U.S. Official Says Presence of Marines in Lebanon ‘essential’ to Progress That Has Been Made There

Deputy Secretary of State Kenneth Dam stressed today that the presence of the U.S. marines in Lebanon has been “essential” to the progress that has been made there, Including the security talks going on now between the various factions in that country.

“We wouldn’t be this far if the marines weren’t there,” Dam said on the NBC-TV “Meet the Press” program. He said it is “not constructive to lay down markers when the marines will leave” Lebanon or even be rode played. He said the U.S. is not publicly discussing any changes in the marine position while the security talks are going on.

But he noted that if the Lebanese factions agree to the security plan and it is implemented and a climate for the reconciliation talks is created, the situation would be “transformed” and it will be possible to take “a new look at the role of the marines in Lebanon.

The proposed security plan would basically have the Lebanese army and police force move in between the warring factions in Lebanon and place the Beirut airport, where the marines are now stationed, in a neutral zone. The plan reportedly has the support of both Israel and Syria.

Dam today continued to maintain the low U.S. profile on the security plan negotiations. He noted that the negotiations “have not involved the United States” but are between the various factions in Lebanon and the occasional participation of Syria and Saudi Arabia. He said it was “dangerous to be hopeful or unhopeful” about the negotiations but noted that the talks were a “positive trend.” The U.S. official seemed to give Syria some credit for this development. “The Syrians no longer seem intent on sabotaging the progress, ” he said. “In fact, up to now, they have acquiesced perhaps more than acquiesced in the security talks.”

Dam said the reason appeared to be that “the Syrians have become more cautious. Perhaps that is because we have shown we are willing Jo defend our marines.” He added another reason, maybe “the rest of the Arab world has become more and more concerned about Syrian aggressiveness.”

Dam restated the Administration’s position that the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s trip to Damascus which resulted in the release of captured Naval pilot Lt. Robert Goodman, did not have any “implications” on Mideast diplomacy. He noted that it was a “humanitarian gesture” but said the gesture “can only improve relations between the United States and Syria.”

The contention by Jackson, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, and others that Syria and the U.S. have not been talking, was denied by Dam. He said that prior to the May 17 Israel-Lebanon agreement, Syria did not want to take part in the negotiations.

But Dam said that since then the various U.S. Mideast negotiators have had a “full dialogue” with the Syrians and U.S. Ambassador Robert Paganelli has always had “full access” to the Syrian government.