P.L.O. adamant

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 8

P.L.O. adamant

NZPA - Reuter Damascus I Leaders of the Palestine [Liberation Organisation, [after nine hours of policy [debate, have agreed not to (budge from their opposition (to United Nations Security (Council guidelines for a Middle East peace settlement. No official statement was (issued when the 55-seat Palestine Central Council meeting ended at dawn yesterday after discussions peppered wi(h vitriolic criticism of the United States and its role in trying to bring about a settlement. But authoritative sources said the council had agreed to reject firmly American proposals that the Palestinians should change their opposition to Security Council Resolution 242. “There was no softening of the Palestinian stand,” the sources said. “There was a mood of no concessions in the absence of any tangible signs of getting something in return.” They said the council reaffirmed the 15-point pol-

icy programme adopted in Cairo last March by the Palestine National Council, the Palestinian Parliament-in-exile. The programme categorically ruled out Palestinian attendance at peace talks on the basis of Resolution 242 — which President Carter has said the P.L.O. must recognise in its entirety. ( The commando chief, Yasiser Arafat, said after the ‘marathon session that it had I discussed all aspects of the Middle East problem. He added that a communique would be issued later. The sources said the communique — its final werrding was still being drafted — would reflect the P.L.O.’s view that the United States

was trying to ignore the national rights of the 3.5 M Palestinians. Earlier in London the United Nations SecretaryGeneral (Dr Kurt Walheim) claimed that the Palestinians were ready to recognise the existence of the State of Israel if Israel recognised their political status, “The P.L.O. position,” he said, “is that it would be ready to accept Security Council Resolution 242, if it is amended to take into account the political status of the Palestinians.” He added this would mean, by implication, recognition of the State of Israel since its existence is recognised in the United Nations resolution.