Israeli Ambassadors in Western Europe told Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir yesterday that Israel’s “image” has improved as a result of the troop withdrawal agreement signed with Lebanon May 17. But they warned that the situation could deteriorate again if Israeli forces were to remain indefinitely in Lebanon. The 16 envoys met Shamir here for their annual Ambassadorial conference.
Shamir, who arrived in Belgium last Friday will pay official visits to Luxembourg, Belgium and Italy in an attempt to improve Israel’s relations with Western Europe and obtain the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on Israel last summer by the 10 member states of the European Economic Community (EEC).
None of the Israeli envoys at the meeting would say what the chances are for lifting the sanctions of the 10. EEC Foreign Ministers are to examine the matter next month.
The general impression was, however, that Israeli-European relations will continue to improve if the withdrawal agreement with Lebanon is followed by an actual troop withdrawal.
Some of the envoys said the EEC 10 might appeal to Syria to accept the terms of the agreement and withdraw its 40,000 men from the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon.
Shamir called on the envoys to represent Israel not only politically and diplomatically but “to become our commercial travellers”, to help Israel export its services and goods and alleviate the economic crisis threatening the country. Shamir, who met with each of the envoys on an individual basis, as well as collectively, urged them “not to forget for one moment Israel’s serious economic situation. “
The Israeli Foreign Minister starts his official visit in Luxembourg today. He is due to meet Grand Duke Jean, Prime Minister Pierre Werner and Foreign Minister Camille Flesch. He will return to Brussels Wednesday for an audience with King Baudouin of Belgium and a meeting with Prime Minister Wilfred Martens and Foreign Minister Leo Tindemans. Before leaving for Rome on Friday, he will confer with the President of the EEC Commission, Gaston Thorn.
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