Statement Following Discussions With Israeli PM
Barak & Syria Foreign Minister al-Shara
(December 16, 1999)
Middle East Peace Process
Over the past 48 hours, Israel and Syria have taken
a critical step in the journey toward peace. That journey will be a
difficult one, but with courage and perseverance on both sides, the
result will be deeply rewarding to the people of Israel and to the people
of Syria.
In the course of their meetings with Secretary Albright
and with me, Prime Minister Barak and Foreign Minister Shara agreed
to make every effort to reach peace between Israel and Syria as part
of a just, lasting, and comprehensive Middle East peace, based on United
Nations resolutions 242 and 338, and the Madrid terms of reference.
To that end, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister agreed to return
to Washington to continue their negotiations on an intensive basis beginning
January 3, 2000, about 2 weeks from now.
They have requested the United States to participate
in these negotiations, and we are honored to do so. They agreed to take
steps to ensure that these negotiations will be conducted in a productive
and positive atmosphere.
We are witnessing a new beginning in the effort to
achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. With Syrian-Israeli
negotiations off to a good start, Israeli-Lebanese negotiations expected
to begin soon, and the Palestinian track well underway, we can truly
set our sights on a new and different Middle East.
As I emphasized from the outset, the journey will be
tough. Nothing in the past 48 hours should lead us to believe otherwise.
But the parties are embarked on this path. They have agreed there should
be no looking back, for the sake of our generations and generations
yet to come.
I thank the Prime Minister and his team. I thank Foreign
Minister Shara and his team. I thank Secretary Albright and those on
the American team. All of them have worked hard. And I want Israel and
Syria to know they can count on the United States every step of the
way.
Thank you very much.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |