French Premier Georges Pompidou dismissed today as “just words” the anti-Israel statements made this week by Soviet Premier Khrushchev in Cairo during his current visit to Egypt.
The French Premier also reiterated the basic policy of France and of the West in maintaining an equilibrium of forces in the Middle East. He made the statements at a luncheon given in his honor by the Paris Foreign Press Association.
In reply to a question about Khrushchev’s pro-Arab statements in Cairo, the French Premier said: “One must not attach excessive importance to words. As far as the Middle East is concerned, the position of France and of the West is well Known. It is that of an equilibrium in the area.”
His comments were described as being in line with the belief of the French Foreign Ministry that Khrushchev’s declarations in Cairo were made strictly for propaganda purposes.
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