Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 12, 1991                   TAG: 9103120464
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JERUSALEM                                LENGTH: Medium

BAKER SEES SOFTENING IN ARAB STAND ON ISRAEL

They met for 75 minutes in "a very friendly, warm and cooperative atmosphere," Shamir's media adviser, Avi Pazner, reported.

He said Shamir agreed with Baker on a two-track approach to a Middle East settlement. "We have the feeling we can start to try to make the process of peace go," Pazner said.

The parallel tracks are aimed at opening Israeli talks with Arab nations on the one hand and with Palestinians on the other.

Pazner maintained that the Israeli government actually had originated the strategy. He provided no details of Baker's session with Shamir and said they would meet again this evening at dinner.

Baker, setting the stage for his talks with Shamir, said on Monday night of the Arabs: "I have seen what I consider to be, at least, signs of new thinking. I have seen what I consider to be a willingness to consider new approaches."

But, Baker said, apparently directing his remarks to Shamir, "whether that ripens and materializes into specific, concrete commitments will depend in large part on whether or not there is a similar attitude coming from the other side of the equation."

For the time being, though, Baker and Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy said at a joint news conference, Arab attitudes toward the Jewish state were changing.

Baker reported to Levy in advance of his meeting with Shamir on the talks he held in Saudi Arabia and Egypt with leaders of eight Arab countries.

"I am pleased they are beginning to show signs of change," Levy said.

Apart from his campaign to draw Israel and the Arab nations closer, Baker is meeting with a group of Palestinian Arabs in an opening bid to set up a dialogue with Israel.

In fact, the Palestinians due to see Baker at the home of Philip Wilcox, the U.S. consul general in Jerusalem, have met in the past with Israeli and U.S. officials.

Levy subsequently told army radio this morning that Baker agreed to take into account Israel's desire to be part of an emerging Middle East defense alliance with the eight Arab states.

"I told him these eight, in a situation of cessation of hostilities and embarking on the path of peace, could be eight plus one, plus Israel . . . that Israel could be an important basis," Levy added. Levy said Baker "accepted this."