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SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Good evening. In the last two days, I have had good discussions with President Asad and Prime Minister Peres in which we reviewed the progress made at the talks at the Wye Conference Center in Maryland. Both the leaders agreed that headway has been made in the talks and that they should continue. To that end, the talks will resume in Maryland on the 26th of February in the same format as before. The decision of the two leaders to go forward, whatever the timing of the Israeli election, reflects three important realities: First, both parties are committed to peace and to the continuity of the negotiating process.
Second, the decision to continue the talks reflects the belief of the parties that real progress was made in the talks in Maryland. On several issues, the positions of the Israelis and the Syrians are beginning to converge. It is my judgment that these talks in Maryland can provide the framework for an ultimate peace agreement.
Third, the decision to continue the talks reflects the commitment of the parties to the goal of achieving a peace agreement in 1996. Obviously, there is a great deal that remains to be done, but there is a strong determination on behalf of the parties to work for peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East.
The United States is committed to continuing to play a leadership role in assisting the parties to achieve the goal of a peace agreement this year.
I would be delighted to take some questions:
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what reason might you have to expect that the next round will be different from the previous rounds?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Well, in the previous rounds both parties thought real progress was made. We expect that progress can continue to be made, and the fact that the parties have committed to continue the process, whatever the timing of the election in Israel, reflects, I think, their determination to try to pursue the goal of a peace agreement this year.
QUESTION: If in the last round, they devoted most of their time to security issues, and a framework for peace has to involve territory and peace terms, I, personally, can not make the jump in my mind between your hopeful remark that "this could be the framework for a peace treaty" when they are not even near agreement on the key issues.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: They have been discussing a whole range of issues. They have met for 12 days at the conference center in Maryland. The estimate is that they have made good progress in those 12 days. The last several days were on the security arrangements, which are probably the toughest issues of all. There are very difficult issues ahead but, nevertheless, across the board, the parties are making progress.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, will there be an expansion either of the number of delegates to the talks, or the range of issues? And secondly, did President Asad indicate any disappointment that the elections might be now in Israel rather than later?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: The parties will continue in the same format as before, but there is no limitation on the issues. They will continue to discuss, initially, the security issues but they may well be discussing other issues. In our meetings today, President Sad expressed no views with respect to how the Israelis are to make their decision, obviously it is an Israeli decision, about the timing of their elections.
QUESTION: But no new delegates, no expansion in the number of experts that might be present at the talks?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: All I can say is what I
