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1552741
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August 9, 1974 - Ford, Kissinger, Arab Envoys
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1552741
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document
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August 9, 1974 - Ford, Kissinger, Arab Envoys
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Middle East conflicts
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1974-08-09
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1974
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1974-08-09
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1974
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CONFIDENTIAL /EXDIS GSS SENSITIVE M.E. (6)
S/S 7414865
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OScowerott
WH
Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: August 9, 1974
SUBJECT: Briefing for Arab Ambassadors
PARTICIPANTS: For the United States: The President (entered during
meeting)
The Secretary
Alfred L. Atherton, Jr.
Assistant Secretary, NEA
David A. Korn, Country Director
the
NEA/ARN
Arab Envoys:
Algeria: Mr. Abdelkader Maadini, Acting Head of
Algerian Interests Section
Egypt: H. E. Ashraf A. Ghorbal, Amb. E&P
Jordan: Mr. Riad Sabri, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
Kuwait: Mr. Jamil Al-Hassani, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
Lebanon: Mr. Joseph Akl, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
Libya: Mr. Ali El-Gayed, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
Morocco: Mr. Saad Taib, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
Oman: H. E. Ahmed Macki, Amb. E&P
Qatar: H. E. Abdullah Saleh Al-Mana, Amb. E&P
Saudi Arabia: H. E. Ibrahim Al-Sowayel, Amb. E&P
Sudan: Mr. Mamoun Abdel Gadir Yousif, Charge d'Affaires, a.
Syria: Dr. Sabah Kabbani, Ambassador-designate
Tunisia: Mr. Amor Ardhaoui, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
UAE: Mr. Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, Charge d'Affaires, a.d
Yemen, H. E. Yahya H. Geghman, Ambassador E&P
The Secretary: I have taken the liberty of asking you to come
to the White House for this meeting because the President wanted
to see you, too. This will make it easier. I regret the cir-
cumstances of this meeting. The main thing to remember is that
our foreign policy will be continued along the lines you are
already familiar with. That may not be totally agreeable to
everyone in this room, but you know that the United States is
firmly committed to working for peace in the Middle East. We are
NEA:ARN:DAKorn:jfo
S -
(Drafting Office and Officer)
CONFIDENTIAL
FORM
DS-1254
2-65
LIBRARY
GERALD
DECLASSIFIED
GDS
E.O. 12958, Sec. 3.5
FORD
State Dept. Guidelines State De view 3/9/04
By
, NARA, Date 3/25/04
File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
CONFIDENTIAL/EXDIS
-2-
working to help bring about a stable and lasting peace in the
area. President Nixon was committed to this goal. I am here to
tell you that it will be continued by the new President. The
President has written to many leaders of Middle Eastern countries,
and to all of those who have been involved in our peace efforts,
I have written to those I know, to say that all the commitments and
understandings we have made will be kept. We count on continuing
to work together with those countries we have worked with in
the past. As regards those countries we have not worked
with closely, I want you to know that we are prepared to establish
relations of friendship and confidence and are ready to work
together to achieve the goal of a just and lasting peace. Our
procedures will be those with which you are familiar. We will
continue our consultations and correspondence with the leaders
of your governments. You should look on what has happened as
a change in personalities and not in policy. President Ford
already knows a great many of your leaders.
This is the main reason I have asked you to come here.
I would now be willing to answer any questions. As you know,
we will be continuing our peace efforts this next week with
visits and meetings with Foreign Minister Fahmy and King Hussein.
Ambassador Sowayel: Mr. Secretary, I want to thank you on behalf
of the Arab envoys. We are very happy to know that you are here
in this difficult period and that you will continue with the
search for a peaceful solution in the Middle East. This matter
is very important. I am very sure we will be able to continue
our efforts, and I am very optimistic.
Ambassador Ghorbal: We all shared in your agony of the past
weeks and we share in your hope for the future. We are gratified
that you are carrying forward. We are equally gratified to hear what
you have said about continuity in American policy.
The Secretary: You can be confident that this policy will continue.
Ambassador Ghorbal: You noted that Foreign Minister Fahmy will
be coming to Washington to continue the dialogue to bring about
a structure of peace in the Middle East. I hope that the other
party to the conflict will make the necessary effort in this
direction and will cease the unfortunate statements that have
been coming out recently. We are reassured by your attitude. We
hope to be equally reassured by their actions. We hope no one will
try to disrupt the progress that has already been made.
CONFIDENTIAL
FORD
?
GERALD
LIBRARY
CONFIDENTIAL
-3-
The Secretary: You can be sure that we will not tolerate pressure
from anyone under these circumstances. It would be absolutely
intolerable for anyone to try to take advantage of us in this
moment which is not even a moment of weakness. We want to
continue to move in a step-by-step process. We have always told
you what we thought we could achieve and we have never misled you.
We are now again in the process of consultation. I think we are
in a better position now to achieve our goals domestically than
we were before because we have a broader base of popular support
in this country than we have had in a long time. After we conclude
our talks this month we will be in a better position to know
how to proceed next.
(Turning to the Algerian Acting Interests Section Chief) --I
understand that my friend Mr. Bouteflika will be President of the
General Assembly this fall. Can he actually bring himself to
be neutral about anything? I know that it is not in his normal
nature. Please give him my very warm regards.
(President enters and greets Arab envoys)
The President: I am honored to be with all of you here today.
The Secretary: Mr. President, as you instructed me, I have
pointed out to the Ambassadors your determination to pursue
our efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East which will
take account of the concern of all peoples in the area. I have
also pointed out that you possess a broader base of popularity
than we have had in a long time and that therefore we are in
a better position to pursue these objectives.
The President: Thank you. Let me welcome you. I have met
some of you previously. I hope that my relations with you and
your governments, through Secretary Kissinger, will grow in
the months ahead. The Secretary has said that the policy I
will pursue is lasting and durable peace in the Middle East. This
is the policy the American people want. Let me say that I do
not think the peace can be one-sided because then it will not
be accepted. But I think that our goal of peace in the Middle
East is achievable. Secondly, I think it is in the interests of
all of us--those of us who come from industrial as well as
developing nations, to keep our world economy strong. We can't
maintain prosperity if we have broken links in our world economy.
I think we in the United States are very fortunate to have
Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State. He is one of the most popular
officials in our government. I would hate to run in an election
against him (laughter). But it is fortunate for us and for the
&
FORD
CONF IDENTIAL
EMALO
CONFIDENTIAL
-4-
world, especially in this very difficult period, to have him
in the job. He has our blessing and his policy has my support.
As we work together with your governments I think we can
achieve a lasting peace. This cannot be a one-sided agreement
because one-sided agreements only lead to further conflict.
At the same time we must also work for a strong world economy.
I want to assure you that the United States will work toward
these objectives, and we hope that we will have the cooperation
of your governments.
Ambassador Sowayel: On behalf of my colleagues I thank you
and congratulate you. We hope you will continue to work for
a lasting peace and are gratified by your assurances.
The Secretary: Gentlemen, I hope you will report to all of your
governments that the United States is determined to continue
to work for peace and wants to cooperate with your governments
in this effort.
CONFIDENTIAL