1.
GV Ext. Building (2 shots)
0.11

2.
SV Interviewer asks question
1.58


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 2: REPORTER: Suspicions have been expressed on both sides that this Rogers proposal and acceptance of it are manoeuvres, mere political manoeuvres. Do you think there is a will for settlement on the Arab side?



HASSOUNA: Well I think there is, I think there is and it has been since the summit conference in Khartoum has been quite clear and I think the position that has been taken at the United Nations Security Council in November 1967 proves that too. And during these three years the Arab position has been always favourable for a peaceful settlement. The whole obstruction and the whole difficulty came from the other side.



REPORTER: What in fact are the factors pointing towards a settlement or at least towards a negotiation at this moment, I think there is some optimism in the air isn't there?



HASSOUNA: While we are bound to be optimistic I think, but it doesn't depend on our side, it all depends on the other side. The United States has been showing clearly their position: a position which has never been shown so clearly since '67 otherwise the implementation of the Security Council would have been as it is today, three years ago. But now that the United States, as I say, is showing its hand and its weight to israel, things are staring to move and I hope they will move in the right direction.




Initials PAF/AS/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Mr. Abdel Khalek Hassouna, the Egyptian Secretary-General of the Arab League, was interviewed on Wednesday (July 29) about the American peace proposal for the Middle East which has been accepted by the UAR and Jordan and several of the Arab Guerrilla organisation. Israel has not yet reached a decision on the plan.