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CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: We have to thank His Excellency for this visit, especially in these very important circumstances which we are passing one week before our elections. We have to thank His Excellency for his efforts, including also the participation of a high delegation from America to supervise and to arrange the elections of the Palestinian Council. At the same time, we had an opportunity to discuss in detail these elections and some of the problems which we are facing and asking His Excellency to facilitate for us these problems with the Israelis concerning Hebron and other places. At the same time, I have the opportunity to thank His Excellency for what he is doing to push the Peace Process, not only with the Palestinians, not only with the Jordanians, not only with the Egyptians, but also with the Syrians and the Lebanese, so that we can have a comprehensive, lasting, peaceful solution in the whole area. At the same time, I have to thank President Carter who will come to participate with us, heading the American team for the elections.
Please convey to His Excellency President Clinton, [thanks] for his permanent support, which we have found especially from your side during the economic conference which took place in Paris recently. At the same time, I had explained to His Excellency all the situation here in these Palestinian territories, and the difficulties which we are facing from the economical point of view, and also he promised that he will continue supporting us according to what His Excellency, President Clinton had started from the beginning, to push the donors by all means, to continue implementing their promises.
Thank you, your Excellency.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Chairman and I had planned to get together last Tuesday in Paris at the Donors' Conference. Unfortunately, the weather in Washington made that impossible. So, I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for rearranging your schedule so we could meet here this morning.
As you know, the Donors' Conference in Paris was very successful. The Conference core list of projects of 550 million dollars was oversubscribed by about 240 million dollars, and I think that's a reflection of the international community's desire to support this effort in Gaza and the West Bank. For its part, the United States well on its way to meeting its pledge of 500 million dollars over a five-year period. We have disbursed already over half of our pledge, in addition to humanitarian assistance and motor vehicles that we've made available. In Paris we allocated another 71 million dollars for particular projects, water projects, educational projects, and other projects to meet the needs of the Palestinians.
The Conference marked a new phase in the development of the Palestinian economy, one that coincides with the new phase in the implementation of the interim agreement. The Palestinian Authority has done a good job in taking over responsibility for the major population centers in the West Bank. I think we recognize the importance of continuing combating violence and terrorism, and I was very pleased this morning to have the Chairman once again emphasize his complete commitment to combating terrorism in all of the territories of the West Bank and Gaza.
As we all know, as the Chairman just said, just one week from now there will be a major milestone when the Palestinians go to the polls to elect their governing council and their leader. We spent a good deal of time this morning discussing the elections, certainly a historic opportunity for the Palestinians to take the major step in building a democratic society. I want to congratulate the Chairman and the people of the area for their efforts in this regard. Of course, it is important that the elections be free and fair and as the Chairman has mentioned, there will be a number of groups observing the elections here. A United States group headed by former President Carter and of course, our Consulate in Jerusalem will be observing the elections as well. Elections will give an opportunity to lead to the establishment of institutions of law, institutions carrying out democratic principles including freedom of expression and the rule of law, respect for human rights and free market economy.
Mr. Chairman, I assure you that President Clinton and the United States want to continue to work with you to achieve these important goals.
Thank you very much.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, does that commitment to combat terrorism involve speaking out against terrorism?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Yes, I am sure it does, and it has. The Chairman has been speaking out against terrorism and I think he has been taking very important steps to work with the authorities in the region to ensure that violence and terrorism shall be kept to an absolute minimum.
QUESTION (In Arabic): How do you evaluate your talks with Mr. Christopher, and how do you see American assistance national authority?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT (In Arabic): With no doubt, I thank Mr. Christopher for this visit, especially at this time, a few days before elections, which will take place for the first time on Palestinian ground, to elect our legislative council and presidential elections. At the same time, I have to thank his Excellency very much for his position supporting the Palestinian Authority in many areas, including the support which President Clinton has referred to since the Declaration of Principles in Washington and urging donor countries to increase their donations and assistance for the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, as I have just mentioned, that this effort made by his Excellency now, on many fronts, and on all Arab tracks, to push forward the Peace Process, is considered very important, because it moves toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
QUESTION: Chairman Arafat, I was wondering if you raised the assassination last week of the "Engineer" in your discussions with Secretary Christopher, and if you did, what you spoke about as regards that?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: What I had mentioned from our Cabinet is clear and obvious concerning this issue.
QUESTION (In Arabic): Mr. President, have you discussed with Mr. Christopher the progress that is taking place on the Israeli - Syrian track?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT (In Arabic): I was (assured) by Mr. Christopher about the positive movement which is taking place on the Syrian and Lebanese track.
QUESTION: Are you disappointed that Hamas has announced it will not participate in the elections?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: They had declared from the beginning that they will not participate officially, but as you know, many of the Islamic leaders had already participated in the election campaign, some of them here in Gaza, and others in the West Bank.
QUESTION (In Arabic): How will the progress that is taking place between Israel and Syria affect Palestinian - Israeli final status negotiations?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT (In Arabic): This will be a catalyst for pushing the peace process forward in the region, because when we went to Madrid, we went to find a solution for the Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian tracks. That is why we are keen that progress take place on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, to enable us to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region.
[end of document]
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