Vance Urges ‘other Interested Parties’ to Follow Egypt’s Example and Enter into Talks with Israel

Secretary of State Cyrus Vance urged “other interested parties” in the Middle East conflict to follow Egypt and enter negotiations with Israel “without delay,” and noted that the Camp David accords “state that the negotiated solution must recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.” In a major foreign policy address last Friday to the 33rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Vance declared:

“We are determined to achieve a fair and just settlement of the Middle East question in all its parts, and we hope the Palestinian people will seize this historic opportunity. It is our hope that the people of the Middle East will agree that it is imperative to begin the negotiating process now–and not to stand still until every last issue is resolved. We urge the other interested parties to join the negotiations without delay.”

The U.S. Secretary of State noted that the Camp David accords “constitute a framework for a comprehensive peace settlement” in the Mideast and called on the entire UN membership “to lend their full support to the task of building a just and lasting peace upon this framework.”

MUST RESOLVE PALESTINIAN PROBLEM

Vance, recalling President Carter’s recent statement to the joint session of Congress that no Mideast solution will be just or secure if it does not resolve the problem of the Palestinians in the broadest sense, said that the U.S. believes that “the Palestinian people must be assured that they and their descendants can live with dignity and freedom, and have the opportunity for economic fulfillment and for political expression.”

Vance, however, declined to be specific regarding the form of “political expression” the Palestinians will enjoy in a framework of a comprehensive settlement and did not mention “a Palestinian homeland” or entity. “The Camp David accords state that the negotiated solution (in the Mideast) must recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” Vance said, adding that the accords “make a solid start toward achieving these goals for the Palestinians.”

Continuing, Vance said: “As negotiations are pursued on the basis of the Camp David framework, a dynamic process will be set in motion that can profoundly change attitudes on the issues that remain to be resolved.” He pointed out that the accords “concentrate an the means by which self-government can be established for the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.” But, he added, Carter, Israeli Premier Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat recognized during the summit that the problem of the Palestinians living outside these areas must also be addressed.

“As the political institutions of self-government take shape on the West Bank and Gaza through negotiations among the parties, the relationship between the institutions and the Palestinians living outside the area should be defined, including the question of admission of Palestinian refugees to the West Bank and Gaza, ” Vance said.

ISSUE OF PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

He stressed that the United States is “irrevocably committed to bringing about a satisfactory solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees” and promised that the U.S. “will play an active role in the resolution of this problem.” Continuing, Vance said “We urge the international community to support Egypt and Israel in establishing procedures urgently to address this issue in all its aspects.” The international community, he stated, “should contribute to a program to promote economic development in the West Bank and Gaza as well as to assist those refugees residing elsewhere.”

Vance stressed that while peace negotiations are underway it is “critical” that the mandates of UN peace-keeping forces in Sinai and the Golan Heights be renewed this fall.

In a brief reference to the situation in Lebanon, Vance said that as Carter said in his press conference last Thursday, “it is time for us to take joint action to call for a conference of those who are involved and try to reach some solution. It may involve a new charter for Lebanon.”