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A. It is difficult to recommend one to the Americans. But how can the Administration achieve results while it threatens and curses the kidnapers? These kidnapers do not care about the things that a state may care about. They are not affected when you describe them as terrorists.
Q. Kidnaping is a crime in the U.S. The U.S. cannot deal with abductors as though it were dealing with businessmen.
A. Kidnaping is a crime in every country. The important thing now is how to save the hostages. If we talk to the kidnapers about law, will it help? If you were a kidnaper and you heard threats against you, you would do the opposite of what is required and take a harder line.
Q. There are Israeli and Syrian forces in Lebanon. The Israelis have proposed negotiations on security arrangements or guarantees in the Lebanon-Israel border zone. Is this possible?
A. Israel should implement Security Council Resolution 425 [which calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory] and allow the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to carry out its mission. The force should be deployed along the border, not inside Lebanon far from the frontier. In [U.N.] debates, Israel has been clearly blamed in connection with attacks against UNIFIL because Israel prevents it from discharging its duties.
Q. What about the Shi'ite Hizballah [Party of God] in Lebanon? Shouldn't it also be held responsible?
A. I stress that any such attacks are condemned by us--and all sides in Lebanon know our attitude.
Q. Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night, frustrated by what has happened in Lebanon since Syrian forces entered the country ten years ago?
A. I do not feel any frustration. The complications are difficult; outside intervention increases the complexity. But I believe the Lebanese will reach agreement, and we will continue to assist Lebanon no matter how long it takes.
Q. How do you assess the Iran-Iraq war?
A. We have condemned this war from the start. We tried, in the early days, to do something to halt it, but we received no response. Regrettably, the war has reached a point where it is hard for anyone to say he has a prescription to treat it.
Q. It seems that the Iranians now have the military edge. Do you agree?
A. It looks that way.
Q. Your relations with Iran are good. Suppose the Iranians won the war and occupied large parts of Iraq. Would this be acceptable to you?
A. The Iranians have often said they have no ambition to occupy a single foot of Iraqi territory or try to impose hegemony. They believe that their dispute is with the regime in Iraq which invaded their country and killed their people.
Q. Why is the Soviet Union seeking a new relationship with Israel? Will it help Moscow play a role in the peace process?
A. Our relations with the Soviet Union are good. We feel that it adopts a fair stand and seeks a just peace. I do not think that recent contacts with Israel have any importance in enlarging the role of the Soviet Union in the peace process.
Q. Suppose, as we discussed earlier, there were an extraterrestrial power and it tried to solve the Middle East's problems. What would you want it to do?
A. Certainly it would be a big power, and we would expect it to be unbiased.