Secretary of State George Shultz said Thursday that “under the right circumstances,” Jordan would be “agreeable” to the concept of a ceremonial international peace conference on the Middle East.
Responding to a question from Sen. Robert Kasten (R-Wis.) during an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, the Judiciary and Related Agencies, Shultz reiterated his call for direct negotiations between Arab countries and Israel.
But he played up the role of an international conference, saying it could “receive reports from the parties” to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The conference would occur two weeks prior to the start of direct negotiations on autonomy measures for Palestinians. According to Shultz’s original timetable, the conference was to have occurred in mid-April.
“If negotiations were to succeed, questions would arise about international guarantees” that could be offered by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council chairing such a conference, Shultz added.
The conference could help resolve economic development issues in the Middle East, as well as the status of refugees created by a political solution, Shultz said. Resolving the fate of refugees is “a subject that international groupings can deal with best.”
EGYPTIAN SUPPORT
Shultz said he believes that “Egypt shares that view” of supporting such a conference. “I think that under the right circumstances, such a conference would be agreeable to Jordan. But I don’t want to speak for them they have not said that in so many words.”
Syria is in “complete disagreement” with the U.S. concept of an international conference that could not impose solutions, the Secretary said.
On the position of the Soviet Union, which Shultz visited the week of April 11, he said the two sides “did not achieve any breakthrough although we had a lengthy discussion” on the Mideast peace initiative.
He added that the “level of understanding was improved” between the superpowers. The Soviets oppose a peace conference that could not impose solutions, but Shultz said it is “not impossible” that the Soviet Union could change its position.
Shultz, who met in Moscow with Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze, said he told the Soviets that the international conference’s role is to be “the sponsor of the direct face-to-face negotiations that in our view are the only way you are really going to get anywhere.”
‘A TIME FOR DECISIONS’
On Israel’s position, Shultz said Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir “has made it evident this is the centerpiece of his opposition to elements of our plan.”
In contrast, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin “are willing to work through this process of a non-authoritative international conference,” as long as it leads to direct negotiations, he added.
In Shultz’s prepared testimony, he said “this is a time for decisions” on peace in the Middle East. “The situation on the ground does not serve anyone’s interests. Rapid, positive change can occur.”
He said the parties are still considering the plan, but that the United States is “carrying the initiative forward into a new and more detailed, operational stage.”
Through peace, “Israeli security can be enhanced,” Shultz said.
“A new relationship of peace with its Arab neighbors can emerge,” the secretary said. “Israelis can be free from the increasing human and moral burdens of occupation able to devote their considerable talents and energies to building a better future.”
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