UNITED NATIONS: The Soviet Union today [Sept 22] suggested sanctions against Israel if it failed to carry out the decisions of the United Nations on Jerusalem.

In a major policy address to the UN General Assembly, Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko declared, “Israel must comply with the United Nations’ decisions on Jerusalem otherwise the Security Council will have to take a decision on sanctions against Israel”.

Mr Gromyko added that Russia “will be ready to participate in the implementation of that decision”. The Soviet Foreign Minister also called for the “prompt elimination of the consequences of Israeli aggression” and pledged his country’s support at the General Assembly and in the Security Council in order to bring this about.

On Viet-Nam, Mr Gromyko dismissed the much ballyhooed Goldberg peace offer yesterday as “nothing new”. He accused the United States of “gross violation of international agreements, the flouting of elementary standards of international law and disregard for world public opinion” on Viet-Nam.

The Soviet Union accused the United States of trying to delude the world by “soap bubble” peace initiatives while escalating military operations which threaten to “draw new states” into the Viet-Nam conflict.

The United States replied by challenging the Soviet Union to enter into a dialogue at once on Viet-Nam peace and as Co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference to join with Britain in reconvening the conference.

In a major policy speech, Mr Gromyko blasted the United States as an aggressor and brushed off Mr Goldberg’s inquiries on the results of a bombing halt as insincere. Mr Goldberg said he had hoped the Soviet Union would discard its “cold war habits” and stop “ritualistic name-calling”.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Rawalpindi,] the President’s Cup golf tournament will be played at Bhurban Golf Course near Murree on Oct 21 and 22. This was disclosed here today [Sept 22] by Lt. Col. Akhtar Hafeez, Secretary Organising committee. He said the tournament is open to all amateur golfers who are members of any recognised golf club in the country. It will be played over 36 holes, of which 18 holes will be contested in the afternoon of Oct 21.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2017