Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger conceded today that the Soviet Union is sending “substantial military shipments” to Syria, but said this aspect has to be seen in the context of the overall situation. He maintained, in reply to questions by members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that the purpose of the shipments was to improve the quality of Syria’s weapons systems rather than increase its quantity.
However, Kissinger added, “We believe restraint in military shipments should go side by side with political progress in the Middle East.” He warned that “progress in the Middle East will be very difficult if not impossible, without at least the acquiescence of the Soviet Union.” The Secretary concurred when Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY) asked for an executive session of the Foreign Relations Committee on Soviet arms shipments to Syria and OPEC nations’ “intractibility” on off production and prices.
Kissinger said, in reply to questions by Committee chairman Sen. J. William Fulbright that his round of talks with Arab leaders in Washington during the past months were “constructive in the direction of negotiations.” He said a Middle East settlement was now being approached by a diplomatic rather than a military road. He noted, however, that be would be butter able to assese the situation when he visits the Middle East in Oct. Asked by Fulbright if it is still U.S. policy to pursue a Middle East settlement in line with Security Council Resolution 242, Kissinger replied that this is the understanding of all the parties.
Kissinger is scheduled to meet with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko in Washington tomorrow to discuss a number of issues, including the Middle East. Gromyko, who will also be meeting with President Ford, is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly session.
(Kissinger is expected in Israel on or about Oct. 12 according to reports from Jerusalem today. Sources in the Israeli capital said his visit to the Middle East would be a short one, to further prepare the ground for the next round of talks that will take place in Washington. They said Kissinger’s most immediate problem on his Middle East visit next month will be the extension of the mandates of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Sinai and the United Nations Disengagement Observers Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights.)
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