example.” But Eban made it clear that “I am convinced that only direct negotiations between the Arabs and Israelis will be able to achieve a solution.”
Eban’s visit to Brasilia was marked by the heaviest security yet seen in this capital for a visiting Minister. Police, security agents and plainclothes guards were out in full force and reporters and photographers had all of their equipment checked. Eban is visiting several other cities in South America.
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