Secretary of State Edmund Muskie called today on all member states of the UN General Assembly to lend their support to the Camp David process and to negotiations to resolve the Middle East conflict ### Camp David has ### for the future, the most hopeful and productive avenue to peace in the Middle East,” Muskie said in his address to the 35th General Assembly. “There is no alternative to negotiations except further conflict. Let us remember that differences are rivers to be crossed, not reasons to turn back, he declared.
Muskie spoke as a participant in the general debate which opens each year’s General Assembly a debate during which the foreign ministers of member states outline their countries’ foreign policies. About 125 foreign ministers are due to take part in this year’s general debate. Muskie’s remarks on the Middle East were part of an eight-page address devoted to the achievement of peace in all parts of the world.
He said that as the U.S. is seeking to resolve the Middle East conflict, “we are committed to finding a solution to the Palestinian problem in all of its aspects and at the same time to permanent security for the State of Israel. We have no illusions about the difficulties of this quest. We are dealing with a conflict of long duration and intense feelings. There can be no short cuts.”
NEED TO RESOLVE THE PALESTINIAN PROBLEM
The Secretary of State reiterated the U.S. commitment to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. “We are determined to pursue to successful conclusion the peace process begun at Camp David two years ago this month,” he said.
“Already, that process has achieved something once thought impossible: peace between Egypt and Israel. Now the negotiations are focused opens a second goal, raking a significant first step toward resolving the Palestinian problem. The current autonomy talks have as their goal arriving at interim arrangements to establish full autonomy for the people of the West Bank and Gaza,” Muskie said.
He added, “After that, the process will proceed to negotiations which will determine the final status of those areas.”
CANADIAN URGES SECURE BOUNDARIES FOR ALL STATES
Canada’s Secretary of State for External Affairs, Mark MacGuigan, said in his address to the General Assembly that a cornerstone in efforts to reach a comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict is “respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of every state in the area and for the right of all states, including Israel, to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries.”
He also declared that there must be recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. “Like other people, they are entitled to political expression within a defined territory and to participate in the negotiating process to find a just and comprehensive settlement.”
Referring to the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, MacGuigan said that there has been progress in dealing with serious problems but difficulties still remain. He stated that “further decisions must soon be made or else the achievements to date will be jeopardized with all of the consequences that this will entail.”
The Soviet Union and the United Kingdom, among other countries, will address the General Assembly tomorrow and France and West Germany will speak on Wednesday. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Yitzhak Shamir, who was present for Muskie’s speech, will address the General Assembly Sept. 29.
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