SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ABDUL HALIM KHADDAM CRITICISES EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI PEACE TREATY AND PREDICTS ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE-EAST
The Syrian Foreign Minister, Abdul Halim Khaddam, today predicted a grim future for Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat for his part in the Middle-East peace treaty — due to be signed in Washington on Monday (26 March). Mr. Khaddam warned that the signing would signal the beginning of more strife and bloodshed. His warning came at the end of his visit to London, during which he discussed the Middle East situation with Britain’s Prime Minister, James Callaghan.
The Foreign Minister spoke to Visnews at the Syrian Embassy, shortly before leaving for talks in Paris.
Mr. Khaddam described the terms of the treaty as worthless, because they destroyed the efforts of the international community to bring a just and comprehensive peace to the Middle-East.
He went on to say that Arab governments were united in their opposition to the treaty. And predicted that at next week’s Baghdad Foreign Ministers’ meeting they would bring tough economic and political sanctions against Egypt. These would include the suspension of Egypt from the Arab League, and a withdrawal of Arab financial investments.
Mr. Khaddam attacked President Sadat for his part in the peace making process, saying he had disregarded the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. For this reason, he said, the Arab states would do all in their power to depose the Egyptian President for forcing his country into a humiliating position. He said the Arab League would step up its support for the Palestinians in their armed struggle against Israel to recover their territorial and civil rights.
