138. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
203927. For the Ambassador. Subject: Message to Gromyko.
1. Please deliver the following message to the Foreign Minister.
2. Quote
[Page 440]Dear Mr. Minister:
Having just completed my trip to Israel and Egypt,2 I wanted to say a few words to you about the reasons for President Carter’s invitation to President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin to meet with him at Camp David.
As you know, we believe it is essential to continue efforts to build on the breakthrough that resulted from President Sadat’s visit to Israel last year. Serious work has been done in the discussions since then.
While progress has been made, it has become clear that discussions must now take place at the highest political level. Agreements must be reached on the key issues of withdrawal, security, and the determination of the Palestinians’ future before negotiations can succeed at the ministerial and technical levels. Our hope is to make progress at the summit on these basic issues.
We hope the Soviets will lend support to this endeavor, realizing its importance as a step toward achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
On another subject, we are working on the response that Paul Warnke will be delivering to you, and I hope that it will be ready soon.
Sincerely, Cyrus Vance
End quote
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 112, 8/1–11/78. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Tarnoff; approved by Vance. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840140–2243)↩
- Vance visited Israel and Egypt, August 5–9.↩