Unofficial State Department View: Proximity Talks a ‘dead Horse’

Officially, the State Department says the possibility of proximity talks looking towards reopening the Suez Canal remains alive, but unofficially, the Department is understood to agree with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat that the idea is “a dead horse.”

State Department spokesman Charles Bray reiterated today the Department’s long-held position in replying to a newsman’s question about Sadat’s reported comment by saying “we remain available if the parties wish us to play a role.” But Bray would not comment on whether the US has approached the Egyptians on an interim agreement nor on whether Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring, the United Nations mediator, has “enlightened us” on his latest activity in the Middle East.

Bray also refused to answer a question on whether the US has temporarily deferred putting forward the idea of reopening the canal pending Dr. Jarring’s initiatives for a full settlement. Sadat was quoted in an interview with Newsweek Magazine as rejecting an American proposal that Joseph Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, serve as an intermediary at indirect talks in New York or elsewhere between Egyptians and Israelis.

SADAT: DIRECT TALKS POSSIBLE

“Insofar as the so-called ‘proximity talks’ or hotel talks with Mr. Sisco are concerned, it’s a dead horse,” a Newsweek senior editor, Arnaud de Borchgrave, quoted Sadat as saying. According to de Borchgrave, who has interviewed Sadat before in Cairo, Sadat also hinted his government might engage in direct talks with Israel.

He was asked whether he would object to direct negotiations with Israel at the same table in Dr. Jarring’s presence. Sadat replied, according to Newsweek, “Jarring’s mission is to implement the UN resolution of November 1967, which Egypt interprets as calling for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories in return for Egyptian recognition of Israeli sovereignty. Whenever Jarring feels this can be done, we will come to the table.”