Sinai force on?

Press, 5 December 1981, Page 3

Sinai force on?

NZPA staff correspondent Washington The United States and Israel yesterday announced an agreement clearing the way for four European countries, and hence New Zealand. to participate in the proposed Sinai peace-keeping force. It is planned to move the force into the Sinai in April after Israel withdraws from the area under the terms of its peace treaty with Egypt. Colombo, Uruguay, and Fiji (some seconded New Zealand officers may be with the Fijian contingent) have already agreed to join the

United States in the force. Israel and the United States are now waiting for a response from Britain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands to yesterday's agreement, details of which were not made public. If the European nations refuse to join the force, then New Zealand, Australia, and Canada are unlikely to participate. The United States and Israel said in a joint statement yesterday the four European nations had attached “no political conditions” to their participation in the force. A senior United States

official said he believed that their agreement would come “in a reasonably short time.” The four countries had earlier linked their joining of the force with acceptance of their view that there should be self-determination for the Palestinians, leading to fears in Washington that Israel would veto the countries’ participation. The Israelis will now submit the United States-Israeli declaration to the four countries. asking them to confirm that they recognise that their participation in the force is based on “relevant documents” of the Camp David agreements.