Press Conference with Egyptian President Mubarak at the Conclusion
of the Middle East Summit
(October 17, 2000)
President Mubarak. In the name of God Almighty; to
His Excellency, Bill Clinton; His Highness, King Abdullah, son of Hussein;
His Excellency, Prime Minister Barak; Mr. Chairman Arafat; U.N. Secretary-
General Kofi Annan; Mr. Javier Solana, High Representative of the European
Union: we spent the past 2 days since we started our summit in constructive
discussions and extensive dialog about all the aspects of the escalating
situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, discussions aimed
at restoring the situation back to normal, through withdrawing the occupying
forces, lifting the blockade, putting an end to violent acts, taking
measures aiming at restoring trust and confidence to the two Palestinian
and Israeli sides, with a view to resuming the peace efforts after the
situation is stabilized in the region.
Before I give the floor to His Excellency, President
Bill Clinton, the President of the United States of America, in his
capacity as the key sponsor of the peace process, to present his report
on the outcome of our relentless efforts over the 2 days, I would like
to stress a number of key points that we should take into account in
the stage to come.
First, the outcome we have reached in this summit may
not meet the expectations of all peoples. However, they constitute at
the same time a basis on which we can build on if we have good intentions
and if the real desire to achieve peace is there.
Secondly, the most important thing in the vision of
all peoples in the days to come is the extent to which the two parties
are committed to implement what has been agreed upon precisely and how
far they are willing to push the peace process forward. Hence, the following
days will witness redeployment of the Israeli forces, lift the blockade
imposed on 3 million Palestinian people, reopening airports, ports,
crossing points in order to pacify the Palestinian streets and bring
matters back to normal.
Number three, our ultimate objective must and will
be reaching a just and comprehensive peace. We do appreciate the leading
role assumed by the United States of America, the key sponsor of the
peace process, and the sponsorship of Mr. Bill Clinton. And we highly
commend the role he assumed including his strenuous efforts he exerted
during this summit, which were crowned in reaching an agreement.
It's my fervent hope that the peace process will go
on as planned and that we avoid having recourse to provocative acts,
confrontations. Rather, we have to establish a constructive dialog in
order to settle all the unresolved problems, to arrive at a peace agreement
in a context of full respect of religious sanctities and the right of
peoples to live in peace and stability.
And now I give the floor to His Excellency, President
Bill Clinton, the President of the United States of America.
President Clinton. First of all, I want to thank President
Mubarak and his able team for making it possible for us to have this
meeting that we have held in this magnificent and beautiful place. I
especially want to thank President Mubarak for Egypt's consistent and
pivotal partnership in the peace process and for playing a critical
role in our efforts here. I also want to thank His Majesty King Abdullah
for his steadfast leadership for peace, which again was in evidence.
I would like to thank the E.U. high commissioner, Javier
Solana, my longtime friend, who worked with me to bring an end to violence
in the Balkans and now is working in the Middle East. And especially
I want to thank Secretary-General Kofi Annan who has been here now in
the region for more than a week and who has worked tirelessly to bring
an end to violence and to make this meeting possible.
But of course, the greatest credit for the progress
we have made today belongs to Prime Minister Barak and Chairman Arafat,
who have had to overcome the difficulties of these last several days,
and we all recognize that theirs was the primary decision to make.
Our meeting has not been easy because the last 2 weeks
have been so hard, a tragic and terrible confrontation costing many
lives and injuries, threatening everything that we have worked to achieve
between Israelis and Palestinians and throughout the region over the
past 7 years now. Even as we meet, the situation in the territories
remains tense. Yesterday again was violent.
This is a reminder of the urgency of breaking the cycle
of violence. I believe we have made real progress today. Repairing the
damage will take time and great effort by all of us.
When we leave here today, we will have to work hard
to consolidate what we have agreed. Let me summarize what has been agreed
so there will be no misunderstanding.
Our primary objective has been to end the current violence
so we can begin again to resume our efforts toward peace. The leaders
have agreed on three basic objectives and steps to realize them.
First, both sides have agreed to issue public statements
unequivocally calling for an end of violence. They also agreed to take
immediate, concrete measures to end the current confrontation, eliminate
points of friction, ensure an end to violence and incitement, maintain
calm, and prevent recurrence of recent events.
To accomplish this, both sides will act immediately
to return the situation to that which existed prior to the current crisis,
in areas such as restoring law and order, redeployment of forces, eliminating
points of friction, enhancing security cooperation, and ending the closure
and opening the Gaza airport. The United States will facilitate security
cooperation between the parties as needed.
Second, the United States will develop, with the Israelis
and Palestinians as well as in consultation with the United Nations
Secretary-General, a committee of factfinding on the events of the past
several weeks and how to prevent their recurrence. The committee's report
will be shared by the U.S. President with the U.N. Secretary- General
and the parties prior to publication. A final report shall be submitted
under the auspices of the U.S. President for publication.
Third, if we are to address the underlying roots of
the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, there must be a pathway back to negotiations
and a resumption of efforts to reach a permanent status agreement based
on the U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and subsequent
understandings. Toward this end, the leaders have agreed that the United
States would consult with the parties within the next 2 weeks about
how to move forward.
We have made important commitments here today against
the backdrop of tragedy and crisis. We should have no illusions about
the difficulties ahead.
If we are going to rebuild confidence and trust, we
must all do our part, avoiding recrimination and moving forward. I'm
counting on each of us to do everything we possibly can in the critical
period ahead.
I am sure it will be a disappointment to some of you,
but one of the things that all the leaders agreed was that our statement
should stand on its own and we should begin by promoting reconciliation
and avoiding conflict by forgoing questions today.
Thank you very much.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |