Shultz Flies On to Egypt, Calls Mission ‘Intact’

Secretary of State George P. Shultz flew to Egypt after a final and apparently unsuccessful meeting today with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. He declared that his Middle East peace initiative nevertheless is “intact and alive.”

The stop in Cairo was primarily a courtesy call on President Hosni Mubarak, who played a leading role in shaping Shultz’s proposal for Arab-Israeli negotiations and is the only regional leader to endorse it.

Mubarak has insisted, however, on a direct role in the talks for the Palestine Liberation Organization, which Shultz has ruled out.

In a statement to reporters before leaving Israel for Egypt, Shultz said that he made some progress but that “the differences haven’t been substantially narrowed.”

‘Deep-Seated Obstacles’

“There’s no masking the deep-seated obstacles to peace,” Shultz said at Ben-Gurion Airport. “Emotions are deeply felt, principles are proudly held, great traditions, cultures and rights are involved. . . . But with a serious commitment to work, it can happen.”

After talks with Mubarak, Shultz was scheduled to travel to Amman, Jordan, to continue talks with King Hussein. His Middle East trip will also take him to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier today, Shultz held final meetings with Shamir and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

Shamir aide Avi Pazner said Shultz told Shamir that he had not received a clear answer to his peace plan from Hussein, who has requested clarifications from the Israelis. Pazner quoted Shultz as saying President Hafez Assad of Syria is “negative” about the plan.

Shamir said Shultz will not return to Jerusalem on his current shuttle. But Israeli radio quoted Foreign Ministry officials as saying they did not rule out the possibility of Shultz’s returning Saturday “if he has something to discuss.”