Syria denounces, U.S. as obstacle to M.E. peace
NZPA-Reuter Damascus The Syrian Foreign Minister (Mr Redel Halim Khaddam) has accused Washington of pursuing a Middle East policy based on an “ugly colonialist ideology" and said the United States was a serious obstacle to peace. Mr Khaddam attacked the United States in unusually tough terms in a speech at a dinner given for the West German Foreign 1 Minister (Mr Hans-Dietrich Genscher). Mr Genscher arrived earlier at the start of a tour of Arab countries that will also take him to Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. Mr Khaddam said the United States was following a policy aimed at extending American dictates over the Middle East, its people, and its wealth — a reference to the region’s vast oil resources. “This policy is based on an ugly colonialist ideology and ignores ... the basic rights of nations,” Mr Khaddam told his West German guest. He listed United States Middle East policy as one of three “serious obstacles” on the road to peace. The others, he said were President Anwar Sadat’s “treason” in concluding a separate peace with Israel, i
s.and Israel's "obstinate refu'sal to implement United • Nations decisions and recog- ■ nise the rights of the Pales- ■ tinian people.” i Mr Genscher’s latest Middle East trip is being made against the background i of Israeli suspicions that Bonn is moving towards a ■ pro-Arab stance. Earlier this summer, Mr Genscher had talks with the leaders of three big oil-pro-ducing countries. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Libya. His visits led to Israeli ac» I cusations that Bonn was ■ courting the Arabs to safeguard West German oil supplies. Israel was also angered by contacts between West German leaders and the Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman (Mr Yasser Arafat). West German Government sources said that a main aim of the visit was to try to reunite the Arab world and give impetus to. Middle East peace moves. The West German Government supported the Egyp-tian-lsraeli peace agreement in March, ’ but officials in Bonn emphasise the need for a wider Middle East peace and a solution of the Palestinian problem. Mr Genscher will be putting over Bonn’s view that a true peace can come only if the Arab world is reunited.
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Press, 28 August 1979, Page 8
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367Syria denounces, U.S. as obstacle to M.E. peace Press, 28 August 1979, Page 8
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