ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 9, 1996 TAG: 9603110093
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
In a dramatic stand against Middle East terrorism, world leaders swiftly accepted invitations Friday to a U.S.-sponsored conference in Egypt that President Clinton proclaimed a ``summit of the peacemakers.''
Russian President Boris Yeltsin, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, French President Jacques Chirac and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien were among 25 to 30 government leaders expected to join Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and PLO chief Yasser Arafat at Wednesday's meeting.
The summit, in the scuba-diving resort of Sharm el-Sheik, was called to demonstrate support from Europe and the Arabs for Israel, badly shaken by bombings that have killed 61 people since Feb. 25.
It also was intended to take the initiative from Islamic terrorists, who have jeopardized the peace process, and give it back to peacemakers.
The summit will ``send a dramatic and powerful signal of opposition'' to the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, which claimed the Israeli bombings, State Department spokesman Nick Burns said.
After the conference, Clinton goes to Jerusalem in a personal show of solidarity with Israel. He is expected to make a speech in Jerusalem and visit the grave of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin before returning to Washington Thursday.
Israeli foreign minister Ehud Barak said the United States and Israel will sign an agreement at the summit on cooperating against terrorism.
The Middle East peace process is particularly important to Clinton, who has made it a showcase of his foreign policy. White House officials believe Clinton's involvement bestows the mantle of statesman and peacemaker for the coming presidential campaign season.
Moreover, the United States wants to give a boost to Peres, the architect of Israel's peace policies, whose Labor government is battling to hold power in May 29 elections.
The leaders of Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Canada said they would attend the summit, along with Peres and representatives of some Persian Gulf and North African countries. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be the summit host and, with Clinton, its co-sponsor.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB