President Carter stressed his conviction that a speedy reconvening of the Geneva conference is needed. In an interview with the French weekly, L’Express, published today, Carter reiterated that peace in the Middle East can be reached only within the framework of the Geneva conference and only through a “comprehensive” agreement with all the belligerent countries.
Asked to comment on former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s statement last week that Geneva is not the only key to the conflict, Carter replied: “We are willing to explore any answer, but Geneva is a framework. The forum has already been provided. All of the parties involved–ourselves, the Soviets, the Lebanese, the Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians, Israelis–have agreed Geneva is the best forum. Until some alternative comes along that is better, that is the one we will adhere to.”
Asked whether he would agree to participate in a summit meeting with Premier Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt or another Arab leader, Carter replied: “Only if I thought my personal participation would be crucial and would lead towards a substantial settlement.” Carter added, “We can’t act as a party trying to force a settlement on others. We maintain this posture at all times: this Administration and the previous one as well.”
TERMS SADAT’S VISIT CONSTRUCTIVE
Carter stated that Sadat’s visit to Israel “was constructive. It did lead us a step further to a comprehensive settlement after negotiations in Geneva and I think it helped to break a somewhat stagnant progress that was developing.”
The President, who was interviewed last Wednesday night at the White House, said the U.S. intends to try “and encourage” President Hofez Assad of Syria to participate in the quest for peace. “I have met with all the leaders (involved) personally, some of them on more than one occasion and will continue to do that,” he declared.
Carter said on several occasions that he and his Administration have “not backed down.” He said in the interview that what he and his government have done was to “establish a growing realization of the mutual good faith that the Mideast leaders have in their own commitments to peace.”
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