Boutros Ghali, the Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said here yesterday that Egypt would not participate in resumed autonomy talks with Israel that do not include “a Jordanian delegation containing Palestinian representation.” According to Ghali, who addressed a press conference at the Egyptian Embassy, “past experience proves that any other combination does not work.”
But Ghali was critical of the recent meeting of the Palestine National Council in Algiers, not simply because of the “unkind” remarks about Egypt but because the outcome of the meeting was “mostly contradictory.”
There were three “contradiction,” Ghali said. The Palestine Liberation Organization approved initiating talks with Jordan but at the same time insisted on Palestinian independence; it rejected Camp David but not President Reagan’s plan if changes are made; and it approved of the Fez plan which implied recognition of Israel, he said. The Egyptian diplomat said his country remains committed to the Camp David accords and peace with Israel. But it will be a “cold peace” as long as Israel does not withdraw its forces from Lebanon, he said. He said he and Italian Foreign Minister Emilio Colombo agreed at their meeting yesterday that “Europe can play an important role in helping to find a peaceful solution in Lebanon.”
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