The Middle East Situation

At MEES press time, Iraq and Syria were about to begin their much-heralded meeting at foreign ministerial level to explore the possibilities of reconciliation, amidst continuing indications that caution is the order of the day. Syria meanwhile was stepping up its efforts to clamp the lid on fighting in Beirut which has taken on numerous regional dimensions. Both Iraq and France have stressed that their mutual relations will not be affected by an improvement of...