Waldheim Says Resumption of Peace Conference Hinges on Syria’s Role

Secretary General Kurt Waldheim said in Geneva today that certain problems, notably that concerning Syria, would have to be resolved before the Geneva peace conference on the Middle East can be resumed. The Secretary General made that remark in reply to reporters’ questions when he arrived in Geneva it was reported here today. He said contacts with Syria were continuing but he did not know yet whether it would be possible to begin disengagement negotiations with the Syrians.

Before leaving the UN headquarters yesterday, Waldheim conferred with Hassam Kelani, the Syrian ambassador to the UN, on the situation of the Israeli-Syrian cease-fire line and the Israeli POWs held by Syria, according to a UN spokesman. The spokesman said the Waldheim talks with Kelani were a “continuation” of the efforts of Roberto Guyer, UN Undersecretary General, who visited Syria last Dec. and discussed the problem of the Israeli POWs. Syria has refused to provide Israel with a list of the POWs or to permit Red Cross representatives to visit them.