Official hopeful on canal talks

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32679, 7 August 1971, Page 17

Official hopeful on canal talks

(N.Z.PJI.-IleuKr—CopyriphO TEL AVIV, August 6.

The United States Assistant Secretary of State (Joseph Sisco) left for Washington today to report on weeklong talks with Israeli leaders, hopeful of achieving an interim agreement on opening the Suez Canal.

He made no comment at the airport before leaving, but said he had not expected an agreement in the first place.

He added, however: “We believe that a practical basis for future progress on an interim Suez Canal agreement can be achieved.” The United States Government would continue its efforts towards this end, he said. Explaining the news blackout that has surrounded the talks in Tel Aviv, a United States Embassy spokesman said Mr Sisco had come to Israel for "quiet and private diplomacy.” Mr Sisco's statement confirmed earlier reports that the deadlock between Israel and Egypt on terms for a Suez agreement remained, but the door still was open

for further discussion and American mediation.

An agreement is blocked at present by conflicting Israeli and Egyptian positions. Israel demands an unlimited ceasefire with no Egyptian or Soviet troop-crossings of the waterway. Egypt, on the other hand, insists on the right to send its troops across the canal and will accept only a six-month ceasefire linked to Israeli commitment to total withdrawal.

The United States Assistant Secretary had a final meeting of two hours snd a half with the Israeli Foreign Minister (Abba Eban) yesterday on all matters of mutual interest.

Although no details have been released on Mr Sisco’s seven hours of talks with the Israeli Prime Minister (Mrs Golda Meir), it is believed that Israeli leaders were bound to have expressed concern over continuing United States delay in replying to a request for more Phantom jet fighter-bombers, and other arms.