The State Department today appeared to be turning a blind eye towards reports that Syria is moving mortars and heavy artillery into the United Nations patroled buffer zone, in the Golan Heights and that the Soviet Union is shipping large quantities of military equipment to Syria.
Department spokesman Robert Anderson, asked about Israeli charges that Syria is putting guns into the buffer area, declared to reporters: “As we understand it, the Israelis have discussed with the United Nations the question of whether certain items of equipment should be permitted in the limited forces area. These reports apparently refer to discussions which are continuing. I have nothing more for you today on the specific reports.”
Anderson said he could not confirm whether Syrian guns were in the buffer zone. Regarding Soviet equipment reportedly moving into Syria, he said that he had seen such reports but was not going to confirm or deny them. A reporter pointed out that the U.S. was instrumental in working out the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces in a 33-day diplomatic marathon and asked whether Syria was observing the terms of that agreement or violating it. Anderson said he had no immediate response to that question.
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