GOLAN HEIGHTS: UNITED NATIONS TROOPS CONTINUE PATROLS AS TIME RUNS OUT FOR AGREEMENT ON RENEWAL OF MANDATE FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE.

Record ID: 338115

  • Title: GOLAN HEIGHTS: UNITED NATIONS TROOPS CONTINUE PATROLS AS TIME RUNS OUT FOR AGREEMENT ON RENEWAL OF MANDATE FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE.
  • Date: 29th November 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV PAN Syrian-Israeli border with Israeli village in F/G. 0.18 2. GV UN trucks passing through Israeli checkpoint 0.40 3. Israeli troops exercising 0.50 4. GV Israeli troops checking their guns 1.09 5. GV Troops loading and cleaning tanks (6 shots) 1.33 Initials BB/1900 JA/AH/BB/1910 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. Al
  • Embargoed: 14th December 1975 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GOLAN HEIGHTS
  • Country: Syria
  • Reuters ID: LVAAIUDO63IMN9YDQ93X6A6TKAO7
  • Story Text: United Nations troops continue to patrol the disputed area of the Golan Heights, but as the mandate for their presence approached the final day of Sunday (30 November) there was still no news of agreement.

    Israel has already given its consent for the renewal of the mandate for the U.N. disengagement observer force, but the Israeli government has rejected preconditions laid down by Syria.

    The United Nations Secretary General, Kurt Waldheim, has been in the Middle East holding discussions with both Syria and Israel to try to get agreement.

    The Israelis told Dr. Waldheim that they were unwilling to discuss anything but the unconditional renewal of the mandate. Syria, according to the Secretary General, were "seeking substantial progress in the negotiating field" before they would consider renewal.

    The Syrian government told Dr. Waldheim that they wanted an overall settlement of all aspects of the Middle East situation, including the Palestinian problem, before they would discuss the U.N. mandate. The Israeli are believed to be unwilling to include the Palestinians in negotiations.

    Meanwhile both Syrian and Israeli troops continue to bring in large numbers of reinforcements and build new fortifications within sight of each other.

    SYNOPSIS: As the first snow fell on the Golan Heights on Thursday there was still no news of agreement on the renewal of the mandate for the United Nations peacekeeping force there. The mandate runs out on the last day of November.

    United Nations troops, seen here passing through an Israeli border checkpoint, have been attempting to keep both sides apart...but their task may be at an end.

    Israel has approved the renewal of the mandate but Syria has not yet given its consent and both sides must agree to the mandate if the United Nations troops are to remain in the area.

    Israel has told the United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Kurt Waldheim, who has recently visited both Israel and Syria, that they will only discuss the "unconditional" renewal of the mandate. Syria, on the other hand, told Dr. Waldheim that they were seeking "substantial progress in the negotiating field" before they would discuss the mandate. The Syrian government has insisted that representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation take part in any negotiations with Israel. But the Israeli government has rejected any preconditions laid down by Syria. The United Nations Security Council is continuing to try to find a basis of agreement between the two sides.
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