Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger said today that “the in-appropriate resolution” in the United Nations branding Zionism as a form of racism “is an example of bloc voting and of one-way morality that has weakened the public support in the United States for the United Nations.”
“We consider it an inappropriate resolution and we are opposing it,” Kissinger told a news conference today in response to a question. “It cannot help the attitude of the public toward the United Nations.”
The Secretary pointed out that President Ford, UN Ambassador Daniel Moynihan and he himself have spoken out against the resolution which was adopted by the UN Third Committee Oct. 17 by Arab, Communist and Third World Nations. It is being debated in the General Assembly today, Kissinger did not mention the near-unanimous opposition to the resolution by the Senate and House of Representatives.
WILL SUPPORT BRITISH EFFORT
Regarding a report that Britain may seek to intercede between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights following Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s visit to London, Kissinger remarked that the U.S. will “strongly support,” the British effort and that ” the U.S. will support any promising effort no matter who conducts it.” However, he did not appear to specifically affirm the report of British intercession.
He expressed confidence that “when Syria weighs the alternatives” it will decide to renew the presence of the United Nations force on the Golan Heights. Kissinger said failure to renew it would result in “escalation of tensions” and “not serve any purpose.” The mandate for the UN presence expires at the end of this month, Kissinger noted that the US Ambassador to Syria, Richard Murphy, is in Washington and will return to Damascus with the U.S. considerations on the mandate’s renewal.
DECISION DUE ON SINAI PERSONNEL
An inter-agency study, Kissinger said, on the establishment of the U.S. civilian technical group in Sinai between Egyptian and Israeli lines has been completed and he expects the President will make his decision about the organization “in a week or so.” The group will be in place, the Secretary added, when the Israelis withdraw from that sector of Sinai Feb. 22.
Asked if the U.S. expects “a simple statement” from the PLO about recognizing Israel for the U.S. to alter its position toward that organization, Kissinger replied, “I don’t know what more we can say until the PLO declares its intention and the manner in which they accept Israel as a fact.”
Earlier in the news conference Kissinger re-affirmed the U.S. government’s public position that “We cannot make a decision on how to deal” with the PLO until they accept Israel and UN Resolutions 242 and 338. In this connection, Kissinger noted that “we agree with the proposition” that a Middle East settlement “must include Palestinians and a solution of the Palestinian problem.”
Questioned about reports of a U.S. supply of arms to Egypt, Kissinger reiterated that the matter was discussed in a general way with Sadat during his visit here but no specific agreements were reached. When they are, he said, “We will make a decision.” He pointed out that “Congress will have a veto” over it and that the public is being told “exactly what is taking place.”
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.
