The official organ of President Nasser’s regime in Egypt asserted today that the principal condition for a restoration of diplomatic ties with France would be the breaking off by France of its friendly relations with Israel, it was reported here today from Cairo.
“Al Goumhuriya” declared in its principal editorial that “the resumption of diplomatic relations between France and the United Arab Republic” had been “the subject of widespread discussion during the last few days.”
The newspaper presented a list of problems “which must be settled” before diplomatic relations could be resumed. One was the “continuous influx of French arms for Israel which are used against the rights of the people of Palestine and against all the Arabs.” Another was the attitude of France toward arrangement of a special agreement linking Israel with the European Common Market,” thus opening to Israel the main gate to enable it to accede to Africa’s markets.”
French official circles here indicated that Cairo diplomatic representatives were due soon in Paris to open secret talks with French officials on restoration of diplomatic ties and that they would press for early settlement of the Franco-Israel “problems.” French political sources indicate they did not believe that France would sacrifice its close ties with Israel to obtain diplomatic ties again with the Arab countries.
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