Cheysson: There Will Be No More European Initiatives in the Mideast

French Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson’s 24-hour visit to Israel ended today with his Israeli hosts immensely satisfied that the long era of “misunderstandings” and cold relations between the two countries has ended although France and Israel still remain worlds apart on Middle East political issues, mainly resolution of the Palestinian problem.

The Israelis were especially gratified by Cheysson’s unqualified pledge that there would be no more “European initiatives” in the region, indicating that

as far as France was concerned, the European Economic Community’s Venice declaration of June, 1980 is dead.

Facing reporters at a joirt press conference with Cheysson just before the French diplomat boarded his plane at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir declared that “the word ‘misunderstanding’ can now be erased from our common vocabulary.” He said Cheysson’s visit had borne out Israel’s hopes that it would open a new era of dialogue and mutual understanding.

Cheysson observed that the “abnormal” situation that had prevailed in the past with almost no dialogue between France and Israel, is now over. Shamir said he and the French minister had reached “a large measure of identical outlook and agreement,” and even on those points were there was disagreement their conversations had proceeded in an atmosphere of understanding.

Above all, said Shamir, Israel was pleased to note Cheysson’s repeated assurances that there would be no more “European initiatives in the affairs of our region.” There was also agreement on the central role of the Camp David process, Shamir added.

BILATERAL RELATIONS DISCUSSED

The two Ministers held more than five hours of formal talks during Cheysson’s brief stay. Israeli sources said today’s working session was focussed on bilateral ties. Both men pledged to strengthen trade relations, encourage more French investments in Israel and to revive the long dormant Joint Economic Council. They also agreed to expand cultural relations, the sources said.

Shamir acknowledged the differences over a solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Cheysson had remarked, during an official dinner that the Palestinians had a right to a homeland and sovereignty. Shamir repeated at the press conference today Israel’s view that the Palestinians already had a “homeland” — Jordan — and that the problem was not sovereignty but the 1.2 million Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza Strip who live unwillingly under Israeli rule.

According to Israeli sources, Cheysson told Shamir at their meetings that while he appreciates the Israelis’ presentation of their views, he believed that the Israel-Arab conflict has now become the Palestinian problem which must be solved. In a radio interview earlier today, Cheysson observed that Israel, as a state in the region, “should be sensitive to the rights of other peoples in the region.”

MINISTER DOES NOT MENTION PLO

But in discussing the areas where the two countries differ sharply, the French Foreign Minister couched his remarks in warm, friendly tones. At no time in his public addresses did he mention the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Venice declaration’s insistence that the PLO must be associated with the Middle East peace process was one reason for its absolute rejection by Israel.

The Israelis were delighted, therefore, when Cheysson, speaking at last night’s dinner, dismissed the notion of further European initiatives. As long as the present government is in office in Paris there would be no such initiative, he said.

Cheysson also pledged that if Israel were ever attacked, France would stand by her. He noted that in Europe there had been long-standing conflicts between France and Britain or between France and Germany, eventually resolved by mutual cooperation. He hoped that in the Middle East too, dialogue, moderation and mutual recognition would be the path to a settlement.

Cheysson further pleased his hosts when, in the course of their working sessions, he spoke of the need for Israel to negotiate with the “states” of the region, implying that the PLO was not on an equal footing in this respect. He agreed with Shamir that the peace process must continue. But he did not agree with his glowing account of progress in the autonomy talks with Egypt.

Shamir asked Cheysson to tell President Francois Mitterrand that the Israeli government and people were preparing an especially warm welcome for him when he makes his state visit here Feb. 10. The date was set during Cheysson’s visit. It will be the first visit to Israel by a French chief of state.