10/6/96: Joint Press Conference: Chairman Arafat/Sec Christopher

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CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: We had the privilege to meet with His Excellency this evening, especially his visiting us after our very important discussion, which had been fixed during the summit conference which took place in Washington, at the White House, under the supervision of his excellency, President Clinton. We have, to thank and repeat again, our thanks from our hearts to His Excellency, President Clinton, for what he has done, especially the courageous step for this meeting, which took place in Washington, in a very essential and very important period. Also, the visit of His Excellency, Mr. Christopher, his delegation, the part of the summit conference and the American effort to protect and to push forward the peace process. We have here to repeat, in his presence, that we are committed to the peace process and we will do all our best from our side to follow-up with the peace process. Also, we hope that the other side -- the Israeli -- especially, will follow-up on the same line for the accurate and honest implementation of what has been agreed upon.

I have to repeat again my thanks for your presence, which will give us more support to push forward the peace process. Please convey to his excellency, President Clinton, my best regards and best thanks from our hearts for what he is doing to protect the peace process and to push it. Many thanks, many thanks, many thanks.

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Well, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I have just concluded a valuable meeting with the Chairman. One that I hope will contribute to making progress in the days ahead as the negotiations resume. President Clinton asked me to come out here to meet with both the Prime Minister and the Chairman, to work with them to try to ensure progress in the negotiations.

I think the recent violence underscores and makes it absolutely important that the parties address their differences quickly, and that they do so in a way to find areas of agreement between them. One of the things that has been clarified during my visit here is that the parties intend to negotiate within the four corners of the agreement. They intend to take steps toward implementation that are consistent with the agreement and do not seek to modify it. I think that is an important clarification that the Prime Minister made both in private and in public today in Jerusalem. I have stressed to both parties that it is important that they understand each other's needs and requirements and work hard to find mutual interests. I think it is so essential that both parties in this negotiation emerge as winners, otherwise both will be losers. There can be no peace for the Israelis or the Palestinians without security and there certainly can be no security without peace.

The peace process offers the Palestinians the historic opportunity that they so long desired to build their own political and economic institutions. The peace process offers them an opportunity to end the conflict and confrontation and to replace it with a true reconciliation between the parties. Much, much progress has been made in the last three years and much more progress is within reach if we don't fail in our tasks.

The United States will continue to support these negotiations in every way that we know how. I have asked Dennis Ross and his experienced team to work with both sides in the coming days to help them reach agreement.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you for meeting with me tonight and I wish you the very best of luck and good fortune in the days of negotiation ahead. Thank you.

QUESTION (in Arabic*): The negotiations will start in an hour. Do you expect any progress to come out of them?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT (in Arabic*): We hope, as I said, that the other party abides by the accurate and honest implementation of what has been signed and agreed upon. In this respect, I have to point out that Mr. Dennis Ross will follow through with us on these negotiations which will take place tonight and continue over the next few days to reach the basic form which can bring about success as well as protect the peace process. In this respect, I have to refer to the visit of European Union representative Dick Spring from Ireland, as well as the efforts made by Egypt and President Mubarak, in this respect.

QUESTION (In Arabic*): ...the role of the United States in advancing the peace process, particularly when the United States ...(inaudible).

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT (in Arabic*): Do not forget that the agreements were signed at the White House under the auspices of President Clinton. The United States is one of the two sponsors of the conference. The co-sponsor is Russia. We should not forget that President Clinton took that brave and important step at the conference which he held a short while ago at the American White House. This effort, which President Clinton is undertaking, is being followed through by Mr. Christopher, Mr. Dennis Ross and the accompanying delegation.

QUESTION: Chairman Arafat, have you heard anything new in your discussions, this evening, that gives heart or greater optimism about the success of these talks, and secondly, do you think it is possible that there will be any significant progress or breakthrough before the U.S. election.

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: Their presence, no doubt, is very important for the peace process, and their efforts, you can not forget, because the continuity of their efforts will protect the peace process. I am sure of that.

QUESTION: Mr. Netanyahu has said he will not reopen the agreement. Your officials have always accused the Israelis of trying to renegotiate Hebron. Are you now convinced that the Israelis will not try to open an agreement which has already been signed? Are you convinced?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: It is better not to speak about these matters before this meeting which will take place this evening in the presence of Mr. Dennis Ross, and we will not be alone, as I have mentioned.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you have said twice today that it's important that no agreement can be reached if there are one winner and one loser, and that both sides have to be winners. If this is true, why was the White House summit perceived as having a winner and a loser. And how will you prevent that from happening in these negotiations?

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Carol, with all due respect to you and your colleagues, I think that was perception of the press. Both parties gained important results from the Washington meeting. They had an opportunity to get to know each other better, which is by no means insignificant in this matter. They pledged themselves to renounce violence; most importantly, they committed themselves to these very negotiations that will start tonight, intensively, continuously, and with U.S. participation. That's something that from our standpoint is a positive result for both parties.

QUESTION: Chairman Arafat, it seems clear that the perception was that you came away from the summit in Washington with nothing; there was no agreement other than to keep talking. If an agreement is not reached within a few weeks, do you think that the violence will explode again? And for Secretary Christopher, are you also worried that the violence could resume if an agreement is not reached soon?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: First of all, it is very important to put into your consideration that the whole atmosphere is not easy, and for this we have to do all our best to achieve something concrete from these talks, especially, in the presence of Mr. Dennis Ross with us, according to the wishes of President Clinton. No doubt it will achieve something which will protect and save the peace process.

QUESTION: And if something is not achieved, will the violence flair up again?

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: As I said earlier today, the situation is somewhat calmer. The closure is beginning to be eased, but it is still a dangerous situation. That is the reason why we think it is so urgent for the parties to make progress in these negotiations and to achieve some tangible results. The Chairman told me he was doing everything he could to introduce and ensure that calm would remain, but I think the dangers in the situation are quite clear to all. I think that is why the President invited the parties to Washington -- a really quite unusual moment for him to have done that -- and I think that we all need to try to strive to achieve progress here so as to minimize the risks of violence in the future.

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