Remarks About Syria-Israel Agreement for Disengagement of Forces
(May 29, 1974)
Ladies and gentlemen:
I have an announcement that will also be made today
in Jerusalem and in Damascus. The announcement reads as follows: "The
discussions conducted by United States Secretary of State Dr. Henry
Kissinger with Syria and Israel have led to an agreement on the disengagement
of Syrian and Israeli forces. The agreement will be signed by Syrian
and Israeli military representatives in the Egyyptian-Israeli Military
Working Group of the Geneva Conference on Friday"-this Friday--"May
31."
Just a word about the significance of this development.
It is obviously a major diplomatic achievement, and Secretary Kissinger
deserves enormous credit for the work that he has done, along with members
of his team, in keeping this negotiation going and finally reaching
an agreement when, at many times over the past few weeks, it seemed
that the negotiations would break down.
Also credit goes to the governments concerned who had
great differences which had to be resolved. I have sent messages of
congratulations to Prime Minister Meir of Israel and also to President
Asad of Syria, congratulating them with regard to the statesmanship
that they have shown in resolving differences that seemed totally without
any prospect of resolution a month or so ago and even, as a matter of
fact, several times over the past month.
This particular agreement, together with the agreement
that was reached earlier on disengagement of Egyptian and Israeli forces,
now paves the way for progress in Geneva and, of course, with the various
governments involved, toward our objective and, we trust, their objective
as well, of achieving a permanent peace settlement for the entire Mideast
area.
However, we should have in mind that despite the fact
that these two agreements have now been signed, or have been reached,
that there are many difficulties ahead before a permanent settlement
is reached. However, what was a major roadblock to any permanent settlement
has now been removed and, I think, the most difficult roadblock, the
roadblock being the differences that had long existed between Israel
and Syria.
As far as the United States is concerned, we shall
continue with our diplomatic initiatives, working with all governments
in the area toward working toward achieving the goal of a permanent
settlement, a permanent peace. And I can only say that, based on the
success in reaching this agreement in which the differences were so
great, that the prospects for reaching agreement on a permanent basis,
I think, now are better than they have been at any time over the past
25 years.
Thank you.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |