Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam of Syria indicated to Secretary of State Kissinger tonight that peace in the Middle East might depend on recovery by the Palestinians of territory occupied by Israel.
“We have spread peace through hundreds of years,” Mr. Khaddam said in a toast at dinner, but it “cannot be established unless it is based on rights and justice.”
The Foreign Minister’s remarks came at the end of two days of talks with Mr. Kissinger and President Ford. They were extended into a third day at the White house tomororw.
Arabs Who Had Effect
Mr. Khaddam, the highestranking Syrian to visit the United States, said that “Arabs who left an impact are those who could not accept injustice which is a result of aggression.”
Mr. Kissinger, in his toast, described negotiating with the Syrians as a “difficult process” but said that Mr. Khaddam’s visit had made a major contribution toward restoring good relations between Washington and Damascus.
The Syrian official, speaking lin Arabic, credited the Secretary with playing a key role in improving relations, which he said “can be based only on mutual respect.”
He added that the Arab states had “struggled in behalf of the Palestinians,” who themselves “have struggled in behalf of justice to recover occupied territory.” He said “the Arabs want peace and are eager to start a dialogue with the United States.”
Earlier, at the White House, Mr. Khaddam had received assurances from President Ford of a strengthening in ties between the two nations.
