Egypt tense for talks

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 6

Egypt tense for talks

NZPA-Reuter Aswan The Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) will arrive in Aswan, Egypt, today for talks with President Anwar Sadat dominated by the mounting tension over Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Egypt has already condemned the Soviet move and decided to reduce Soviet embassy staff in Cairo. It has also offered military training and financial support for Afghan volunteers: • A statement bv the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs (Mr Mansour Hassan) has described the So-

viet intervention as a “serious threat, not only to our Afghan brothers, but to all the people in the Middle East” ■' . .

Egypt and Israel have both offered military facilities, to the United* States, should it request them, m the present crisis.

Egyptian officials said' “The situation in-Iran and Afghanistan has created an urgency ' for .reaching agreement oil outstanding issues such as Palestinian autonomy and the status of east Jerusalem.” They.-said President Sadat would emphasise the need

for agreement in order to establish permanent peace in the. Middle East.

■ Mr Begin’s programme during this four-day visit includes two formal sessions with President Sadat, but Presidency officials said this could be amended if the two leaders felt it necessary. ; The first session will be held at ?Mr .Sadat’s ~ rest house- • overlooking the Aswan dam. ' .. Both; leaders . substantially differ 'on the extent of powers to be granted to the 1.2 .million Palestinians in the Jordan West Bank and Gaza Strip.