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Exclusive Agent for Universal Geneve Nol authorized sales or service for any of the above listed companies, excluding Universal Geneve. 358-2211 28411 NORTHWESTERN HWY., AT BECK RD. SUITE 250, SOUTHFIELD ARNOLD Automotive Group Ltd. maz.oa Gratiot Ave. at 12 Milo Road, RosevH1o, Michigan 445-6080 "lust 25 minutes from the Birmingham/Bloomfield area off of 1-696" MERCURY LINCOLN 445-6000 Mixed Reaction To Clinton-Assad Meeting JAMES D. BESSER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT I wo years ago, the idea would have provoked howls. This week, as Jew- ish leaders heard that President Bill Clinton will meet with Syria's Hafez al-Assad in Geneva in January, there was only a quiet murmur of discon- tent. Late last week, administra- tion officials telephoned key Jewish leaders to tell them about the proposed meeting be- Abe Foxman: "Waffled" about U.S. "expediency" toward Syria. fore it hit the news wires. The response was extraordinarily low key. "Christopher did obtain co- operation on... [Israeli] MIAs and a commitment to release Syrian Jews," said Abraham Foxman, executive director of the Anti-Defamation League. "The proposed meeting is not being accompanied by any ba- sic change in U.S. policy. We're not taking Syria off the list of nations supporting terrorism or opening up other areas of coop- eration. So while we are not happy, we understand what the administration is doing." Mr. Foxman was more trou- bled about a story in the New York Times last weekend that the administration had turned a blind eye when Russian facil- ities were used to transport chassis for mobile rocket launchers from North Korea to Syria. "I'm worried about the atti- tude of expediency [in U.S.-Syr- ian relations] that this suggests," he said. "If it's true, this does represent something of a change in our basic policy towards Syria." The Israeli embassy here has sent out word that while Israel is not thrilled by the idea of a Clinton-Assad photo op in Geneva, it is hoping for the best. "The administration is play- ing into his hands," said a source close to the Israeli gov- ernment. "But there is no at- tempt to discourage the meeting. It could produce some long-term benefits if Clinton can use it to press Assad for a substantive change in Syria's attitude in the [bilateral] nego- tiations. So there is doubt, but also hope that it could move the peace process forward." Warren Christopher Briefs AIPAC One sign of the administration's Although Mr. Christopher apparent eagerness to allay emphasized that the meeting is Jewish concerns about U.S. only intended to keep Mr. As- moves towards Syria was last sad fully engaged in the peace week's briefing for two top lead- process, AIPAC leaders argued ers of the Amer.. that there is no ican Israel substitute for Public Affairs face-to-face ne- Committee gotiations be- (AIPAC) Secre- tween the tary of State parties to the Warren Christo- Mideast con- pher and mem- flict. bers of his According to Mideast team. Mr. Grossman, Mr. Christo- Secretary pher insisted Christopher that his recent said he admired round of Middle Prime Minister East diplomacy Yitzhak Rabin's had been a suc- handling of dif- cess, despite the ficult negotia- fact that the Dec. tions with the 13 target date to Warren Christopher: Syria stays on PLO amid a begin Israel's 1st of nations supporting international tricky political pullout from terrorism. climate at Gaza and Jeri- home. The sec- cho had come and gone. retary of state also reiterated He reassured AIPAC presi- his determination to do every- dent, Steven Grossman, and its thing possible to keep the acting executive director, Washington-Jerusalem rela- Howard Kohr, that the Jan. 16 tionship warm. Clinton-Assad meeting is not a Mr. Christopher will travel prelude to removing Syria from to New York to brief leaders of the State Department list of na- the Conference of Presidents of tions supporting international Major American Jewish Orga- terrorism. nizations about his trip. Response To Russian Elections B efore Congress left town for winter recess, it re- pealed many Cold War restrictions on the former USSR, but retained the Jack- son-Vanik amendment linking favorable trade status with hu- man rights. In view of this week's ominous election results in Russia, that decision looks almost prescient. The strong showing by Vladimir Zhirinovsky's Liberal Democratic party could make Washington happy it kept some tools for pressing the human rights agenda. Some Jewish groups, led by the American Jewish Congress, pressed to re- peal Jackson-Vanik, but the National Conference on Sovi- et Jewry, the primary umbrel-