Lebanon against Sinai force

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 8

Lebanon against Sinai force

NZPA-Reuter Beirut Lebanon yesterday became the third Arab State to voice concern over proposals that several member countries of the European Economic Community should provide troops for a monitoring force in the Sinai Peninsula.

The Lebanon Foreign Ministry's acting secretary-gen-eral. Jean Riashi, called in the British Ambassador (Mr David Roberts) and expressed concern over reports that Britain was considering taking part in the -force. Ministry sources said.

The sources said Mr Roberts replied that London had taken no such decision on the issue, but would inform the Lebanese Government if it did.

■ In the last three days the Syrian and Libyan Governments have also told E.E.C. diplomats of their concern. They said they regarded the force as part of the Egyp-tian-Israeli Camp David peace accords, which most Arab countries condemn.

At a meeting of E.E.C. Foreign Ministers in Luxemburg this week the French External Relations Minister (Mr Claude Cheysson) said

the Community was “more or less agreed” on providing troops. ■" . . The meeting discussed participation by France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Italy, in the 2500-man force, which is scheduled to start patrolling the Sinai when jsrael completes its handover of the territory to Egypt next April.

The State-run Beirut Radio said the Arab League had asked all its 21 members to express their concern over the possible participation of E.E.C. States in the Sinai Force.

E.E.C. diplomats have said the countries concerned were close to agreement oh joining the force.

But the E.E.C. also wishes to accompany the move with a statement saying this did not amount to a full endorsement of Camp David and the E.E.C. remained committed to involving the Palestine Liberation Organisation in peace talks.

In Tel Aviv, Israel and Egypt signed an agreement broadening access to tourists from both countries and pronounced their relations nor-

mal after three decades of conflict.

They also vowed to press on with negotiations on Palestinian self-rule, and the Israeli Defence Minister (Mr Ariel Sharon) said talks could continue even without American help.

"We can now say that our relations are normal . . . and it is needless to use ' the terminology of ‘normalisation’." said the Egyptian Foreign Minister (Mr Kamal Hassan Aly).

The Ministers were addressing an airport news conference winding up a three-day visit by Mr Aly and a burst of normalisation and autonomy talks.

Mr Aly rejected the much discussed Saudi Arabian peace plan, involving Israeli withdrawal from the territories and the establishment of a Palestinian State, saying the only road to peace- was the Camp David peace accords of 1978.