Differences between Syria and Egypt over peace with Israel have split a conference of ministers of the 21‐nation Arab League here that opened on Monday in a show of solidarity and optimism.
The ministers heard a sharp attack on Egyptian policy late yesterday from the Syrian Vice President and Foreign Minister, Abdel Hakin Khaddam, who complained that Egypt’s agreement on military disengagement with Israel had left his country isolated.
Today, less than 24 hours after the Syrian minister addressed a political committee of the conference, Foreign Minister Ismael Fahmy flew in unexpectedly from Cairo, presumably to defend his country’s policies.
The divisions between hawks and doves among the 21 Arab members of the league dominated the conference, which was considering the whole range of Arab relations among themselves and with the rest of the world.
A Pledge by Egypt
In an effort at conciliation, Mr. Fahmy told newsmen just before going to the Bardo Palace for a closed meeting of the ministers that “Egypt will never abandon Syria.” He and Mr. Khaddam conferred this afternoon and the Syrian called off a scheduled news conference without explanation.
Mr. Khaddam was said to have emphasized in his address to the ministers that Syria was still insisting on an Israeli guarantee of complete evacuation of the Golan Heights as the price for any agreement. He is believed to have the support of at least Libya and Algeria.
The Syrian was also critical of the lifting of the oil embargo against the United States by seven of the nine Arab nations that imposed it last October. He indicated that if there were no change in Syria’s situation by June 1, he would move to have the embargo. restored when the question comes up for review.
An immediate test of prevailing opinion was expected to come with the fixing of the date of the next Arab leaders’ conference, which was originally scheduled for next month in Cairo. Egypt has moved to have it postponed until September and to accept a Moroccan invitation to hold it in Rabat.
The Egyptians thus sought to play for time to head off public display of Arab differences next month. The Syrians on the other hand were said to be insisting on the original date.
