Israel’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir arrived here this afternoon for a two-week stay during which he will head the Israeli delegation to the 39th session of the United Nations General Assembly and meet with Foreign Ministers of more than a score of nations and with top U.S. officials.
Shamir will meet tomorrow with the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Abdel Ismat Meguid. It will be the first Israeli-Egyptian contact on the foreign ministerial level since the Egyptians recalled their Ambassador from Tel Aviv in September, 1982, during the war in Lebanon.
SHAMIR MEETS WITH ZAIRE’S PRESIDENT
Shamir met shortly after his arrival here today with President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire at the latter’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel suite. Shamir’s spokesman, Avi Pazner, said their 45-minute session was “friendly” and that Shamir invited Mobutu to visit Israel. The Zaire leader indicated he would come during the latter part of November.
Zaire restored diplomatic relations with Israel two years ago, the first Black African nation to do so since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. According to Pazner, Shamir’s talk with Mobutu centered on military assistance Israel has been providing Zaire since the two countries resumed relations.
Zaire’s President asked for increased aid in the civilian sector, especially agricultural assistance. They decided to discuss this further when Mobutu visits Israel, but meanwhile both countries will explore the subject, Pazner said.
Mobutu also referred to what he said were Zaire’s “problems” with the U.S. Congress and asked Israel to use its influence in the matter. (Congress has balked against military and economic assistance to Zaire on grounds that the Mobutu regime is not democratic). Pazner said Shamir promised that Israel would help if it can but stressed that the matter was not in Israel’s hands.
BUSY SCHEDULE FOR SHAMIR
Shamir is scheduled to attend a reception given by President Reagan at the Waldorf Astoria tonight and he will be at the General Assembly tomorrow when Reagan addresses the world body. Shamir is also scheduled to meet tomorrow with the Foreign Ministers of Britain and Canada. The Deputy Premier is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State George Shultz this week. He is to address the General Assembly October 3.
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