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SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I'm very pleased to meet once again with my good friend, Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind. We meet at a time when our great partnership is on display all over the world in pursuit of our common interests.
Let me first say a few words about the situation in the Middle East, which I've been following very closely over the last 48 hours.
We've been working hard to diffuse this tragic cycle of confrontation which has already claimed too many lives. I've been in touch more than once with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and we've been in touch several times with Chairman Arafat and his colleagues.
As President Clinton said this morning, the United States is prepared to do anything that we can to be a constructive force in this particular matter.
It's essential to work hard and to try to ensure that both parties restore calm in the region. Only when that's done will we be able to refocus our efforts on how best to implement the Israeli-Palestinian agreement and to then take steps to resolve the remaining issues as quickly as possible.
From the very beginning, this process has been based upon taking into account the needs of both sides and avoiding actions that undermine the efforts that the parties are making. Now, more than ever it's essential that the Israelis and the Palestinians take this approach as they deal with the current crisis, and move back into negotiations.
In my meeting today with the Foreign Secretary, we'll also be discussing our progress in implementing the Dayton Accords. It's important now that we intensify our efforts to focus on Bosnia and economic reconstruction and to continue the full implementation of the Dayton agreement.
Just a word on Iraq. Let me thank the Foreign Secretary once again for his government's strong and steadfast support in our response to the new challenge, the new aggression of Saddam in northern Iraq.
Mr. Foreign Secretary, it's always a great pleasure to be with you. Thanks so much.
SECRETARY RIFKIND: Thank you very much. Indeed, could I briefly endorse what Secretary Christopher has said about the situation in the Middle East. It would be difficult to exaggerate the gravity of the situation. Because what we are seeing at the moment is a symptom rather than a cause -- a symptom of a very deep deterioration in the peace process with a very real danger that the peace process could be on the verge of collapse.
I don't want to exaggerate, but I don't believe that is an exaggeration. I think there has been a growing sense of disillusion in various quarters. In such an atmosphere, even what might otherwise be seen as a small incident or a small factor, can lead to the tragic consequences and the very serious loss of life that is being currently experienced in the region.
I think it is crucial for Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Arafat to meet and for them both to show statesmanlike leadership at this difficult time. Also, it is important for the substance of the peace process to be identified and to be taken forward in a positive spirit.
There is clearly a huge amount of goodwill both in Israel and amongst the Palestinians and in other Arab countries for the fundamentals of the peace process. We're fortunate that both the Israeli Government and the Palestinians and Arab Governments all give their support to the peace process. That rhetoric has to be translated into substance.
I think the tragic experience of the last 24 hours has to be seen as an opportunity to understand the aspirations that exist, the progress that has been achieved in the last few years, the dangers of no-exist of the collapse of these hopes and of the achievements, but also the opportunity that remains with proper leadership and with some proper vision to relaunch the peace process in a meaningful way. So that has to be the priority. I think all countries that have an interest in these matters will be doing what they can. But countries outside the region cannot decide the fate of the Middle East. We can help influence it, and we must try to do so. But, ultimately, their fate will be in their own hands. That is something that they know only too well. It's important that friends of the region do what they can to assist.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, is the peace process in danger of collapse? Or could it be in some upside-down ironic sort of way this awful incident will accelerate U.S. involvement and maybe point to the parties the need to move more quickly to a solution?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: It's a serious situation, as President Clinton said today. Nevertheless, the peace process has proved quite durable. I believe this is the most serious situation since the series of four deadly bombings in Israel. But the peace process survived that and has survived other threats to it.
I think the determination of the parties, as the Foreign Secretary said -- and their belief in the peace process -- is the strongest ally we have at this moment.
I talked to Prime Minister Netanyahu just after he arrived back in Israel from his shorten trip to Europe. He told me that he hoped to meet with Chairman Arafat as soon as it could be arranged to discuss calming this incident and in getting back to the peace process. I think that's a good sign. Chairman Arafat clearly feels the same way.
I did talk to the President after talking with the Prime Minister. I think the President urged me, once again, to tell the parties that we're prepared to do anything we can to be helpful to ensure that we get the peace process back on track.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, is it necessary for you to take a trip to the region any time soon?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I don't have any plans to do so. But as the President said, and as I'm saying now, we're prepared to do whatever would be helpful to the parties in the situation as we have been for a long time.
QUESTION: Could I ask both gentlemen whether you have any concern that Mr. Arafat, whose authority has been a bit undermined, as someone suggested, by Mr. Netanyahu's policies -- is in danger of losing control over his own street and what implication that might have for the peace process?
SECRETARY RIFKIND: I don't think there is any immediate danger of that. But all political leaders have to show that they can take forward the aspirations and the objectives of the people whom they lead. I think Mr. Arafat has provided very fine leadership. I think there is no serious proposition that there is an alternative leadership available. But he does need to be able to deliver good, constructive progress on the peace process itself. No one expects dramatic results overnight. But I believe the Israeli Government should see the Palestinian leadership as people with whom they can cooperate, with whom they have very wide areas of common interest. But that does require trust. It requires cooperation, and it requires a sensitivity and a flexibility to the needs that each have. That has not always been present, and it's something which needs to be revived. You know, in a very visible and very convincing way.
QUESTION: Could the Secretary possibly answer?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I generally agree with the Foreign Secretary. The important thing now is to get the parties back to the negotiating table where tangible progress can be made so it can be brought to the benefit of the citizens of both the Israeli public and the Palestinian public. That's what is necessary now, and that's what we're going to be urging the parties to do.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what advice did you offer Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat, if you had a chance to connect with Chairman Arafat yet? What specific advice did you offer them beyond telling them to calm down and not take inflammatory action?
Secondly, some people have criticized the United States for not seeing this coming, not trying to block the tunnel opening, letting relations deteriorate to this point where you see the fighting in the streets. So how would you answer those people who say that you didn't see it coming? First practical advice --
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Lee, you won't be surprised that I'm going to follow my usual course and not tell you the recommendations that I've given the parties on specific matters beyond the general advice to calm the situation; not to delay in getting back to the negotiations, and not, as the President said, to do anything to undermine the peace process.
As far as seeing it coming, we have been concerned for sometime that the parties take action that would produce tangible benefits. We've been encouraging them to get back to the negotiating table. I think that's where we were and that's where we are. This tragic incident has spiraled in a very deadly and unhappy way. I hope it's a reminder to all parties.
The best thing that could come out of this tragic incident is that it serves as a warning signal of the need for the parties to make genuine progress on the ground.
Thank you very much.
[end of document]
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