1.
SV Ismail at United Nations
0.10

2.
GV & SV Ismail speaking
1.17


"Well, I just..."



"....Thank you very much."



ISMAIL: "Well, I just told the Secretary General about what we are trying to do during this (UNCLEAR). I had to keep informed of our activities because we, because the Middle East question is a question that is unique, being a question for which the United Nations is wholly responsible, because we think that the United Nations is playing, and will play, a very important role in promoting peace in the Middle East. I don't know that there is an American initiative, but our basic position is complete withdrawal from all Egyptian territory and the full sovereignty of Egypt in its territory and the full control. This is a question of principle on which Egypt will never concede. Thank you very much indeed, gentlemen."




Initials BB/1800 GR/BOB/BB/1810



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Mr. Hafez Ismail, President Sadat's national security adviser, gave a news conference at the United Nations on Saturday (24 February) after "full and frank discussions" with Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim.

Mr. Ismail, who earlier conferred with President Nixon and Secretary of State William Rogers about American peace moves in the Middle East, was asked if he still insisted on full Israeli withdrawal as a condition for accepting an American initiative.

He replied: "I don't know if there is an American initiative, but our basic position is the full withdrawal from all Egyptian territory and the full sovereignty of Egypt on its territory."
This was a question of principle on which Egypt would never concede.