Syria Appears Eager to Cool Crisis With West Over El Al Bomb Plot

Syria appeared to be trying to cool its crisis with the West over terrorism Saturday, sidestepping official criticism of the United States and expressing hope that other European countries refrain from joining Britain in breaking relations with Damascus.

The Arab world, with the exception of Libya, a close ally of Damascus, was silent on Britain’s decision to break relations with Syria after a court in London convicted an Arab of attempting to blow up an Israeli airliner April 17 in collusion with Syrian Embassy officials.

After the British break was announced, the United States said it was withdrawing Ambassador William Eagleton in solidarity with the British move, and Canada said it was recalling its envoy for consultations, a less serious move.

Cultural Center Closed

Syria responded to the British action by breaking relations with London, closing the British cultural center and barring Syrian airspace and waters to British aircraft and vessels.

Reports from the Persian Gulf said that the Syrian move would affect about 50 flights a week and that British airlines had already begun rerouting their aircraft to the gulf and the Far East.

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shareh appeared to be leaving the door open for a reconciliation with Washington at a news conference Saturday in the Syrian capital.

When asked about the departure of Eagleton, Shareh said that “as far as we know,” both the American and Canadian envoys have been merely summoned home for consultations, implying that they will both return.

Shareh said was confident that no other European countries would join the government of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in severing relations with Damascus.

“It is a well-known fact that the government of Mrs. Thatcher is known for its unwise decisions, so we’re confident that other countries will not stand with the British government in this hasty and unwise decision,” Shareh said, according to journalists present at the briefing.

Shareh said the trial in London of Nezar Hindawi, which ended Friday with Hindawi’s being sentenced to 45 years in prison for trying to blow up the airliner, was a “farce intended from the beginning to accuse Syria.”

He said the “linkage” between Hindawi, 32, a Jordanian national, and the Syrian government had been established by Britain for “political reasons.”

The Thatcher government said the evidence included an official Syrian passport in a false name that was used by Hindawi and two visa applications by Hindawi that were supported by diplomatic notes from the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

In addition, the British accused the Syrian ambassador in London of personally helping to enroll Hindawi in the Syrian secret service and added that Hindawi had attempted to contact Syrian intelligence while in detention in Britain to arrange his release.

Although Shareh appeared relatively conciliatory toward the United States, Syria’s official press--while not reporting the attempted bombing--savaged Britain, the United States and Israel on Saturday.

The government newspaper Tishrin, for example, said Syria’s response to the British action was “in revenge for Arab dignity and should be supported with similar Arab measures, including a ban on trade dealings with an enemy of the Arabs,” meaning Britain.

Despite such calls, only radical Libya rallied to Syria’s support, saying London had “adopted a racist resolution specifying the severance of relations with Syria within the framework of hostile policies adopted by America and its aircraft carrier (Britain) against the Arab nation.”

Damascus radio said Saturday that Syria expects an Israeli attack following the rupture in relations, which it said was part of “a premeditated Zionist, American and British scheme aimed at increasing tension in the Middle East.”

Accusing the Thatcher government of being under Washington’s thumb, the broadcast said:

“Mrs. Thatcher has once again proved her subjugation to Washington and willingness to create an atmosphere suitable for aggression against the Arabs. She has also proved that she is more Israeli than the prime minister of Israel.

“But she has made a grave mistake by joining the anti-Syrian camp. Britain will pay dearly for these provocative acts. . . . Syria will respond with suitable means.”