Habib, in San Diego, Discounts Kemp Criticism

White House special envoy Philip C. Habib, who was here Sunday to address the San Diego State commencement, dismissed charges by a conservative congressman that he is undermining the efforts of contras fighting Nicaragua’s Sandinista government.

Habib’s appearance came at the end of a week of controversy, during which Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) called on President Reagan to recall the envoy. Kemp was particularly angered by Habib’s statement that U.S. aid to the Nicaraguan rebels could be ended if the Sandinista government agreed to a Central American peace accord.

Habib did not mention the flap in his speech to graduates of California State University, San Diego, and he jokingly dodged questions about the matter during a subsequent press conference.

“Am I contra the contras?” he asked. “No, on the contrary. I respect them. They have a right to their struggle. I met with their leadership 10 days ago in Miami. They were very gracious and understood what I was trying to do in the Contadora process.”

In a letter given to Reagan on Thursday, Kemp assailed Habib’s support for a proposed peace treaty that is being discussed by Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Kemp called the treaty a “false peace (that) will lead to diplomatic disaster.”

White House spokesman Larry Speakes responded to the letter by saying that Reagan “is solidly behind” Habib, and the envoy said Sunday that he is not worried about being recalled.

“I work for the President; I don’t work for any other individual,” Habib said. “As long as he’s satisfied with my performance, I’m content.”

In his brief address, Habib warned young people that “we live in a world where crises are endemic.” Yet, he urged optimism.

“In my profession, optimism is a necessity,” Habib said. “But I think there is a cause for optimism. Why should we try to educate a generation of pessimists? . . . Any problem that can be created by human beings can be solved by human beings. That’s a basis for optimism.”