Middle East

17.

Mr. Walters
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report any progress in the developments to achieve a peace settlement in the Middle East.

Mr. Judd
President Carter has set out some very interesting ideas on a Middle East settlement. Following the visit of the Israel Prime Minister to Washington earlier this month other Middle East leaders are to meet Mr. Carter in April and May. There are encouraging signs of a general determination to seek to make progress this year towards a negotiated settlement in the Middle East,  but the process will inevitably be long and arduous. My right hon. Friend hopes to meet Egyptian, Saudi and Syrian leaders next month and to visit Israel shortly thereafter.