NEWS Threat In Gulf Creates Security Need EP D RD ElU 3 COUNTRY CORNERS 13 MILE ROAD AT SOUTHFIELD ROAD 647.4646 SOUTHEAST CORNER ON 13 MILE RD SIDE Extends Best Wishes To Its Valued Customers and Friends For A Joyous and Health-Filled New Year OPEN YEAR-ROUND - 7 DAYS A WEEK MON.-SAT. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. — SUN. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • FRESH SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE • FRESH CUT PINEAPPLE • FRESH BREADS • FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES • DELI DEPT. INCL. KOSHER PRODUCTS • GOURMET SECTION • FRESH CUT FLOWERS & PLANTS • DAIRY DEPARTMENT May The Blessings Of Peace, Good Health and Happiness, Be Yours Throughout The Coming New Year 113riZri rIZIE) n:tr5 Marvin & Claire Tamaroff 152 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1990 Washington (JTA) — The Bush administration is seek- ing "new regional security arrangements" that would protect the Persian Gulf against future invasions from aggressors such as Ira- qi President Saddam Hus- sein, Secretary of State James Baker told Congress this week. "I don't know any reason we can't develop a regional security structure that can constrain this man or any other leader who might have the same ambitions and desires. It worked in Europe," Mr. Baker told the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week. The secretary then said the security structure would not follow any particular model, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- tion, which is credited with preserving the peace in Europe since World War II. The United States is not "calling for a NATO of the Middle East," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He also said such ar- rangements could not be worked out until after the current crisis in the Gulf is resolved. Mr. Baker said there could be some security benefit to Israel in such a pact because it could be used to deter any Iraqi biological or chemical weapons attack. The secretary also assured pro-Israel members of Con- gress that the United States remains committed to main- taining Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East, even as it provides new sophisticated weaponry to Saudi Arabia. When pressed on that con- cern by Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), Mr. Baker said, "We've not only given thought to that, Mr. Gilman, that's a commitment of the United States that has ex- isted as far as I can remember, for the 10 years that I have been in govern- ment, and it's a commitment we intend to honor." On the current crisis, Mr. Baker said there is no sign that. Iraq's effort to unite Arab public opinion against Israel will succeed. "The message is not selling," he said. Mr. Baker also termed as "unacceptable" Iraq's pro- posal to link resolution of the Gulf crisis with an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and a Syrian and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. "While they relate to each other and impinge upon each other in some ways, they are nevertheless two separate issues and should be dealt with separately," he said. The secretary was asked about Soviet Foreign Min- ister Eduard Shevardnadze's call Tuesday for an interna- tional peace conference to resolve the various Middle East disputes. Mr. Baker did not respond directly, but observed, "There's quite a bit of sup- port out there around the world for that." The United States has never ruled out the possibil- "I don't know any reason we can't develop a regional security structure." — James Baker ity• of such a conference, he pointed out. But previously, it told its European allies, who support the idea of such a conference, that it "would make sense first to see if we can't get some sort of a dia- logue established between Israelis and Palestinians." Since such a dialogue "offers the best chance" for progress on the peace pro- cess, the United States has told its allies that "plans for an international conference should be put on the back burner," he said. But Mr. Baker also told the lawmakers that "what we have with respect to the Persian Gulf crisis is an international conference. It's taking place in New York in the (U.N.) Security Council, and we've got five unanimous Security Council resolutions as to what should be done." Mr. Baker said that the United States might welcome a more active Soviet role in the Mideast. Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) suggested to Baker that one way to resolve the Arab- Israeli conflict would be to declare any liberated Kuwait the new Palestinian homeland. The secretary did not have any direct response. But Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) later said he would "hate to see" Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat "with all of that oil."