Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam Visits Washington
Abd al-Halim Khaddam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Repitblic, made an official visit to Washington August 22-25. 1974
Following are remarks by Secretary Kissinger and Foreign Minister Khaddam after a meeting on August 22 and their exchange of toasts at a dinner at the Department on August 23.
Press release dated August 22
Foreign Minister Khaddam First of all I would like to express my appreciation to the Secretary of State, Dr. Kissinger, for his extending to me the invitation to visit him in Washington so as to discuss with him matters that relate to the situation in the Middle East. This visit came within the framework of the visit of former President Nixon to the Middle East and, more specifically, to Syria. Therefore, it is natural that our discussions here should aim at continuing the efforts for a just peace in the Middle East, because we feel that it is necessary to give these efforts the opportunity and the chance to achieve a permanent, durable, and just peace in the Middle East.
We had today’s session of discussions and talks, which were profitable and constructive. We shall continue these talks tomorrow. I would like to reiterate my thanks, my gratitude, to Dr. Kissinger for making it possible for me to visit him here in Washington.
Secretary Kissinger Well, I wanted to say also that, first of all, we consider this a very important visit. It is the first visit of a Syrian Foreign Minister to the United States in many years. We are working on crucial problems for the peace of the world, a just and lasting solution of the problems of the Middle East. We agreed, as the Foreign Minister has said, that these negotiations must be given an opportunity to succeed in an atmosphere which is conducive to negotiations. We will continue our talks. We will have a brief talk later today with the Vice President-designate, and we will have a longer session tomorrow. Thank you.
