Carter Hopes Syria Will Join Talks

President Carter expressed hope yesterday that Syria will join the peace negotiations now under way between Israel and Egypt and said that he would like to meet with Syrian President Hafez Assad on this matter. Addressing an impromptu press conference in front of his mother-in-law’s home in Plains, Ga., the President noted, however, that the current Egyptian-Israeli talks could continue and agreement could be reached on several key issues without the participation of the Syrians.

Carter’s reference to Syria yesterday brought closer the possibility that the President will meet with the Syrian leader during his up-coming trip to six countries starting this week. The President already disclosed that while in Iran, the second stop on his trip, he will confer with King Hussein of Jordan.

“The only territorial matter involving the Syrians is the Golan Heights area,” the President said. “Of course, the Syrians are also deeply interested in the question of the Palestinian Arabs and the West Bank as well.” He continued: “But there is no reason for them to be directly involved in the negotiations. There could be a complete settlement of the Gaza Strip. West Bank (and) Palestinian Arab question without the Syrians’ participation.”

Attending the Plains church services yesterday, Carter referred to the Mideast by saying: “I hope everybody will pray that we make progress in the Mideast.” He then led a prayer for peace at the congregation of about 125 worshippers.

Meanwhile, Pope Paul VI, in his Christmas Day message yesterday, expressed the hope that the talks between Premier Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in Ismailia would bring peace to the Holy Land and the entire Mideast. The Pope has repeatedly expressed his satisfaction with the recent turn of events in the Mideast.