The Soviet Union was not consulted nor even informed of Rumania’s invitation to Israeli Premier Golda Meir until after Deputy Foreign Minister Giorghiu Macovescu actually extended the invitation. Circles close to the Rumanian Embassy in Paris, who had consulted with Macovescu, while he was visiting Paris, said the decision to invite Mrs. Meir was “a sovereign Rumanian act in accordance with her independent foreign policy.”
These circles added the Soviet Union did not express any displeasure at the invitation but asked to be kept informed of Israel’s positions and of any major developments which could stem from Mrs. Meir’s meetings with President Nicolae Ceausescu and other Rumanian leaders next week.
The Russians did not ask Rumania to serve as a mediator between them and Israel, but Ceausescu in accordance with his views “that recognition and diplomatic ties do not mean approval,” would like to achieve a breakthrough in the Israeli-Soviet crisis and help Moscow and Jerusalem re-establish normal diplomatic relations. Rumania was the only East European country to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel after the Six-Day War.
HOPE TO FIND MODUS VIVENDI
The re-establishment of relations was not the main purpose of the invitation nor even one of its major points, the sources said. The actual purpose of the invitation was to concretize Rumania’s desire for good relations with “all countries and all sides.” This applies to the Mideast as it does to Moscow and Peking or Moscow and Washington.
The sources said Egyptian President Anwar Sadat knew of the invitation which Ceausescu was about to extend to Mrs. Meir. He did not, however, pass on any messages or any letters, nor did he express any opinion besides saying that “all efforts made on behalf of a negotiated peace are welcomed.” Rumania does not intend to undertake any concrete mediation effort. What it will try to do is to compare Egypt’s and Israel’s positions. From this comparison, Rumania will seek to find any points on which there is a chance of agreement, according to the sources. “We hope less for an actual peace agreement than to find a modus vivendi, a situation on which both sides will agree and one which will not lead to a renewal of hostilities,” the sources noted.
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