Middle East Digest - October 30, 2008Bureau of Public Affairs The Middle East Digest provides text and audio from the Daily Press Briefing. For the full briefings, please visit daily press briefings. From the Daily Press Briefing of October 30, 2008 10:45 a.m. EDTMR. WOOD: Good morning, everyone. Let me start off by reading a statement. Secretary of State Rice will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Egypt, from November 5 to 9. While in the region, she will meet with her Quartet counterparts and senior government officials to discuss efforts to achieve positive and lasting peace in the region, consistent with the Annapolis process and the shared goal of a two-state solution. As soon as we have some more details on the trip, we’ll get them to you. But I don’t have anything further on it right now. QUESTION: You cannot tell us if this Quartet meeting will be the meeting they announced in the margin of the UN General Assembly? MR. WOOD: I said she’s going to meet with her Quartet counterparts. QUESTION: But they were supposed to get some informations about where the parties are in the negotiation, right? Yes? MR. WOOD: Well, when we have some more details, Sylvie, we’ll get them to you. But I don’t really have anything more than that at the moment. So we can go to your questions. QUESTION: Yeah. How does – how goes the consideration of the Iraqi amendments to the SOFA? MR. WOOD: Well, we’ve received the amendments and we’re going to give them, as Sean said yesterday, a thorough review. And I don’t have anything else for you on that at the moment. Any other questions on SOFA? QUESTION: Can you give us some detail on what the amendments are? MR. WOOD: I’m not going to talk about what’s – what the amendments are at this point. QUESTION: Well, how – are they – would you consider them – how would you describe them, more fine-tuning, or is it sort of a bigger challenge ahead? Is it – MR. WOOD: Well, Libby, I really don’t want to comment until we’ve had a chance to really review them. But you know, as we said, we think we have a good agreement, and the window for any kind of discussions, negotiations, is, you know, rapidly coming to a close. So I’ll just leave it at that. Once we have something to say on it, we will. But for the moment, we’re just taking our time in reviewing it to make sure that, you know, we’ve got a good sense of what it is the Iraqis have put forward. Kirit. QUESTION: A question on Syria. I’m just wondering if there was anything more you can say about the status of your Embassy. I know it was closed today and you were expecting protests around – maybe around this time. MR. WOOD: Well, I think the protest – QUESTION: And also – MR. WOOD: Sorry. QUESTION: – have you had any updates on anything they have (inaudible)? MR. WOOD: I would just say I think the protests went forward. They were peaceful. And you know, as you said, the Embassy is going to be closed today. I believe the school is closed as well. And we’ll go from there. QUESTION: Will they be opening tomorrow? MR. WOOD: I think tomorrow is a holiday. But again, it all depends on the situation on the ground. That will be a decision made by, you know, our folks at the Embassy as to whether or not they feel they want to – QUESTION: But the cultural center will remain closed? MR. WOOD: My understanding is that the cultural center – the Syrians requested that we close it immediately. So for how long that will be, I don’t know. QUESTION: Was that until – did they say until further notice? MR. WOOD: They just said that they wanted it to close immediately. So we don’t have any idea as to – QUESTION: And the American school? MR. WOOD: The American school, I understand – QUESTION: – closes the 6th? MR. WOOD: – is supposed to close on the 6th. That’s correct. QUESTION: And are you taking efforts to kind of stop that closure? MR. WOOD: Well, let me just say that we’re going to – we’re examining as to what steps we may take, but I don’t have anything for you on that at this point. QUESTION: Was that then – QUESTION: When you say you’re examining what steps to take, does that mean you’re actually examining whether or not to go ahead with the closure? MR. WOOD: No, what I’m saying is we’re going to – we’re basically looking at how we’re going to respond. That’s all I can say. QUESTION: Okay. QUESTION: So that involves sort of reciprocal action? MR. WOOD: I don’t know at this point. I don’t want to tie anybody’s hands standing here at the podium. We will – we’re taking a look to see how we’re going to respond, and – but I don’t have anything for you. QUESTION: And then two other questions if I could. MR. WOOD: Yeah, sure. QUESTION: Can you tell us anything more about the Ambassador – or the Chargé’s meeting yesterday at the foreign ministry? And then did all of this come out of that? And then are you taking – are you considering drawing down your Embassy any further in Damascus? MR. WOOD: Well, I’m not aware of any plans to draw down our Embassy at this point. As you know, our Chargé d'Affaires Maura Connelly was called in to the Syrian foreign ministry and was informed of the fact that the cultural center was to close immediately and that the American – the Damascus community school was going to have to close on November 6. So – but that’s the extent of the readout I have for that session. Yeah, Susan. Sorry. QUESTION: Back on Middle East – MR. WOOD: Mm-hmm. QUESTION: Is there anything different about the situation this time that would make it any more likely that Secretary Rice could clinch some kind of a peace deal? It seems it’d be even less likely because of the difficulties with the Israeli Government. MR. WOOD: Well, the