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James P. Rubin, Spokesman Press Briefing, Israel-Syria Peace Talks Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, January 10, 2000

MR. RUBIN: All right, I can just give you a few quick facts. The President has just left. And I think the dinner went quite late, till about 11:00 or so. Then there were a couple of bilateral meetings -- dinner lasted till 11:30 -- a couple of bilateral meetings the President had with Prime Minister Barak and Foreign Minister Shara. He has just left. I think the President felt that it was a very good and serious exchange of views. All the issues came up at the dinner. Clearly we're coming to the end of the leaders' participation here this week, and I'll have more for you about that tomorrow; but I don't think the delegations are leaving right this -- tonight. QUESTION: Are there any committee meetings tomorrow morning? MR. RUBIN: When I have tomorrow's schedule, I'll give it to you. I don't know quite how they're going to work tomorrow. I'm going to run and try to call you back on a cell phone so I don't miss the motorcade. (Call ends.) * * * MR. RUBIN: In any event, so clearly we're coming to the end of the leaders' participation this week. I don't have a schedule for tomorrow for you. In the morning, I think Secretary Albright will be in touch with the leaders to decide how to proceed tomorrow, but clearly we're coming to the end of this week. QUESTION: So what's been accomplished? MR. RUBIN: I'm sorry, I can't hear anybody. QUESTION: What has been accomplished? MR. RUBIN: Well, I'll have more to say about that tomorrow, but for now I just wanted to give you an update of what has transpired tonight and let you know that people were still here and we expect something tomorrow, and I just don't know what I can offer. QUESTION: Is the President coming back tomorrow? MR. RUBIN: I don't think that decision has been made. It didn't seem that way from where things ended up. QUESTION: Jamie, are the lower level negotiators staying on? Is there any chance of that, or is that now out of the question? MR. RUBIN: I think I'll know more tomorrow about that. I just can't really tell you right now. They'll make a decision. QUESTION: Is this round drawing to a positive conclusion? MR. RUBIN: Sorry? QUESTION: Is this round winding up in any positive way? MR. RUBIN: Well, we think there has been a lot of positive developments this round. We think the response to the working document was quite positive and the fact that all the issues have been discussed in a serious way is quite positive. So those are positive elements that have gone on this week. QUESTION: Jamie, did the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister shake hands tonight, as far as you know? MR. RUBIN: I didn't see that. I can certainly say that I was at the dinner where the delegations had a three-way dinner and there was a fairly warm atmosphere. I've been in a lot of such dinners and it was pretty cordial -- but I don't know about a handshake. QUESTION: Jamie, all week long you've been saying you don't expect this round to end with an agreement. Do you have any reason to change that assessment? MR. RUBIN: No. QUESTION: So do we expect any declaration or a statement or whatever tomorrow? MR. RUBIN: Something will be said tomorrow. I just don't know what form it will come in. But I think I can give you a heads-up on when I brief tomorrow and maybe we'll have more in the morning. I just didn't want you guys to not know how the night ended. QUESTION: Is Prime Minister Barak leaving tomorrow, and when is Mr. Shara leaving? MR. RUBIN: I don't know their exact schedules, but I think -- I don't expect there to be discussions on Tuesday. QUESTION: Do you think they'll meet again sooner rather than later? MR. RUBIN: Yeah, I think they will, but I'll have more on that tomorrow. QUESTION: Here in Shepherdstown? MR. RUBIN: In Shepherdstown? I don't have an answer for that. QUESTION: Thank you. MR. RUBIN: Good night. (The briefing concluded at 12:40 a.m.) [end of document] Peace Process | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State