Time Not Right for Arab Talks, Baker Says

BRUSSELS — Secretary of State James A. Baker III told West European leaders Thursday that the time is not right to push for negotiations between Israel and the Arabs, a senior U.S. official said.

Baker promised, however, to have American diplomats pursue prospects with the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel and Arab states and report the results in three weeks, the official said.

“One has to till the ground carefully; one has to proceed cautiously and understand that if you push the level of discussion too high, too soon, and create too much international attention you might preempt opportunities,” Baker was quoted as telling the Dutch foreign minister, Hans van den Broek, at The Hague.