Mideast peace prospects have “never been brighter,” Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher said on his return from a five-day Mideast fact-finding trip. Genscher said the states he had visited–Jordan. Syria and Egypt–have “considerable expectations of West Germany and Europe.” This was understandable since the Arab countries saw Europe as a neighboring region with whom good economic and political ties had traditionally existed.
Genscher cautioned that a European participation in the next Geneva conference would “serve little purpose.” Merely adding to the number of conference participants would “not increase the chances of it succeeding.” But “there is a positive thrust in the Mideast at present and we should do everything possible to support it.” he added.
Before returning last Saturday to Bonn, Genscher met separately with UN Secretary Kurt Waldheim who was also concluding a Mideast tour, and with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Neither Bonn nor Cairo gave details of the talks, but Sadat reportedly called 1977 “the year of peace.” There was speculation earlier that Genscher might meet with PLO chief Yasir Arafat, who arrived in Cairo for a visit on Friday, but no such meeting took place.
ISRAEL UNDER SHARP ATTACK
Earlier last week, President Hafez Assad of Syria, at a joint press conference with Genscher, sharply attacked Israel, saying there were “no positive signs for a deviation by Israel from its expansionist mentality.” He accused Israel of “daily provocations,” of not recognizing Palestinian rights, of the continuing occupation of Arab territories and referred to the (Israeli) “legend of secure borders.”
In this context he attacked the Israeli desire that Syrian troops in Lebanon keep away from the Lebanese-Israeli border, asking, “what has Israel to do with the south Lebanon?” Assad said there were favorable conditions for a Mideast peace, but these existed “only on the Arabs’ side.” Asked whether 1977 would be the year of peace for the region, he said. “I don’t believe so.” Progress might be made toward peace, but no one could prophesy the exact date. He said Germany and Europe could play an important role in bringing about peace, but declined to go into details.
Genscher reiterated Bonn’s belief that peace required recognition of Israel’s right to exist as well as the ending of the occupation of Arab territories and the recognition of the rights of the Palestinians. He said he had “found understanding” for these views during his talks with Assad and “did not encounter any contradictions.” It was important that Bonn be able to “talk with the same openness to our Arab and our Israeli friends.” Genscher observed.
In separate talks conducted by officials of Germany’s Economic Ministry, it was agreed that Bonn and Damascus would shortly sign an investment promotion agreement. A Bonn government spokesman said individual projects were not discussed, but chances were “favorable” for German participation in Syria’s 10 million ton a year oil production, for participation by Germany’s Siemens Corporation in the extension of the Syrian telephone network and for introduction of Germany’s “Pal” color television in Syria.
In Egypt, Genscher disclosed. Volkswagen is negotiating with a local company for the erection of an auto assembly plant. Genscher will be visiting Israel in mid-March.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
