PALACE; BOUMEDIENNE ARRIVING; PEOPLE IN HALL; BOUMEDIENNE SPEAKING.




Initials JP/VS/CCT/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ALGERIA TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CELEBRATED THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE OUSTING OF PRESIDENT BEN BELLA FROM POWER IN 1965. THE NATION'S PRIME MINISTER, HOUARI BOUMEDIENNE, ATTENDED A CEREMONY AT THE PALAIS DE NATIONS NEAR ALGIERS TO MARK THE OCCASION.

COLONEL BOUMEDIENNE CONFINED MOST OF HIS SPEECH TO THE MIDDLE EAST SITUATION. HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE DUTY OF PALESTINIANS TO FIGHT AND RESIST AND NOT FLEE AND EMIGRATE EVERY TIME WAS FIGHTING WITH THE ISRAELIS. THE PREMIER STATED THAT LAST JUNE'S WAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTINUED EVEN IF IT HAD BROUGHT THE OCCUPATION OF CAIRO, DAMASCUS OR AMMAN. HE SAID THAT THE BATTLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROADENED AND "PROVOKED A SORT OF RENAISSANCE OF THE ARAB NATION."
COLONEL BOUMEDIENNE SAID TIME WAS WORKING IN FAVOUR OF ISRAEL AT THE MOMENT. HE SAID THAT ALGERIA WAS NOT AGAINST A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE MIDDLE EAST SITUATION BUT ADDED THAT THERE WERE JUST AND UNJUST SOLUTIONS. HE CONCLUDED THAT A JUST CAUSE COULD ONLY BE WON BY FIGHTING.