Spanish Prime Minister Adollo Suarez indicated Friday that changes must occur in the Middle East before his government would recognize Israel and enter diplomatic relations with the Jewish State. He implied that fruition of the United Nations resolutions constituted pre-condition to recognition.
Spain has never recognized Israel. When the anti-Zionist resolution was being voted in the United Nations General Assembly in November, 1975, Spain was one of three countries absent, the others being Rumania and South Africa. Israel has diplomatic relations with both.
Suarez, after having met with President Carter and his aides here, said at a news conference at the National Press Club that “we are building the basis for a more agile, flexible Spanish foreign policy.” The Jewish Telegraphic Agency asked him why, in view of his statement, Spain had not recognized Israel although when his party took power it promised to open relations with the Soviet Union, Mexico and Israel.
Suarez, who spoke in Spanish, replied, according to the English interpreter, that “my government has been in office only nine months but sometimes from the questions that are asked you assume we have been in office at least nine years. The statement of the government that was issued at the beginning of our administration stated Spain expected to have diplomatic relations with all countries in the world regardless of their ideological basis. This is still and continues to be our aim-an aim that is being implemented gradually–and it is being implemented on the basis of Spain’s national interests. We hope there will be changes in the Middle East so that our objectives will be carried out in its entirety.”
Another reporter later asked that in view of Suarez’s statement on “changes” being “a precondition” for recognition of Israel, what was required before Spain took that step. “I simply referred to resolutions of the United Nations,” Suarez replied. He did not elaborate.
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