ON 13 May last year Vasilyev, assistant director of the Institute of Africa of the USSR Academy of Sciences, wrote an article in the Moscow daily Izvestia in support of the idea of an conference on the Middle East. Vasilyev's article is revealing:
"To put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Soviet Union favours an international peace conference ... A close examination oi our pro posals will show that they iu CIOCE U lI rights security sre . . lnt existence of the state of Israel cannot be debated at conterence.
Vasilyev's support to Israel and his concern for security the tionale the Zionist state has always used to crush the Palestinian people should come as no Surprise. The Soviet Union along with the Unted States, •tSUIC of the first to recognise the Palestinians. Zionist state in 1948.
is nonetheless somewhat surprising thal on 19 January this year at the moment the Israeli government imposing a policy of cot the insurgent people of the West Bank and Gaza, the Soviet nounced that an Isract delegation would welcomed in Moscow to discuss the resumption of diplomatic relations.
The bureauracy broke off time with Israel following the 1967 Middle East war. But within the last year Soviet established a consulate in Israel.
Moreove , according .Washington Posi (20 Janury): 'Moscon of -It: said that ties (with Israel) could be resumed in the course of a Middle an East settlement process dropping its insistence that Israel first retrea from territories occupie In 190/.
This is just one mor what Sovie examole 0i leader Mikhail GOr bachey meant when promised Ronak Reagan that he would help promote "regional stability' in key areas of the world.
Peres and Shamir: Left and Right united against the