Nasser Ends Moscow Talks

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31725, 8 July 1968, Page 11

Nasser Ends Moscow Talks

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) MOSCOW, July 7. President Nasser of Egypt has ended his talks with Soviet leaders with no sign of any softening of positions towards Israel. An Egyptian spokesman said President Nasser had no further meetings scheduled with leading Soviet officials and would spend three days resting in Russia before leaving on Wednesday. In his third and final round of talks yesterday, the Egyptian leader met the Soviet Communist party General Secretary (Mr Leonid Brezhnev), the Prime Minister (Mr Alexei Kosygin), and President Nikolai Podgorny.

After the Kremlin meeting, President Nasser told a luncheon: “We have become convinced once again that the

Soviet Union supports the Arabs and the rights of the Arab nation. “The Soviet leaders confirmed that they will help us to liberate our lands,” he added, according to a brief summary of his speech. President Nasser and Soviet leaders have given no indication of a new initiative towards resolving the Middle East conflict In a speech made public yesterday, but made on Friday, President Nasser criticised an old peace initiative—the United Nations Security Council resolution on the Middle East last November, which called for withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied Arab areas and simultaneous recognition of Israel’s right to exist. President Nasser said the resolution was insufficient and not clear. “However, we agreed with it, being deeply dedicated to

our obligations to ensure peace,” he added. His speech yesterday, quoted in full in most Soviet newspapers today, immediately cooled down speculation that his visit would produce a major new peace move.

In the speech he attacked Israel and its “imperialist patrons.” He did not repeat the remark made by the Foreign Minister, Mr Mahmoud Riad, in Copenhagen on Wednesday that Egypt was now prepared to accept the reality of Israel’s existence in the Middle East. Replying to the Egyptian leader at today’s luncheon, President Podgorny pledged that the Soviet Union would continue its aid to Egypt, though the Soviet news agency, Tass, did not quote him as specifying what form this aid would take. Russia is understood to have rearmed Egypt completely since its massive loss r

of military equipment in the fighting with Israel last year. But the Soviet Union has indicated that it is interested in a Middle East arms embargo provided Israel withdraws its troops from occupied areas. The Egyptian spokesman said President Nasser was due to start his three-day rest in a dacha (country house) near here, and would leave on Wednesday for Belgrade. Egyptian sources indicated that a communique on the President’s talks with Soviet leaders would be issued on Wednesday after his departure.

They had no comment to make on a statement by an official spokesman in Cairo that Egypt would not object to the return of United States peace-keeping troops to Egyptian territory if the United Nations required it. A spokesman said he did not know if this had come up at the meetings.