During the second week of February 1985, Prime Minister Peres, accompanied by Minister Ezer Weizman, visited Rome and Bucharest. In Rome they had an audience with Pope John Paul. In both capitals they argued against an international peace conference for the Middle East. In Italy they sought support for Israel's negotiating stance in the EEC regarding its agricultural exports. In Bucharest, President Ceauscescu still felt that an international peace conference was the preferred avenue to start a peace process. As there were no pressing, immediate issues to be resolved, the visits were in the framework of explaining Israel's positions and seeking exposure to the media in the countries visited. Text of the airport statement, made upon their return, follows:
In the course of three days Minister Ezer Weizman and I visited two capitals and met with leaders of three branches. One is, of course, the religious branch - the religious authority of the Catholic world, in a meeting we had with the Pope and in a prior meeting with Vatican officials who deal with the political sphere. In both meetings we held frank talks. With respect to the vatican, I do not find that there are any burning issues between us at this moment. We had a good and detailed opportunity to explain Israel's positions - both immediate and long-term.
Secondly, of course, is Italy, a land where we have many friends, a land which is geographically proximate to Israel and with which we have highly diverse historical ties. We had a very moving meeting with the president of Italy, Pertini, and several good working sessions with the prime minister of Italy. As you know, the prime minister of Italy came out against an international conference [on the Middle East] and took it on himself to help us out with respect to the EEC in the sphere of agriculture, acceding to our three requests: to maintain the agricultural export quota, not to place difficulties in the way of [our] agricultural exports and to accord us an equal opportunity [in competition] with other agricultural exporters, and to discuss these matters even before the agreement with Spain and Portugal is signed.
[In our meetings] with the president of Rumania, its prime minister and cabinet minister, we also discussed subjects of interests to the two countries. We agreed to make an effort to advance economic issues, tourism and political relations. The president of Rumania believes that the most correct next step is to convene an international conference or, alternatively, to use the UN as an instrument. We told him that we have nothing against the UN, but we cannot support such a conference in the light of the behavior of several UN members, or several possible participants in [UN-sponsored] negotiations. How can an international conference be convened when among its participants would be one power that has cut off relations with us, another that hasn't recognized us, a third country that wants to destroy us, and a terrorist organization that shoots at Israeli citizens? Anyone who wants an international conference must change either [its] makeup or the international conditions that have existed until now.
All told, I would say that Mr. Weizman and I were received very encouragingly, we had an open ear, we were given the opportunity to explain Israel's positions in detail - and even if not everything was concluded, a good many openings were created so that we can pursue such contacts in the future as well.
I must say also that everywhere we went the media were very fair and warm toward us, and we of course were quite moved by our meeting with Jews, particularly in the great synagogue of Rome, where Jews gathered to applaud Israel emotionally, and in the central synagogue of Bucharest, where again there were about 1,500 Jews who were deeply moved and who were electrified to hear live regards from Israel.