U.S. envoy in Lebanon

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 8

U.S. envoy in Lebanon

NZPA-Reuter Beirut A United States special envoy, Philip Habib, has embarked on a mission to try to prevent a big clash between Israel and Syria over Lebanon in an unpromising atmosphere of hard-line statements from the two sides. Mr Habib, a former Under-Secretary of State for political affairs, arrived at Beirut yesterday and was due to have talks later with Lebanese Government leaders and political party bosses. He will visit Syria and Israel later. Mr Habib was sent from Washington to try to defuse a crisis which erupted last week when Syrian peacekeeping forces set up ground-to-air missiles in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley after Israel shot down two Syrian helicopters there.

Israel, saying the missiles were a provocation, has demanded their removal and hinted at sending its fighters to destroy them unless diplomatic efforts get them withdrawn quickly. Informed sources in Beirut said Syria had now reinforced its 30,000 troops in Lebanon, which were at full readiness. Although Damascus has said that Mr Habib is welcome to go there to hear the Syrian viewpoint, commentaries in the official Syrian news media has accused the United States of backing the Israelis in the dispute. Mr Habib’s mission coincided with a visit to Damascus by Georgy Korniyenko, First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, which signed a friendship and co-operation treaty with Syria last year.