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Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman
Excerpt from Daily Press Briefing
Department of State
Washington, DC, June 15, 2000
Middle East Peace Process
Chairman Arafat Visit/Israeli-Palestinian Talks
Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Barak Meeting
Andrews and Bolling TalksQuestion: (Inaudible)--people are talking, can you give us any of the mechanics of what might be going on on the Middle East peace front today? I mean meetings, Andrews, Bolling.
Mr. Boucher: I mean, generally, I do want to make the point that the negotiations are not suspended and negotiations - the process continues. I do--I mean, as far as today specifically with Chairman Arafat here today, the Palestinian negotiators are naturally participating in his meetings. He had extensive meetings at the White House, and I think they've just done a readout on those. Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian teams are having lunch with the Secretary now, and so that's ongoing as well.
There are a variety of other meetings with Israeli negotiators going on, Palestinian negotiators, but the general comment has to be that negotiations have not been suspended and the process continues.
Question: To clarify, the Palestinians say that the Andrews final status talks are ongoing but the Bolling talks were ended over issues. So are the Palestinians wrong? Are they still at Bolling talking and they just don't know it?
(Laughter.)
Mr. Boucher: I did not refer to any specific set of discussions. Today the discussions are focused on Chairman Arafat and his visit. I didn't say there was a particular meeting here, there, or anywhere else. The process continues, and we will get back to you as soon as specific--you know, if we want to talk about specific meetings that are or are not occurring.
Question: I just want to clarify since--
Mr. Boucher: Well, we'll have to do that later. I can't do that right now.
Question: (Inaudible)--are not suspended? So that's what you just said. So when you say "negotiations," that includes Bolling and Andrews and neither are suspended?
Mr. Boucher: I had said--I have not, in this process, from the beginning, gotten into Bolling or Andrews or a particular meeting here or there.
Question: Well, each side is talking with each other?
Mr. Boucher: There are different kinds of meetings going on. The concentration right now is on the meetings with Chairman Arafat. There are other meetings going on with delegations. But, in our view, the process continues and that's where I want to leave it.
Question: Was there a little bump in the negotiating road yesterday that might mislead someone to incorrectly conclude that the talks had been suspended?
Mr. Boucher: I don't want to call anybody wrong on this one until we see how this is going to turn out. What I do want to say is there is a process involved here. It has never been an easy process. There's tough issues. There's always bumps in the road and we'll have to see after the concentration today on the meetings with Chairman Arafat, we'll have to see how we proceed from here.
Question: Richard, does the U.S. have a position whether Israel is obliged under Oslo and under a pledge to withdraw by June 23rd from the West Bank, irrespective of how the final status talks might be going? That it's a separate commitment that stands on its own feet and doesn't necessarily require anything in response?
Mr. Boucher: That's the kind of detail question that I'm not in a position to deal with from this podium.
Question: This isn't a question from the negotiations; this is a question of US policy. And the U.S. has, you know, been a little flexible on this issue and indeed it is an issue today, these days. Do you feel--you weren't at Oslo, I don't think you even knew that Oslo was going on. But once you caught up, did the U.S.--is it the U.S.'s view that these obligations are not part of the final status situation?
Can you try it, as a matter of policy?
Mr. Boucher: 3 minutes. My answer will be shorter than your question. No, I don't want to try it. These are the kinds of issues that need to be discussed in the negotiations between the parties. We have made clear that permanent status issues as well as interim issues are part of this discussion. And I will just leave it at that. We don't get more specific than that.
Question: Isn't it fair to say that when you say "the process continues, the talks have not suspended," that you're kind of finessing the situation here a little bit, as the process is the entire thing and it doesn't refer to specific meetings and specific talks?
Mr. Boucher: The fact is today we're meeting with Chairman Arafat; we're having these discussions. The Palestinian team is in those. We have other discussions with the negotiators going on.
I'm not here in a position to say that this meeting is going to occur afterwards, that meeting is going to occur afterwards. This is the schedule at one or two places. So I have to say today, in our view, the process continues. But when it comes down to say that they're meeting at XYZ place or time, I'm not able to do that just because that's not the concentration today. The concentration today is on the meetings with Chairman Arafat.
Question: Is this - are you able to say that both sides, leaders of both sides, remain committed to finding a settlement? Would you credit both sides--
Mr. Boucher: Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Barak both remain committed to working to achieve a peace agreement. The parties have expressed their desire for American help in order to achieve their goals within the time table that they established. The issues are not easy to resolve, but both sides are determined to arrive at solutions. President Clinton, as he has made clear, is willing to do whatever is necessary to help the parties to move forward in their efforts.
Question: And will there be any contact that you know of, and maybe at the White House, but do you know of any contact with Barak too or having happened since Arafat called on the President?
Mr. Boucher: Since Arafat's meeting in the last hour and a half?
Question: Yes. I mean, yesterday the President talked to Barak at length.
Mr. Boucher: No, I don't know. That is something the White House would have to do for you.
Question: Richard, in the light of this--the problems yesterday and Mr. Arafat's complaints today--is the United States planning to devote even more energy to this than it was already, the massive amount of energy it was already devoting?
Mr. Boucher: I remember the Secretary saying we were going to work on this 24 hours a day instead of just 20, and that we weren't taking a summer vacation. So we've rolled up our sleeves as far as they roll, I think. So we are going to do whatever is necessary. That means we're going to be part of this; we're going to help them. We think there is a commitment on the side--on the parties. Nobody said it would be easy, but we're working hard and we think they will, too.
Question: Yesterday you said you wouldn't rule out the Secretary going out to Andrews or Bolling or wherever?
Mr. Boucher: No, I didn't say that. I said I wouldn't rule out her meeting with the delegation.
Question: Meeting with the negotiators, okay.
Mr. Boucher: I mean, the Palestinian negotiators are part of the meetings today with Chairman Arafat, and I would expect her to meet with the Israeli negotiators as well.
Question: Yesterday, or today?
Mr. Boucher: Yes.
Question: The Israelis? Where will that be? You say they're coming over here?
Mr. Boucher: It should be here. The timing--well, I hope the timing's not a problem but she's slated to meet this afternoon with Minister Shlomo Ben Ami.
Question: Here?
Mr. Boucher: Here.
Question: Just Shlomo, or also Oded?
Mr. Boucher: I don't know who else will be there. That's the principal.
Question: Well, what do you make--are the comments that Chairman Arafat made after the White House meeting that Barak lacked political will, are those kind of statements helpful to the process?
Mr. Boucher: I don't want to comment on the comment. I do want to make clear our point that we believe that both Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Barak have demonstrated commitment.
Question: So with Arafat--you do not share Chairman Arafat's opinion?
Mr. Boucher: I'm not commenting on Chairman Arafat's opinion. I'm giving you ours.
Question: Do you believe that Barak has the political will to--
Mr. Boucher: I believe what I've told you three times; that is, that both Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Barak both remain committed to working to achieve a peace agreement.
Question: Forgive me if you've already been asked this, but were the negative comments by Chairman Arafat today reflective of problems going on at the Bolling and Andrews level? I mean, is it your perception that the comment he made today comes directly from stalls or glitches or problems?
Mr. Boucher: That's a question you've got to ask him. I'm sorry, I can't do that.
Full transcript of Daily Press Briefing on 6/15/00
[end of document]
Official Texts | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State
