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11:42 A.M. EDT

Q Are you optimistic, Mr. Chairman?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: I am here in the White House especially for this effort which had been done by His Excellency, President Clinton. I have nothing to say, but I am optimistic from his effort.

Q Are you willing to stay here as long as is necessary to reach an agreement?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: Yes, no doubt.

Q Mr. Netanyahu was fairly adamant about the need for concrete Palestinian security guarantees. Do you feel like that's something that you can offer this weekend?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: Peace is the most important platform for security. And he has to remember this, and not to forget that some of the extremist gangsters have killed my partner, Rabin.

Q So you're suggesting there are terrorists on both sides?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: You can imagine well.

Q Some Palestinian leaders have said that to crack down any more on Hamas would lead to more violence, not to less violence, and would mean less security for Israel, rather than more security. Do you agree?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: We have to deal with them in an accurate way, as we are doing now. Otherwise, there will be more fanatic groups against Palestinians, against Israelis and the whole area in the Middle East.

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Answered in Arabic.)

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Answered in Arabic.)

Q Mr. Chairman, you said that you're optimistic. Are those just words, or do you really believe that something might come out of this weekend?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: I am always so.

Q Why are you optimistic this time? Why?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: Because His Excellency, President Clinton, is putting all his capability, all his pressure to protect the peace of the brave.

Q What is the most serious obstacle to an agreement? What is the most serious obstacle to an interim agreement?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: The political decision from Mr. Netanyahu.

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Answered in Arabic.)

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Answered in Arabic.)

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Begins to answer in Arabic)--and the letter of guarantees from Mr. Christopher. And it is clear that we have to put in our consideration that there is this third further redeployment.

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: We hope this will be done as we have--

Q (Asked in Arabic.)

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Answered in Arabic.)

Q Mr. Chairman, do you anticipate declaring a Palestinian state early next year? Will there be a Palestinian state early next year, sir?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: This will happen according to what we have been agreed upon and what has been signed in the Oslo agreement.

Q One quick question, if you could, please. Are there limits to the amount of security you can guarantee the Israelis?

CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: I can give 100 percent effort, but no one in the world can give 100 percent results.

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