Shultz, Peres Set Rules for Soviet Mideast Talks Role

Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Israel Prime Minister Shimon Peres said today that the Soviet Union must recognize Israel, allow Soviet Jewish emigration and take a “constructive attitude” toward peace if it wants to be a part of an international Middle East peace conference.

Shultz and Peres, meeting in advance of the Israeli leader’s meeting with President Reagan, said they are amenable to an international conference if it will lead to direct Arab-Israel peace talks.

But they said that for the Soviet Union to participate, it must, among other things, re-establish diplomatic relations with Israel that were broken off after the 1967 Middle East War.

“The main point is direct negotiations, not the international umbrella,” Shultz told reporters at a joint appearance with Peres at the State Department. “If there is some way to construct something that would help get to direct negotiations, we’re willing to listen.”

Peres, who will soon turn over the leadership of his government to Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir after two years as prime minister, said the Israeli government is willing to consider the international conference to accommodate the Jordanian government.

Jordan’s King Hussein has proposed a conference that would include the Soviet Union to oversee new Middle East peace negotiations. Both the Israeli and U.S. governments have long been wary of inviting the Soviets into the Middle East peace process.

“If they want a place at any Middle East peace undertaking, then they ought to establish diplomatic relations with all of the parties,” Shultz said of the Soviets. “Of course, I’m talking about Israel.”