Talks disappoint King

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 6

Talks disappoint King

NZPA-Reuter Rabat

Two days of secret Middle East peace talks between the Israeli Prime Minister, • Mr Shimon Peres, and King Hassan had left the Moroccan monarch dispirited by the collapse of his personal initiative, diplomats said.

In a broadcast yesterday, the King said he had ended the talks and said goodbye to the Israeli leader when Mr Peres refused to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation and withdraw from all occupied Arab territories.

Speaking emphatically with nervous gestures, the King expressed anger at hostile reaction from Arab critics. He said there had been no Arab decision forbidding meetings between Arab and

Israeli leaders. He said he took full responsibility for what he did and would accept lessons from no-one because Morocco was a completely sovereign and independent State.

Diplomats said it remained to be seen what, if any, lasting damage King Hassan’s reputation would suffer in the Arab and Islamic worlds for his action, which he said he took without consulting anyone.

The King is chairman of the Arab Summit and the Islamic Conference Organisation, and failed twice this year to convene an Arab summit meeting because agreement could not be reached on the agenda.

He revealed that he had rejected suggestions from Mr Peres and the American President, Mr Ronald

Reagan, to hold the meeting with Mr Peres in the United States. He said he did not want to be "under the umbrella of one super-Power or another.” In Tel Aviv, Mr Peres was more optimistic. King Hassan had agreed to more meetings, he said, but gave no indication of an imminent breakthrough in the search for Middle East peace. He said it was important that Morocco was prepared to meet Israel openly.

“I was highly encouraged by my visit,” he said.

King Hassan had tom down “a curtain of shame” by agreeing to meet him publicly. Israel and Morocco had held many previous secret contacts.

“I would call it an historic visit in the peace

process in the Middle East,” he said. “I think what he did was very daring ... he saw it as a contribution to the peace process and an attempt to awaken it from hibernation.

“I think this visit will definitely contribute towards speeding up the peace process in the Middle East, also between us and Egypt.”

He made it clear that wide differences remained with Morocco on a negotiated solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. “I don’t think anyone expected that in one meeting we would reach agreement on all subjects. I don’t think anyone is surprised we still have many differences,” he said.

Only Egypt welcomed the King’s meeting Mr Peres.