CAMPAIGN ’88 : Jackson Tapes Appeal

Jackson, trying to keep alive his efforts to free hostages held in the Middle East, Wednesday sought help from Arab and African diplomats, asking them to distribute copies of his taped appeals to captors.

Jackson met with the diplomats near the United Nations in New York. The meeting was hosted by Clovis Maksoud, the U.N. representative of the Arab League, and was attended by two dozen diplomats, including representatives of Syria, Libya, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Maksoud told a subsequent news conference that Jackson “made an appeal for all the Arab and African countries to use their moral influence and persuasion” in negotiating the release of hostages. Maksoud added that the meeting also focused on ensuring that “the inflamed atmosphere of this moment (following the destruction of an Iranian jetliner by a U.S. missile) should not interrupt this humanitarian appeal.”

‘Proper Gesture’

Noting that the Reagan Administration has decided to consider compensation for families of the 290 people killed, Jackson said: “That’s the proper gesture to make.”

Jackson said he gave each diplomat a copy of a tape he made Sunday “to disseminate throughout the region, in their newspapers, on their radio, on their television, so anyone who might hear the voice or hear the appeal might respond and free the Americans held hostage in the region.”

In the taped message, Jackson asserts that freeing the hostages “could create a breakthrough of better understanding.”

Ending his message, Jackson said: “If I can help in any way, please let me know. I anxiously await your reply.”