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GV EXTERIOR Mrs. Gandhi's office
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SV INTERIOR Mrs. Gandhi seated with Abdul Halim Khaddam (2 shots)
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SV PAN FROM Audience TO Khaddam speaking Arabic
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Initials



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Background: Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel-Halim Khaddam ended his four day visit to India of Thursday (13 November) by saying he believed the Sinai agreement between Israel and Egypt would be frustrated by Arab opposition and that Israel would "not enjoy the gains derived out of the Sinai agreement".

On the last day of his visit, the Syrian Foreign Minister, who also serves as his county's Deputy Prime Minister, met with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for 30 minutes.

He said his discussions with her and other Indian leaders included the international situation, ways to consolidate the non-aligned movement and economic co-operation between the two countries.

At a news conference ending his visit, Mr. Khaddam said no force could force could force a partition of Lebanon, now torn by factional strife between Christians and Moslems.

He said Syria would defend Lebanon form a partition and do everything possible to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of the country. He said any attempt to effect a partition would be considered treason to the people of Lebanon and the "Arab nation as a whole".

His visit comes in the wake of visits by other high ranking Arab diplomats. And recently Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates revealed plans to make a sizeable investment in India's power generation programme.

SYNOPSIS: The Indian capital of Delhi ... where Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi hosted the Foreign Minister of Syria ... Abdel Halim Khaddam on Thursday. He was ending a four day visit. In his meeting with Mrs. Gandhi and other leaders, he said he discussed the international situation ... ways to consolidate the non-aligned movement and economic co-operation. Recently India has sought closer economic ties to Middle eastern countries and Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have announced a large investment in India's power generation programme.

But in the news conference following his meeting with Mrs. Gandhi, Mr. Khaddam dwelt more on the Arab-Israeli conflict than economic matters.

He said the Sinai peace accord between Egypt and Israel would be frustrated by the Arab nations ... thus preventing Israel from reaping the benefits of the settlement. He also said some powers were trying to divert attention from the Arab-Israeli conflict to events n Lebanon ... now in the throes of violent factional strife. He said Syria would not stand by and permit any attempt to partition Lebanon. He described partition as treason to the people of Lebanon and to what he called the Arab nation as a whole