situation – you know, obviously, the political situation in Israel does complicate this somewhat. But again, what we’ve said over and over is that what we’ve got is a commitment from the two parties to reach an agreement. And, you know, it’s a process. We’re committed to the process. They’re committed to the process. We’re going to do what we can to try to help bring about an agreement. But, you know, I’m not going to kid you. Of course, you know, the Israeli political situation does complicate this a bit. But what’s important is that the two sides want to see an agreement and are willing to work hard to do it, and that’s what’s critical here: the will to try to reach an agreement. QUESTION: Can I just follow up on that? MR. WOOD: Yeah. QUESTION: Can you tell us what we can expect out of Olmert’s visit? He’s supposed to come in the next couple of weeks, I think the White House announced yesterday. MR. WOOD: Well, I mean, obviously, a visit by Prime Minister Olmert, you know, is important for trying to move this process that I described forward. And, you know, this is not an easy one. It’s not an easy process. And the situation in the Middle East is complicated. But again, I’d go back to the question – or to the issue of will. And we’ve got two sides that are quite willing to do what’s necessary to reach an agreement. They’re going to have to make the hard decisions. There’s no question about that. If you’re going to get to peace, both sides are going to have to compromise on some of the difficult issues. And we’re there to try to do what we can to help the parties get to where they want to go. QUESTION: Is it – so is your goal to come up with any sort of concrete – you know, outcome out of this – out of his visit or – MR. WOOD: Well, it’s hard to say. We obviously are going to do what we can. The discussions that Prime Minister Olmert and the President will have will be substantive, and they will try to figure out, you know, how best – yes. QUESTION: With all due respect, how could they be substantive? I mean, he’s – they’re – the Israelis are going for elections and this President is leaving. So will – like, what beyond being, like, a place-marker or putting together some kind of exit strategy could possibly be accomplished at this late stage in the game? MR. WOOD: Well, President Bush is still in power. Prime Minister Olmert is still in power. They’ve been working on these issues for quite some time. Again, we’re focused on a process. We’re trying to move the process forward so that the parties can – QUESTION: Well, how can you move the process forward at this point? MR. WOOD: Through diplomacy, through hard work. That’s how you do it. QUESTION: Is there anything different about the situation this time that would make it any more likely that Secretary Rice could clinch some kind of a peace deal? It seems it’d be even less likely because of the difficulties with the Israeli Government. MR. WOOD: Well, the situation – you know, obviously, the political situation in Israel does complicate this somewhat. But again, what we’ve said over and over is that what we’ve got is a commitment from the two parties to reach an agreement. And, you know, it’s a process. We’re committed to the process. They’re committed to the process. We’re going to do what we can to try to help bring about an agreement. But, you know, I’m not going to kid you. Of course, you know, the Israeli political situation does complicate this a bit. But what’s important is that the two sides want to see an agreement and are willing to work hard to do it, and that’s what’s critical here: the will to try to reach an agreement. QUESTION: Can I just follow up on that? MR. WOOD: Yeah. QUESTION: Can you tell us what we can expect out of Olmert’s visit? He’s supposed to come in the next couple of weeks, I think the White House announced yesterday. MR. WOOD: Well, I mean, obviously, a visit by Prime Minister Olmert, you know, is important for trying to move this process that I described forward. And, you know, this is not an easy one. It’s not an easy process. And the situation in the Middle East is complicated. But again, I’d go back to the question – or to the issue of will. And we’ve got two sides that are quite willing to do what’s necessary to reach an agreement. They’re going to have to make the hard decisions. There’s no question about that. If you’re going to get to peace, both sides are going to have to compromise on some of the difficult issues. And we’re there to try to do what we can to help the parties get to where they want to go. QUESTION: Is it – so is your goal to come up with any sort of concrete – you know, outcome out of this – out of his visit or – MR. WOOD: Well, it’s hard to say. We obviously are going to do what we can. The discussions that Prime Minister Olmert and the President will have will be substantive, and they will try to figure out, you know, how best – yes. QUESTION: With all due respect, how could they be substantive? I mean, he’s – they’re – the Israelis are going for elections and this President is leaving. So will – like, what beyond being, like, a place-marker or putting together some kind of exit strategy could possibly be accomplished at this late stage in the game? MR. WOOD: Well, President Bush is still in power. Prime Minister Olmert is still in power. They’ve been working on these issues for quite some time. Again, we’re focused on a process. We’re trying to move the process forward so that the parties can – QUESTION: Well, how can you move the process forward at this point? MR. WOOD: Through diplomacy, through hard work. That’s how you do it. |
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