The Foreign Minister of Brazil said yesterday that Security Council Resolution 242 did not exhaust the possibilities for a settlement of the Middle East conflict of which “withdrawal from the occupied territories was an integral part.” Antonio F. Azerdo Da Silveira made that remark in his opening statement to the 29th annual session of the General Assembly.
He said that if implementation of Resolution 242 might constitute one of the possible indispensable conditions for the development of a solution to the problem, it was also true that such implementation did not exhaust the range of measures essential to the attainment of the greater objective of peace security, tranquility and social and economic development of the countries of the region. “We believe that withdrawal from the occupied territories was an integral part of the solution to the conflict, admitting of no sophistry,” the Minister declared.
The Jewish community in Brazil has expressed concern recently over what it regards as their country’s change of course from a pro-Israel to a pro-Arab policy. Their fears were heightened by a joint communique issued in Brasilia during the visit of Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Omar Saqaaf that called for Israel’s withdrawal from all Arab territories and stressed “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.” But a high government official assured a Jewish delegation this week that President Ernesto Geisel has not altered the nation’s “even-handed” policy in the Middle East conflict.
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