The State Department said today that it welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Israel and Zaire but refused to urge other Black African countries to reopen diplomatic ties with Israel. “We don’t want to prescribe for other governments what they should do,” Department deputy spokesman Alan Romberg said.
Romberg also refused to comment on the announcement by Zaire that it would open its embassy in Jerusalem. “That’s a matter between Zaire and Israel,” he said. He noted that the U.S. stands by its policy not to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem until the future of Jerusalem is determined by negotiations.
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