The Moscow summit has underlined again what the past five years should have conclusively proved to the Arabs–that their only option is to begin negotiations with Israel. Foreign Minister Abba Eban said today at a luncheon of the Foreign Press Association. The Arabs have tried everything else–warfare, international pressure and attempted isolation–since 1967 to effect an imposed settlement, but have failed, Eban explained.
Pointing out that the United States has announced Its intention of reporting on the summit results to the Middle East parties, Eban said he would see American Ambassador Walworth Barbour before visiting Scandinavia. Contacts will also be made in Washington, he added. Until then, he said, he would limit his comments to public statements and the Moscow Joint communique, which he said reflected deep differences of interpretation. Its main implication, he said, is that summit meetings cannot be decisive unless they involve the Mideast parties.
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