| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Middle East Peace ProcessQuestion: The President is traveling, just to get a name and a correct attribution. Arafat is coming here, number one, and the U.S. is displeased that Israel is going ahead with providing radar or some advanced capabilities to China. And the Israeli media thinks that you might strike out and cut aid to Israel.Could you tell us--normally we'd ask the White House but they're on the road. Mr. Rubin: Right. Question: Arafat coming here--is it just checking in? Does it portend more than that? And what about aid to Israel? Mr. Rubin: With respect to the visit, yes, we do expect and are planning for a meeting between President Clinton and Chairman Arafat, and the Secretary as well, later this month. The dates haven't been set. The two leaders do meet regularly to consult on the peace process, and we would expect consultations to focus on how to accelerate the permanent status negotiations so that we can get a framework agreement pursuant to the discussions that have been held at Bolling Air Force Base and the discussions that are being resumed at Bolling Air Force Base this Thursday, all of which is designed to get a framework agreement as soon as possible so that the September 13th date for a permanent status agreement can be met. The Bolling talks will continue this week. We expect them to be intensive, substantive, carrying forward from what they discussed in the past. It's a little early to speculate on exactly what will happen, but we do expect an intense set of discussions. Question: What level is it? Mr. Rubin: Same level as before. With respect to the broader question of arms sales and arms package, obviously the Syria track, we're in a position now where we have gotten a better idea of what the Syrian views are. The ball of this negotiation is squarely in Syria's court to respond to the serious proposals the Israelis put forward. And pending that, we will continue to stay in touch with both sides. In that regard, let me also add that on the Lebanese issue, the Secretary has been talking to Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations. And obviously Prime Minister Barak would prefer to withdraw from Lebanon as a result of a negotiation, but he has made clear that, if necessary, he will withdraw unilaterally. And we're going to be working with them pursuant to Resolution 425 to implement Israel's decision. With respect to your last question on the aid and the weapon sales, it's no secret that the United States has had some serious concerns about certain arms sales from Israel to China, and we have a serious, intense process by which we discuss those kinds of issues with the Israeli Government--and we have done so and expressed our concerns. I'm not aware of any plan to respond by cutting aid as a result of this; on the other hand, it's fair to say that if Israel were not to respond to our concerns that it would have some effect. Precisely what, I'm not prepared to speculate. Question: Just a couple of loose ends. Could the Arafat visit--because anything could happen--but could the Arafat visit in maybe 3 weeks build up into a 3-way meeting with Mr. Barak here, the President and Mr. Barak? I mean, you say you know more about the Syrian position. It isn't a very complex position, is it? I mean, they haven't elaborated. They've made it plain: they want everything back, period, and they refuse to discuss beyond that. I'm just asking you if-- Mr. Rubin: That's the second part of the question. Question: No, no, you've been away a week. Is there something new-- Mr. Rubin: And, oh, what a week it was. A lot has changed in my life, I can assure you. Question: Has the U.S. discerned some deeper layer of the position, or is it where we knew it was last week? Mr. Rubin: Okay, so you want to do the Palestinian track and the Syrian track. Question: A three-way, yes. Mr. Rubin: On the first question, I'm not aware of any such plans. In this business, you never rule anything out, but the plan is for a bilateral consultation between the United States and the Palestinian Authority. With respect to the Syria track, all I'm saying is that we have been trying to clarify the positions of both sides on a number of technical issues. It's not a simple matter as the way you described it. There are many issues that comprise the Israel-Syrian negotiation, far beyond just the one you mentioned. There are several key points that remain outstanding. President Clinton was able to explain a very serious Israeli proposal to deal with those outstanding issues, and the ball is now clearly and squarely in Syria's court as a result of that meeting. I don't know what else to add. Question: Well, let me try one more time. The President was rather clear what Syria was saying to him, what Assad was saying to him. All I'm asking is, have you had any further elaboration of Syria's position since Geneva? Mr. Rubin: Well, we stay in contact with Syria and Israel on a daily basis. I don't think there has been any major movement on the part of Syria since that meeting. Question: You said that Secretary Albright had been speaking to Kofi Annan about Lebanon. Mr. Rubin: Yes--has already done that-- Question: Are they discussing what forces might take control on the Lebanese side of the border after an Israeli withdrawal? Mr. Rubin: I don't want to speculate on what will happen, other than to say that Israel has made it clear that it's going to withdraw one way or the other. It would obviously prefer to withdraw as a result of a negotiation. If that doesn't happen, they have said they would withdraw anyway. And we are working with them in furtherance of their objective of withdrawing pursuant to Resolution 425 of the Security Council. What steps might or might not be taken by the UN in that context, I don't want to speculate other than to say that obviously she has been in touch with Kofi Annan. She'll will stay in touch with him. The Israeli Foreign Minister is going to be meeting with Kofi Annan. So there is discussion of implementing and withdrawing of Israeli forces pursuant to Resolution 425. Question: Your understanding, if I remember rightly--perhaps you can remind us--of Resolution 425 is tied to the Mandate of UNIFIL, which does in fact specify that UNIFIL would deploy right up to the border. Is that correct? Is that something-- Mr. Rubin: I don't think it's entirely clear exactly to what extent that resolution would or wouldn't pertain, and what additional steps might be taken. That's the kind of thing that is being discussed. Question: Jamie, as to the resumption that talks of Bolling, today you've called the upcoming round--you expect them to be intensive and substantive. Should we read anything into that vis-a-vis your past characterization of brainstorming? Is one a different level than another, or are you just trying to use different words? Mr. Rubin: Well, all of the above, I guess. Intense and substantive seem like good words to describe the meetings that we're expecting to have. I met, myself, with many of the negotiators at the house of Deputy Special Middle East Coordinator Aaron Miller, who--and all of them describe their discussions as substantive and intense. So we expect that to continue, but these are difficult issues. I think the Brainstorming rubric hasn't gone away. Question: Would you comment on the head of the Lebanese Army suggesting that the Syrian Army would--do you have anything on that? Mr. Rubin: Yes, we understand that Syrian Foreign Minister Shara has made it clear that Syria has no such interest in moving its forces up to the border. It remains our view that a negotiated settlement is the best means of addressing the needs of all sides. That's where our focus continues to be. So that is our response to the suggestion by the Defense Minister of Lebanon. Question: Could I have a follow-up on that? Lahud, the President, has already undercut his own general on this. But when he was general in charge of the Lebanese Army, which has largely been trained by the Americans, his assertion to us was that he was prepared to take the Lebanese Army down and act quite independently of UNIFIL or anything else, in closing the border and assuring that there was security on the border. What is the use of the Lebanese Army in the 425 and UNIFIL? Do you have any-- Mr. Rubin: I'm going to have to defer that question. All the issues associated with unilateral withdrawal or withdrawal in implementing Resolution 425 are things that are under discussion. I'm not going to comment on every time some Lebanese official makes a comment. There was a suggestion that the Syrian forces would move up to the border. That's the one I was referring to. That's obviously quite significant, and I'm pointing out to you that we understand that Foreign Minister Shara has indicated that Syria has no such interest in moving its forces up to the border in that way. That strikes me as reaching the threshold worthy of comment by the United States. [end of excerpt] Full transcript of Daily Press Briefing on 4/3/00
Peace Process | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State |
