Friday, January 13, 1984

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Other Countries: British Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe rejects Israeli argument that PLO has no role in Middle East settlement and Israeli amb. Yehuda Avner's censure of Howe's statement from Riyadh, urging Israel's recognition of Palestinian rights to self-determination, criticizing West Bank settlement policy and calling for PLO involvement in peace talks. Italian gov't. rejects Gemayel's demand that its MNF contingent withdraw from Palestinian refugee camps and concentrate on protection of Beirut commercial establishments and government buildings. US amb. to UN Kirkpatrick rejects Sec. Gen. Perez de Cuellar's Middle East peace conference proposal as "ill-considered and harmful."