The Israeli and Egyptian working teams met twice a day this week at the United Nations headquarters here to draw up the detailed military protocols to implement the interim accord in Sinai which both sides signed here last week.
The working atmospheres was termed as “correct and business-like” and the head of the Israeli delegation, Ambassador Mordechai Gazit, summed up the spirit of the activities when he said, “We are all working men engaged in a working session.” The teams are expected to conclude their work within two weeks.
CORDIAL, RELAXED ATMOSPHERE
The first face-to-face meeting between Israelis and Egyptians in more than a year was far more cordial and relaxed than had been expected after the icy atmosphere which prevailed Sept. 6 when the two sides formally signed the basic Sinai interim accord.
The participants, four Israelis, four Egyptians and three UN representatives, all speak English, but the Egyptians do not stand on protocol and often address the Israelis directly in the heat of a discussion.
The two sides are trying to draw up a detailed timetable for the implementation of the accord. The first Israeli withdrawal, prescribed by the accord, will be from the Abu Rodeis oilfields in southwestern Sinai. The immediate problem for the teams is to fix exact schedules for each side to use the only available road to the fields.
All concerned say both the Israelis and the Egyptians are manifesting goodwill and are anxious to conclude their work by the deadline set in the accord, Sept. 23. The Soviet Union is boycotting the meetings and the U.S., for diplomatic reasons, has decided to be absent as well.
U.S. MAINTAINING WATCH
Nevertheless, an American representative, Harold Saunders, Deputy Undersecretary of State, maintained a watch on the proceedings from the sidelines, Max Kraus, a U.S. spokesman, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Saunders’ task is “to be available on the spot should difficulties unexpectedly crop up.” Saunders was part of Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger’s party during his latest Mideast shuttle.
Although Saunders never comes near the marble “Palace of Nations” where the talks are being conducted, he has been in practically constant touch with the heads of both delegations. Only the Soviet Union continues to be absent.
Some diplomats here fear that this continued boycott may torpedo the talks before they are completed. Others, however, say this absence may herald a new chapter in the history of the Middle East.
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