CIA-RDP96-00788R002100450002-9

1
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R002100450002-9
:4. 14
THE WASHINGTON STAR Monday, January 19, 1981
National and Foreign Report
Late Night
Algiers Talks
Cleared Way
Christopher Finally
Displays a Smile
Star Wire Services
ALGIERS - After a day of intense
diplomatic exchanges that resolved
the central issues of the agreement
to free the American hostages in
Iran, Deputy Secretary of State War-
ren M. Christopher, the chief Amer-
ican negotiator, last night initialed
the accords ...
Officials had worked late into the
night translating and readying the
documents for the signature.
When he returned from an earlier
evening meeting with the Algerian
foreign minister, Christopher had
smiling broadly for the first time
in days but, as usual, he had refused
to make any comment.
A small group of reporters wit-
nessed the signing.
Christopher signed three doc-
uments, initialing each page. Their
contents were not immediately
made public. ..
"This is a very happy day,"
Christopher said after the signing
ceremony.
"At last I can smile," said the en-
voy who frequently met journalists'
questions with silence during the
final 12 days of complex negotiations
here.
Speaking to Algerian Foreign Min-
ister Mohamed Benyahia during the
ceremony, Christopher said, "I
would like to take this opportunity
on behalf of President Carter and
all the people of the United States
to thank your government and espe-
cially you personally for undertak-
ing the difficult role of
intermediary. You and your col-
leagues have performed this heavy
responsibility with great impartial-
ity, discretion and high skill.
"The American people will always
remember this contribution to hu -.
manitarian matters by the Algerian
people and their leaders," he added. ..
Asked by reporters if he knew
when the hostages would be freed,
Christopher replied, "I don't know."
He spoke of "initialing" the doc-
uments, but reporters saw him sign
his full name on the three separate
instruments. It was not immediately
clear whether he was used the term
"initialing" in the technical sense
of a pre-signing or as a synonym
for the formal signing.
The official Algerian press agen-
cy, reporting the ceremony, also said
Christopher "initialed" the doc-
uments.
It said the State Department gave
the Algerian charge d'affaire in
Washington a letter early today
signed by President Carter and Sec.
Hostages' Route to Freedom
KEY
W.
GERMANY
Route taken by Possible
two Algerian
727a to pick up
routes from
Tehran
hostages.
USSA
EUROPE
USSR
Black Sea
USSR
Caspian
Sea
TURKEY
Tehran
Algiers
Mediterranean Sea
PARAO
ALGERIA
IRAN
LIBYA
EGYPT
SAUDIARABIA
The Washington Star
Hostages' Families Follow Developments
Through a Night of Elation and Anxiety
Continued From A-1.
trying day for her and the families
of other hostages, noting that it was
a " day of chills and thrills."
Rita Ode, of Sun City, Ariz., wife
of hostage Robert C, Ode, 65, a retired
career Foreign Service officer in
Tehran on special assignment, sald
"Thank God, it looks like it is all
over."
Then taking a more cautious ap-
proach, she added " ... but until
they're in the air and out of Iranian.
airspace, I'm not going to get ex-
cited."
She said she hoped "it does not
take too long to get them out of
there. It has been a long, painful
time. Let's hope it won't be too long
before it is all over."
While also expressing the need
for caution until the hostages are
free, Winona McKeel, of Balch
Springs, Texas, mother of Marine
Sgt. Johnny McKeel Jr., was trying
to supress her joy, but could not
hide her belief that the end was
near.
"I'm happy, very happy," she said.
"I've tied a fresh, new yellow ribbon
around the old oak tree. If its not
raining later today, we will cover
this town with yellow ribbons."
She had been up all night awaiting
word on the negotiations and said
when it started raining, she made
up a big pot of coffee and invited
all the reporters standing around
outside to come in and get dry and
have coffee.
"We just sat around and talked.
We had a real nice get-together."
she said of her new found reporter
The Washington Star
LOUISA KENNEDY
"A day of chills and thrills"
from television and the State Depart-
ment that the agreement had been
signed.
They had gathered together for
mutual support after months of
highs and lows in emotions.
"Thank God we are a close family,
and we see each other often. We've
been able to give each other a tre-
mendous amount of support," said
Ernie Cooke, one of the brothers.
The Cookes, like most of the hos-
tage families are taking the advice
of the State Department and making
no final plans for Donald's return
to the United States, his brother said
they probably will retreat "some-
where away from the news."
Arthur Kupke, father of hostage
Frederick Kupke, 32, said he re-
ceived word from the State Depart-
ment at 3 a.m. in his home at
Francesville, Ind.
"I was expecting it," Kupke said.
"I'll wait until they get out of there
and then to to Washington to meet
him. If he wants us to go to Germany,
we will, but I think we should give
him to time to get oriented. I am a
little afraid of seeing him after such
a long time."
"I'm very glad this happened fi-
nally," said Earl Graves of Flagstaff,
Ariz., the son of hostage John
Graves. #
Graves said he had no plans to
travel to Germany to meet his father
but planned to wait until the cap-
tives arrive in Washington.
"It's going to be three or four
days at least," he predicted.
Jeff Needham of Bellevue, Neb.,
brother of hostage Paul Needham,
exclaimed, "This is it. It's all over,"
after the State Department called
his family about 4:15 a.m. EST to
tell them of the latest developments.
In Pasadena, Calif., the Rev. Earl
Lee and his wife, Hazel, said they
finally will allow themselves to be-
lieve the 443 day ordeal is over.
"I really think it is unbelievable,"
said Lee, whose son, Gary, was
among the captives. "But, yes, I can
believe it now. I'm satisfied. I feel
great excitement and satisfaction :
and thankfulness that it is just about
over.
."It is over really, but we still want
to see Gary on a plane and hear
Release 2000/08/08 .- CIA-RDP96.00788R002100450002-9<walceof fel thankful in And
Wiesbaden?
EUROPE