In the remaining few days of his tenure in office, President Clinton has submitted a plan for the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is a last-minute effort to solve the most vexing foreign policy issue of his two terms in office.

While at press time there were reports that both sides had agreed in principle to the compromise plan submitted, political observers do not think that this plan will be accepted in the long run by either the Palestinians or the Israeli At this juncture, it is important for Armenians around the world to make sure that the Armenian Quarter and the Armenian Patriarchate are not split from the Christian section of the Holy City and annexed by Israel, as Clinton's plan calls for.

One of the provisions of Clinton's plan is to see that the Armenian section is placed under Israel's jurisdiction. This plan shows little consideration for the Armenian section; rather, it wants to make sure that Jews will have access to the Western Wall, the access being adjacent to the Armenian Patriarchate.

Those who have been to Jerusalem will remember seeing scores of Jews, dressed in their traditional and festive garb, walk past the main entrance of the Patriarchate and head for the Western Wall on Friday afternoons for their prayers. Apparently, those who prepared the plans wanted to make sure that the access road to one of the holiest shrines of the Jews remains open and, rather than jeopardize the success of its passage, they showed little or no concern to the Armenians, even though the Armenian Church in Jerusalem, together with the Latin and Greek Orthodox Churches, is one of the three custodians of the Holy Places.

Armenians around the world owe it to themselves to make sure that the status of the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem remains unchanged and not be separated from the other Christian denominations and churches there. The Armenian section should and must remain within the Arab areas of Israel in the final resolution of the five decade-long armed conflict. Over the years, Armenians in Arab lands, including Jerusalem, have learned that they can get along with Arabs much better than Israelis, who most of the time are more concerned with preserving their own identity and security.

We believe that both the government of Armenia and the Mother See in Etchmiadzin should embark on a diplomatic initiative to ensure that the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem remain part of the Christian sections. The government of Armenia has, of late, developed some diplomatic relations with Israel; through such relations, it can push forward the demands of the Armenians.

Then there is the Vatican with which the Armenian Church has established close relations. The Vatican can play a vital role in making certain that the Armenian Church maintains its present status in the Holy City and remain with the other Christian denominations.

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