Meetinq in the Secretary-General’s Office with the Foreign minister of Syria Mr. Khaddam on Friday, 30 september 1977
Present: Foreign Minister Khaddam
Secretary-General
Ambassador Allaf
Mr. Guyer
Mr. Urquhart
The Secretary-General congratulated the Foreign Minister on his speech and asked him for his impressions of his visit to Washington.
Mr. Khaddam said that President Carter certainly wanted to move forward but there were still substantial obstacles due to the Israelis’ attitude, particularly the question of Palestinian representation. President Carter felt that the Palestinians must be represented, but was not yet convinced that they should be exclusively represented by the PLO. Syria could not accept any Palestinian participation except the PLO which had international legitimacy. Another problem was the working of the Geneva Conference. The United States wanted geographical sub-groups, which Syria did not believe would he constructive. Syria preferred functional sub-groups in which all parties would participate on such matters as withdrawal, ending the state of war, etc. There was some improvement in the United States position, notably the withdrawal to the 1967 borders with minor rectifications, the Palestinians, and on the existence of a Palestinian pontify in the west Bank and Gaza, and of the right to return of the refugees. Nonetheless, President Carter’s efforts had not been sufficient to prevent the new settlements or new laws for the inhabitants of the West Bank. The United States had not stepped the Israelis from creating a fait accompli. In the circumstances Syria was not optimistic concerning the process of reconvening the Geneva Conference by the end of the year.
The Secretary-General said he shared this impression. The United States had made great efforts but had great difficulties with Israel. Both the Co-Chairmen wanted to. go to Geneva but could not so far find a way to do this.
Even if the PLO problem was solved, the question arose, what would happen in Geneva? That sort of working groups would there be, and how would resolution 242 and the political status of the Palestinians be solved? The United States would not accept an amendment to resolution 242, and it gave an understanding in this regard to Israel in September 1975. One idea was that there might be a joint declaration by the Co-Chairmen on Palestinian rights.
Mr. Khaddam said it was not a question of statements or resolutions, but whether Israel was ready to give Palestinians national rights. If the United States could guarantee this, no resolution would be needed.
The Secretary-General said that he did not see how the Geneva Conference could be convened at the end of the year. He had spoken to Secretary of State Vance about the United Nations role and had been told it was intended to follow the same procedure as in 1973,
i.e. that the two Co-Chairmen would ask the Secretary-General to send out invitations and also to be the Chairman of the Conference.
Mr. khaddam commented that they were only giving the Secretary-General the authority of the Queen of England. Syria wished the Geneva Conference this time to be a substantive conference.
The Secretary-General said he hoped that the coming talks would help overcome the difficulties, at least on PLO participation.
Mr. Khaddam said that no Arab state could speak on behalf of the Palestinians; this was the function of the PLO. The United Nations should play an essential role and not merely a procedural and formal one.
The Secretary-General said he appreciated the positive Syrian attitude.
Mr. Khaddam said that Syria was not in a hurry or nervous because she was confident that justice would prevail in the end.
The Secretary-General said he was worried about developments next year if no progress was made.
Mr. Khaddam said that Syria would not be the only country to suffer since the Soviet Union, the United States and Western Europe would also be seriously effected. Therefore the Middle East was an international responsibility.
The Secretary-General commented that the European Nine were now giving fuller support to some of the Arab positions.
Mr. Khaddam asked when the Secretary-General was coming to the region.
The Secretary-General said that he hoped there would not be any problems over the upper mandate.
Mr. khaddam relied that they might have to make problems to get the Secretary-general to Damascus.
He then turned to the question of the proposal that Mr. Najrnudin Rifai might be made an Under-Secretary-General for Arab Affairs.
He understood that this might create problems in the Secretariat and for the Secretary-General. Syria would accept any decision that the Secretary-General thought necessary, and if there were difficulties, the matter would not be pressed. If Syria were to have made a nomination they would have nominated Ambassador Allaf.
The Secretary-General said that the matter would be left open, since there was in any case no vacancy for the time being. He would keep it in mind, not necessarily limiting the possibility to Mr. Rifai.
Mr Khaddam said that the Secretary-General could state that Syria fully supported this position.
