<i> A look at noteworthy addresses in the Southland.</i>

On War and Peace in the Middle East “At it’s most basic level, foreign policy is concerned with the questions of war and peace. As we move into the post-Cold War era, other issues--especially transnational ones such as economics, the environment, human rights and democratization--have rightly taken a more prominent place on the foreign policy agenda. But as the headlines remind us . . . the primordial issues of conflict and reconciliation have a chronic way of reasserting themselves.

“The politics of war and peace have a particular resonance in the Middle East. . . . Regional conflict threatens our objectives of promoting stability, broadened political participation, economic growth and social justice. . .

“Weapons of mass destruction pose a serious threat to the region as a whole, the rise of extremism in either a religious or secular guise is an important and destabilizing factor; unresolved political conflicts and border disputes need to be addressed peacefully . . . and not by military means; and the increasingly pressing needs of the people of the region for broader political participation and social and economic justice must be addressed in a much more responsive manner by governments.”

On the Prospects for Peace in the Middle East “. . . I can tell you that there is something different again in the air these days. Israel’s and the PLO’s decision to recognize each other and their Sept. 13 signing at the White House of the Declaration of Principles have opened up a new vista in which we can see, perhaps for the first time, the outlines of an enduring and comprehensive Middle East peace settlement.

”. . .But we must overcome and remove continuing barriers to reconciliation and cooperation; first and foremost, we must broaden the scope of economic interaction in the region. The countries of the Middle East share many problems and advantages; all would gain from economic integration.

”. . .On the most immediate one, resolving the longstanding antagonisms between Israel and its neighbors is the most direct way to ensure Israel’s long-term security and well-being, and to reduce tensions in the Levant.

“Yet on a broader level, progress in the Arab-Israeli peace process contributes to stability in a major way by circumscribing the option of conflict and war throughout the Middle East.

”. . .I am both hopeful and prudent. A fair and comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, while essential and historic in its consequences, is no panacea. . . . The Middle East remains a dangerous neighborhood. It would not banish the specter of war or terrorism from the Middle East. It would not diminish the efforts of Iraq and Iran to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

”. . . There is no more compelling goal of statecraft than to seek and consolidate peace and reconciliation between countries and peoples. Where else can this be more significant than in the Middle East, where three of the world’s major religions originated--Judaism, Christianity and Islam?”

Looking Ahead * Friday: James R. Jones, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, will discuss “Problems, Challenges and Opportunities--The U.S. and Mexico,” at the Sheraton Grande Hotel, noon. His remarks will be sponsored by the public issues forum, Town Hall of California. Call (213) 628-8141.

Announcements concerning prominent speakers in Los Angeles should be sent to Speaking Up, c/o Times researcher Nona Yates, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053