| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Okay, other subjects. Ambassador Ross will be traveling to the Middle East early next week. He will be helping in the resumption of the permanent status talks that will take place in Eilat. Ambassador Ross, in addition to sitting at the table with the negotiators in Eilat at this important round of discussions, will also be traveling to see the leaders and shuttling back and forth with the leaders. In our judgment, the next 6 to 8 weeks could well be a decisive phase in the pursuit of peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and that phase obviously is now including a more intensive American involvement with Ambassador Ross' presence at the table and work with the leaders. And I would say that we also would expect at the appropriate time for Secretary Albright to travel to the region. The recent weeks' events have indicated the importance of pushing harder for this agreement in working with the Palestinians and the Israelis. One of the things that Secretary Albright and the President were encouraged by in the last round of discussions with Prime Minister Barak and Chairman Arafat was that not only was each of them aware and putting forth their own needs and their own positions but expressing comments and analysis that demonstrated that they were aware of the other leader's needs. And so this is the state on the peace process. Anything on that? Question: A date please? Mr. Rubin: It's early next week he's traveling. I can't give you, you know, May 1 precisely, but he's leaving early next week. Question: You mentioned a trip by the Secretary? Mr. Rubin: I'm expecting that at some point. As I said, the next 6 to 8 weeks in our view could well be a decisive phase in the Middle East peace process in the pursuit of a permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinians. And in that light, we are expecting that the Secretary will travel as appropriate. Question: Within that time frame? Mr. Rubin: Right. Question: So 6 to 8 weeks, that takes us beyond May? Mr. Rubin: Well, this is the phase that we think is an appropriate phase. When the Secretary travels, if she travels as we would expect she would, she'd obviously be in a position to make a recommendation to the President as to whether a summit would be or would not be useful and would be properly prepared and the ground properly prepared. So, you know, you can read the calendar as well as I can. Question: Is it too early to say whether her trip might also involve an attempt to restart the Syrian track? Mr. Rubin: I'm leaving it where I left it. Any other topics? Question: You mentioned that there would be a change in the American role. Can you define that role for the coming 6 to 8 weeks? How would you expect it to--how should we be talking about it? Mr. Rubin: As I indicated to a number of your colleagues on Thursday and Friday of last week, what I'm talking about is a more continuous US presence at the table in trying to help the two sides come up with ideas that will bridge the gaps. [end of excerpt] Full transcript of Daily Press Briefing on 4/24/00
Peace Process | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State |
