Foreign Minister Abba Eban of Israel announced here this afternoon that Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan would come to Washington March 29 for talks in connection with an Israeli-Syrian disengagement accord. Eban made the announcement in the company of Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger. The two spoke to reporters at the State Department after a one-hour meeting, the last of a series of meetings between Eban and Kissinger that began last week.
Eban said that Dayan would be “in a position to have full discussions” with Kissinger regarding an agreement with Syria “as we see it. He added that the “discussions will be an important contribution to progress already achieved.” Kissinger concurred with Eban’s remarks, adding that Syrian-Israeli disengagement “is the priority item” on the Middle East. He said he was “confident” that talks will further progress in that area.
Eban thanked Dr. Kissinger and his associates for the “very comprehensive opportunity given me” for a discussion of all problems affecting Israel. He did not say what problems were discussed. Kissinger said his talks with Eban were conducted in the spirit of friendship “characteristic of all of our talks.” Replying to reporters’ questions he denied that there was any delay in starting the disengagement discussions. He said he still had no indication of who Syria intended to send to Washington but that now that he knows Dayan will be the Israeli representative, “we will get in touch with Syria” on their representative.
Asked if the Soviet Union was seeking to have the disengagement discussions transferred to Geneva, Kissinger replied, “There is no indication of change in plans.” Observers here believe Dayan will confer with Kissinger for 2-3 days and that a Syrian delegate will arrive in Washington for similar discussions after Dayan leaves. But it is generally expected that Kissinger will visit the Middle East again sometime next month.
Late this afternoon Eban was to meet with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Committee chairman J. William Fulbright (D.Ark.) will not be there because he is home campaigning for re-election.****** (By Joseph Polakoff)
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