Tracking Number: 193915
Title: "World Press: Hostages." World Opinion Roundup. (910816)
Date: 19910816
Text:
*NEA504
08/16/91 *
WORLD PRESS: HOSTAGES (Roundup of editorials) (900)
Newspapers around the world have commented editorially on the possible release of hostages in the Middle East. Following are excerpts from some of those editorials:
AL AHRAM, EGYPT:
Israel controls the hostage issue.... The rush to solve the hostage crisis may be a reflection of Iranian efforts to become involved in the peace process....
...Steps by Iran might ease the tension in the Middle East and open the door for Israeli-Arab-Iranian communications. This would benefit all parties and pave the way for a meaningful peace conference.
KHALEEJ TIMES, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
The natural questions that flows from such (developments) is whether the release of all hostages will resolve the problems in which the scourge of hostage-taking has been rooted all along. Why did the Lebanese radicals abduct so many Westerners and others?... Mr. Perez de Cuellar must see to it that all Arabs arbitrarily held in Israel and elsewhere -- and not just in south Lebanon -- are set free and the overall Middle East conflict is resolved fairly.
YEDIOT,ISRAEL:
...it is quite possible that practical steps might be taken within a week....
Still, knowing the Hezbollah and the Palestinian organizations, we must bear in mind that difficulties might arise, especially with regard to the information handed over to the UN Secretary General. Optimism is in order but, for the time being, we had better not consider a prisoner swap as a foregone conclusion.
TISHREEN, SYRIA:
GE 2 nea504
...Israel, instead of responding to moves and solutions of the United Nations represented by its Secretary General, is committed to delaying tactics. It always seeks detours and evasions. Mr. Perez de Cuellar reiterates that the swap of (POWs) may be achieved on two stages, the first starts with releasing Arab detainees in Israel. This consequently means that the ball is still in the Israeli court because Israel is responsible for a continued hostage crisis.
AS-SAFIR, LEBANON:
...After the release of the British and American hostages, in response to Syrian-Iranian efforts in this respect, the U.S. Government is urgently requested to settle its pending problems with Tehran.... Let the Americans understand that such a settlement will undoubtedly strengthen the position of the moderate Iranian President Rafsanjani in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
UKAZ, SAUDI ARABIA:
Instead of cooperating with the international efforts that aim to bring an end to the hostage crisis, we see Israel accusing all parties and creating problems that may aggravate the issue and thwart attempts at solving it.
THE TIMES, BRITAIN:
...If there is any point in American mediation in the Arab- Israeli conflict, it is to import some degree of order to the Middle East. To give in to Islamic Jihad's demand to open Europe's jails would not be to bring order to the region, but to export its disorder to Europe.
When thousands of Western hostages were held by Iraq, Western governments rightly insisted that this would not alter their opposition to the invasion of Kuwait or affect their intention to reverse that invasion. If there is to be a breakthrough in Lebanon, that firmness must be maintained. If there is to be peace in the Middle East, its language must be that of international law.
BONNER EXPRESS, GERMANY:
There is only one reason which could result in giving up the German legal point of view: It would be a signal of hope if, before the (Middle East) peace conference, a comprehensive solution to the Middle East hostage problem
GE 3 nea504 is achieved and if Bonn makes its contribution. The Bonn Government cannot allow itself to go-it-alone. However, Bonn should give its o.k. to an internationally agreed concept.
LE MATIN OF LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND:
...Perez de Cuellar finds himself handling an affair which has begun to look like a stepping-stone toward the famous Mideast peace conference from which the UN has been virtually excluded.
Mr. Perez de Cuellar... seems in current circumstances to be the only man able to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion. He appears to enjoy the confidence of the Jihad, while the Israeli leaders, though not overfond of the United Nations, are this time taking an encouragingly realistic attitude toward it.
TOKYO SHIMBUN, JAPAN:
Although U.S. experts say a settlement of the prisoner- hostage problem holds the key to U.S.-Iran reconciliation, they are not overly optimistic about an early improvement of the U.S.-Iran relationship. The experts suggest that the U.S. Government take a prudent 'wait-and-see' attitude toward Tehran until Iranian moderates take control of politics (as they might) in national assembly elections slated for next April.
CANBERRA TIMES, AUSTRALIA:
Perhaps nothing much of substance can be achieved in negotiating a lasting Middle East peace until the albatross of the hostages is removed. Perhaps indeed it is time for a bit of bargaining, and it could be argued that if any organization should do the bargaining, better the UN than any of the more partisan groups, or an individual nation....
Care should be taken that the exercise does not result in somehow legitimizing hostage-taking or encourage a new round of it.
OTAGO TIMES, NEW ZEALAND:
The prospect of a new Middle East breakthrough because of a hostage release has been envisaged before, but the
GE 4 nea504 opportunity may now be rather greater given the current diplomatic activity directed toward a peace conference.
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