President Chaim Herzog of Israel received a standing ovation when he addressed the 10 member-state Parliament of Europe here today. The Assembly, convened in special session for the occasion, was packed with deputies and guests.
The President of the Parliament, Pierre Pflimlin, told Herzog that “Through your person we want to pay tribute to the State of Israel to which we are bound, since 1975, by juridical and economic links which we consider vital to both Europe and Israel.”
In his address to the Parliament, Herzog referred to his country’s vital economic stake in access to the European markets, its growing concern over the deteriorating plight of Jews in the Soviet Union, and its willingness, at all times, to negotiate with any or all Arab states for a peaceful, just solution of their conflicts.
Herzog paid his own tribute to the European Parliament which, he said, has brought together former enemies. He said he offered a silent prayer that “one day we will be privileged to have such an institution in which the representatives of the countries in the Middle East will meet to discuss their problems in free and open debate and not, as in many instances now, in hostile and menacing diatribe.”
Herzog stressed that Israel’s economy is particularly vulnerable at this time and would be severely hurt if the 10 member states of the European Economic Community (EEC) do not take proper measures to safeguard Israel’s exports to Europe after Spain and Portugal are admitted to the Common Market.
He noted in that connection that Israel exports 80 percent of its flowers, 60 percent of its citrus, 85 percent of its citrus by-products and up to 90 percent of its strawberries to Western Europe. Israel’s balance of trade with the EEC is far and away in the latter’s favor, he said, and Israel asks only for protection of her current exports which is essential to her economic survival.
He urged the European Parliament to help persuade the Soviet authorities to grant Jewish citizens of the USSR equal rights with all others, to let those who want to join their families in Israel do so.
Herzog, accompanied by his wife, Ora, is visiting Luxembourg, Strasbourg and Brussels. They were guests of the Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg yesterday and are scheduled to leave Strasbourg tomorrow morning for a two-day visit to Brussels. They will return to Israel Friday.
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