Peres Rejects Soviet Offer to Establish Low-Level Relations

JERUSALEM — The Soviet Union offered to establish low-level diplomatic ties with Israel, but Foreign Minister Shimon Peres rejected the proposal because he wants full diplomatic relations, a ministry spokesman said Friday.

In a meeting with Peres last week in New York, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze proposed opening offices in Tel Aviv and Moscow that would be staffed with low-ranking officials, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ehud Gol said.

“Peres told him no, with no ifs or buts,” Gol said. “We told the Russians that with them, we should have a full level of diplomatic relations and not limit ourselves to interest sections.”

Interest sections are diplomatic missions set up under the flag of a third country to conduct routine business. They usually are staffed by low-ranking diplomats.