Syrian and Soviet foreign ministers met today to discuss Middle East developments

publisher: UPI

Publishing date: 1982-01-15

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The foreign ministers of Syria and the Soviet Union met today for talks on how to respond to the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights, Tass said.

‘It was pointed out that Israel’s provocative attempt to legitimize the annexation of Syria’s Golan Heights is a direct consequence of the anti-Arab Camp David collusion,’ the Soviet news agency said.

It was the second day of talks between Syria’s Abdel Halim Khaddam and Andrei Gromyko of the Soviet Union.

Diplomatic sources said they believe the Syrian envoy may be asking for increased Soviet military aid to counter the strategic cooperation pact reached between Israel and the United States.

Diplomatic sources said Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam would ask for more military aid as well as coordinating foreign policy in the region.

Tass mentioned the strategic cooperation agreement between Israel and the United States, which was the subject of a spat between Washington and Jerusalem after Israeli law was imposed on the Heights. Washington suspended teh accord following the Golan annexation.

Tass said the talks were held under provisions of the Soviet-Syrian Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

‘The Middle East situation has been still more aggravated of late following Israel’s expansionist actions, backed by the United States,’ Tass said.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko was quoted as saying Moscow is committed to ‘solidarity with the struggle of the Syrian and other Arab peoples to restore their legitimate rights and ensure the territorial integrity of their countries.’

Tass said Khaddam expressed his country’s gratitude to the U.S.S.R. for its ‘invariable aid’ in ‘the struggle for the restoration of justice and peace in the Middle East.’

The government-run Syrian media have called for closer ties between Damascus and Moscow and, in a speech Wednesday, Assad said a Middle East balance of power was vital for the liberation of occupied Arab lands.

Although Washington and Jerusalem quarreled after Israel moved to annex the Golan Neights, and the United States suspended the pact, the accord apparently has not been canceled outright.

‘It was pointed out that Israel’s provocative attempt to legitimize the annexation of Syria’s Golan Heights is a direct consequence of the anti-Arab Camp David collusion,’ the Soviet news agency said after the first day of talks.

It said the Middle East situation has been ‘still more aggravated of late, following Israel’s expansionist actions backed by the United States.’

 

 

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