President Nicolae Ceausescu of Rumania told a Jewish delegation here Friday that although Jews who wish to emigrate would continue to have their applications for exit visas granted, he hoped the 50,000 to 60,000 Jews still in Rumania would elect to stay and participate in the building of a strong social and economic system. The 40-minute interview, believe to be the first of its kind between American Jewish leaders and the head of a Communist European country on a visit to the United States, was marked by cordiality and frankness, according to the delegation.
The visit to the President was arranged by the New York office of the World Jewish Congress, The Jewish community of Rumania is an affiliate of the WJC. The delegation consisted of Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, Rabbi Joseph Karasick, Max Melamed and Jacob Stein.
Ceausescu emphasized that Rumania’s treatment of Its Jewish community, which the delegation praised, was in accordance with its constitution and its policy toward all religious minorities. Expressing regret that some Senators had linked his country’s request for most-favored nation status to its immigration policies, he commented that the presence in Israel of some 400,000 Rumanian Jews testified to the freedom of emigration extended to “Rumanian citizens of Jewish origin.”
Ceausescu presented a lengthy analysis of the Middle East situation and referred to his discussions with Premier Golda Meir and Foreign Minister Abba Eban. Stressing that Rumania’s friendship toward Israel entitled it to speak candidly, he expressed the view that Israel could not continue to exist in virtually total isolation and with the hostility of the 100 million Arab people. He said Israel had missed some valuable opportunities in the past and must not now fail to take advantage of what he considered a unique opportunity to achieve peace.
Members of the delegation questioned some of the assumptions underlying the President’s analysis of Israel’s past diplomacy but both sides agreed that the focus should be on the present and the future, especially the upcoming peace conference in Geneva. Ceausescu several times asked that American Jewish leaders assist Rumania’s efforts to expand its trade with the United States.
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