Diplomacy Brief Comings and Goings

A failure in Helsinki

After a 19-year hiatus in diplomatic relations, Israel and the Soviet Union sat down to talk last week. But even before the meeting got under way in Helsinki, the signs were inauspicious. For starters, there was no agreement on issues to be negotiated. Then, while some members of the Israeli delegation eagerly showed up four days early, the Soviets just made it to the Monday- morning meeting. While the Israelis parked 30 yards short of the Council of State compound and walked to the entrance to enable cameramen to film the historic moment, the Soviets steered their blue Mercedes past the...

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