Brazil Recognizes PLO but Bans PLO Office for Time Being

The Brazilian government has officially recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization as the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people” but for the time being at least, it has refused to authorize the PLO to open an office in Brasilia, the capital. Recognition was announced in a joint communique released at the end of a five-day visit to Brazil by the Vice President of Iraq. Taho Muhyidinne Moarouf. The communique also stated that Brazil recognizes “the rights of the Palestinians to self-deter-mination, independence and national sovereignty in their homeland.”

Maarouf is known to have urged that a PLO office be permitted in his talks with President Joac Baptista de Bigeirede and his aides. During the past four years, 15 formal requests were made by several Arab countries to allow a PLO representative to function in Brazil. But according to Foreign Ministry sources, Brazil will not permit a PLO office as long as the PLO continues to engage in terrorist activities. A PLO representative Farid Sawan, was expected to present his diplomatic credentials in Brasilia last week. The government postponed that “for the time being,” apparently because of strong criticism by the press.

But a diplomatic source close to Foreign Minister Ramiro Guerreire, acknowledged that “Brazil is not in a comfortable position to deny requests from the Arabs,” apparently a reference to its need for Arab oil. Brazil imports 400,000 barrels a day from Iraq, more than 50 percent of its oil supply.

Said Farhat, Minister of Social Communication who serves as information Minister, and Ricardi Navajas, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, have insisted that the joint communique “does not alter anything.” They said “There is absolutely no change because Brazil had already recognized the PLO through the 1975 United Nations resolution” which gave the Palestinian group observer status at the UN.

JEWISH COMMUNITY ALARMED

Israel’s Ambassador to Brazil, Moshe Erell, said he was convinced that the “PLO will not open an office in Brazil … because their offices are caves of subversion and murderers.” But Brazil’s Jewish community is clearly alarmed. Dr. Benno Milnitzksy, president of the Jewish Confederation, protested the joint communique. “Thus Brazil started to give haven to the terror,” he said. He said the recognition of the PLO and the future opening of a PLO office “left the Jewish community anxious and resentful.” He said he feared that “the infiltration of anti-Semitic materials into Brazil is almost certain.” One Jewish community leader observed that PLO agents, protected by diplomatic immunity, would mount an anti-Semitic campaign.

Sawan, the designated PLO representative who is attached to the Arab League office in Brasilia, provided a sample. He denounced “international Jewish bankers” and the “international Jewish lobby” which he accused of “exercising a pressure against Brazil.” He also charged that the Brazilian press is being “forced by international Zionism to make pro-Israeli statements.”