A Latin American friend of Israel said here that he was not very happy with Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights. Dr. Rafael Caldera of Venezuela, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union who is visiting Israel as a guest of the Knesset, expressed his views at a press conference last Thursday. The Union represents about 100 parliamentary bodies of Western and Eastern bloc nations.
Referring to his conversation with Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Caldera said: “I considered myself obliged to express my feeling that that step (annexation) was not the best and that it did not assist advancement of the peace process.” With respect to the future of Jerusalem, he said: “I understand the feeling of the people of Israel toward Jerusalem, but it is a very difficult question.”
Noting that the Palestine Liberation Organization had attended the sessions of the Inter-Parliamentary Union as observers, Caldera explained that the invitation was extended before his election to head that body. Although the PLO enjoys of ficial status in some Latin American countries, this is not the case in Venezuela, he said.
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