Egypt Denies Violation

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 13

Egypt Denies Violation

(N-Z.P. A.-Reuter— Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 6. Egypt denied yesterday that it had or was introducing new missile emplacements along the Suez Canal in violation of the current Middle East cease-fire and said that it was only moving existing missiles for protection against Israeli attacks.

A memorandum from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to

the United States also charged that Israel was violating the 90-day cease-fire by rebuilding the so-called Bar Lev line on its side of the canal, thus showing it had no intention of eventually pulling out of the Sinai Peninsula.

The document, according to diplomatic sources at the United Nations, was believed to be the first official Egyptian reaction to a statement by the United States in September 3 which said that Egypt had violated the ceasefire. Guarantee Sought It also asked the United States if it could “provide us with a solemn guarantee that Israel will not attack our positions.”

“And if Israel disregards the United States guarantee and launches another treacherous attack, what specific action will the United States then take against Israel to honour the American guarantee?”

The memorandum said the United States had given its word it would not aid Israel’s “offensive capabilities” but “it has been revealed that the United States has supplied Israel, during the ceasefire period, with electronic devices and guided missiles. “Moreover, the United States Secretary of Defence has disclosed that the United States intends to supply Israel with Phantom jets,” it said. The memorandum said that

Egypt pledged: “We have not introduced any new missiles to the cease-fire zone after the day of the cease-fire and we shall continue to observe this.” According to the diplomatic sources, the memorandum said that Israel charges of Egyptian violations were part of “all forms of manoeuvres to avoid starting serious and substantive talks with Dr (Gunnar) Jarring,” special Middle East peace negotiator. “Not Correct” “With respect to the information you submitted on September 3 on the basis of which you consider that we have violated the cease-fire arrangements, we would like to state unequivocally that this information is not correct,” the Egyptian memorandum said. “We would like also to reiterate that we have not introduced new missiles into the specified (cease-fire) zone. All existing missiles were present on the day the ceasefire came into effect (August 7). “What is taking place now is maintenance measures, which are essential for their safety and that of our personnel.”

The memorandum argued: “By requiring us not to move the missiles to alternative sites to ensure their safety, and not to provide the maintenance needed, Israel, supported by the United States,

is in fact confronting us with a situation whereby we will be unable to defend our positions against any surprise attack by Israel.” The document stressed: “We are entitled to move the missiles from one place to another inside the zone and to replace those missiles with others from outside the zone .. The position of the military command is that the safety of the missile sites as well as the personnel require such action.

“The missiles, if not moved from their places, would be the target for Israeli attacks at any moment, since Israel would be sure of the missiles’ positions, knowing that their sites had not been changed.”