U.N. population talks stumble on West Bank

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 10

U.N. population talks stumble on West Bank

NZPA-Reuter Mexico City Delegates to the United Nations population conference have rejected attempts by the United States and Israel to amend an Arab motion critical of Israeli policy on the occupied West The main committee of the 148-nation conference voted yesterday not to change the wording of the motion after the United States and Israel turned down a compromise resolu-

tion proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar. Only Liberia joined the United States and Israel in voting to remove a phrase criticising the establishment of settlements in occupied territory. The original wording won the support of 53 committee members while 35 abstained. The chief American delegate, James Buckley, told the committee the disputed

words were entirely irrelevant and a politically objectionable reference to the Middle East. But the United States and Israel did not walk out of the conference when the motion was passed as some delegates had predicted. United Nations officials said the Secretary-General had discussed the dispute over the Middle East motion with President Miguel De La Madrid of Mexico.