Syria Thursday welcomed upcoming Lebanese-Israeli military talks on an Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but said it was ‘not ready’ to accept conditions Israel has set for a pullout.
The United States also hailed as ‘a fine step foward’ the announcement by the United Nations that Lebanese and Israeli military officers would meet Nov. 5 in the Lebanese town of Naqoura, five miles north of the Israeli border.
Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam said his government approved of the meeting as a way of ending the two-year occupation of southern Lebanon by some 10,000 Israeli troops.
But speaking during a break in talks with Lebanese President Amin Gemayel at the presidential summer palace near Beirut, Khaddam warned of increased attacks on Israeli soldiers by Moslem guerrillas if Israel is too rigid and the talks fail.
‘If the Israelis make conditions,… this will help to consolidate Lebanese public opinion supporting the Lebanese national resistance in stepping up its attacks against the Israelis,’ Khaddam said.
He also said Syria could not meet demands sought by Israel to safeguard its northern border settlements from Palestinian guerrilla attacks.
‘Syria is not ready directly or indirectly … to give any guarantees to Israelis or non-Israelis,’ he said ‘Israel’s security is not our duty or obligation.’