President Carter expressed his “great admiration for the courage of president Sadat.” He said that the United States had always made efforts to encourage the various parties concerned to negotiate. That is why the dramatic visit of President Sadat to Israel was such welcome news to the US government. The president confirmed that he will be going to Aswan to “reassure President Sadat of our continuing support to these efforts” for the establishment of peace in the region. Prime Minister Desai stressed that a lasting peace in the Middle East was possible only on the basis of total withdrawal by Israel from the occupied territories and expressed the hope that the great powers concerned would also work towards it.