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Question: Do you have anything on the visit of Yasser Arafat? Mr. Rubin: Yes. Let me say Secretary Albright is now meeting with Chairman Arafat. As you know, President Clinton recently met with Prime Minister Barak, as did Secretary Albright, and we discussed with the Prime Minister what are the best ways, both procedurally and substantively, to reach a framework agreement as soon as possible so that we're in a position to reach a permanent status agreement by September. We think that Chairman Arafat's visit here will provide the same kind of opportunity to discuss as creatively and intensively as possible a way to accelerate these talks and give them the kind of the kick-start that they need if we're going to reach the various deadlines that are approaching. So Chairman Arafat and Secretary Albright will have a chance to discuss how to do that, and we will have a chance to hear from the Palestinians on what they think is the best way, both procedurally and substantively, to do so. We clearly believe--and will tell Chairman Arafat--that there is an intensification and a renewed energy and a new sense of urgency to the Palestinian track, and we will be seeking their views on that. We do sense that there is a genuine commitment on both parties' parts to meet the deadline of the September permanent status agreement, to find a way to move forward and to break the logjam. As you know, or as we've reported, or we've certainly indicated that we would be prepared to play a more involved role at the table with the Palestinians and the Israelis in the coming weeks and months so that that can happen. What we will be discussing with Chairman Arafat--and obviously in the days ahead--is how can we find a way to meet each side's needs and requirements, and how can we develop a creative working environment in which the United States can facilitate their efforts. Obviously, no party is going to be able to achieve 100 percent of its objectives, and we're going to make that clear to Chairman Arafat as well. Question: Has the delegation to Libya submitted its report to the Secretary? Mr. Rubin: Can we just see if there's any more on this? And I see the hands are raised. Question: Oh, yes. How close is the United States now to presenting its own ideas on this? Mr. Rubin: I think right now, as I indicated, we are ready and we think the Israelis and the Palestinians will want us to play a more intensive role at the table, and that will be new in this coming round. At the Bolling round, these were largely bilateral discussions that were held, with the occasional chairing role by the United States. But at the round to follow, we think that we--that everyone has agreed that we will play a more involved role by being at the table, trying to be creative, trying to help each side figure out what its needs are. I am not aware that there are any new US ideas that are to be laid down today or any time soon. We are now at the stage, though, where we do think that a more involved role at the table is appropriate. Question: Can you try to be creative and play a more intensive role at the table without coming up with ideas? It seems that being creative and having ideas is-- Mr. Rubin: I think "new ideas" is one of those phrases that, I think you probably know, has a certain meaning. And that means a US proposal, per se, that is given to both sides as our bridging proposal. That is what I am suggesting that we are not doing at this stage. However, that doesn't mean we can't have creative suggestions. But that's different than saying, as for example in the Wye talks-- Question: (Inaudible)--an idea. Mr. Rubin: Right, but it's not--13% is the U.S. proposal and we get the Palestinians to agree to that and then the Israelis to agree to that. It is more like, well, if you formulated it this way, and you should be aware that what he really cares about is this point and not that point, and you can be creative and make suggestions without putting forward a U.S. idea as the U.S. proposal that both sides have to move towards. And that's not, to my understanding, where we're at. Question: Will these talks continue as the Bolling talks or do they go somewhere else? Mr. Rubin: No, they will move to the region towards the end of the month. Question: The Palestinians have been quoted as saying that they feel like at this stage they don't have much left to offer, that the offers are going to have to come more from the Israelis. Would you concur with that assessment? Mr. Rubin: No, I think that sounds pretty much like what Palestinians and Israelis have been saying publicly for as long as I've had this job. So, I mean, every time I've been in this situation, the Palestinians say the other side needs to make more offers and the Israelis say the Palestinians need to make more offers. That's pretty much standard pre-negotiating public commentary. Our view is that neither side can achieve 100 percent of its objectives, and so both sides need to look at ways that they can meet their underlying needs but not expect to achieve all of their position. Question: What do you mean, Jamie, when you say that the Prime Minister Barak has given you the impression--the Administration the impression that he wants to intensify and accelerate the peace talks? Doesn't that sort of validate what the Palestinians have been saying all along, that whilst the Syrian track was moving, chugging along, their track couldn't be? Mr. Rubin: No. The days are passing. We believed that if the Syrian track had gone forward as a result of the Geneva meeting, one can still do both things. Clearly, that didn't happen and we continue in discussions with both parties. But the Syrian track is not as chugging along as it was in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The Palestinian track, we believe has renewed energy, as a result of approaching deadlines and a recognition that time is growing short. Bolling talks were occurring before the Geneva meeting, and so we believe that both sides recognize this. Will the Israelis show more intense willingness to engage and make decisions as a result of not having the Syria track go on? You'll have to ask the Israelis that, and I'm not the spokesman for the Israelis. Our view has been you can do both. But regardless of whether it's because Geneva happened or not, we believe there's renewed energy. Question: Are you looking for President Arafat to make some kind of commitment to also have renewed energy and-- Mr. Rubin: Yes, we would like to see a commitment from both Prime Minister Barak and Chairman Arafat to put their shoulders behind this process, be flexible, recognize they can't achieve 100 percent of their objectives, and authorize their negotiators to be creative in moving forward. Question: Just a minor technical point. Some reports talk about May the 13th as the target date; whereas, others just refer vaguely to May, meaning presumably the end of May. Mr. Rubin: I think the 13th is one of those dates that has been--you know, there was originally, I guess it was February 13th, and so they keep adding a new month to it. Question: It's a difference of two weeks. Mr. Rubin: Look, it is now April 20th. May 13th is three weeks from now. We recognize that to achieve a framework agreement in three weeks is going to be an extraordinarily difficult challenge. Whether the date is May 13th or May 10th or May 7th, we've never had a date. Our date has been as soon as possible. But, occasionally, you hear that others have some internal planning notion, but our date has been as soon as possible, meaning no date but as soon as possible. Question: Okay. A related question--Syria? Mr. Rubin: A related technical question, yes. Question: No, Syria. Mr. Rubin: Okay. Question: Mr. Lockhart this morning made a cryptic reference to reports of progress on the Syrian-Israel track.--yes, indeed. I wondered if you could throw any light on where he might have got this impression. Mr. Rubin: Well, I spoke to Mr. Lockhart twice this morning, and I don't know what you're referring to. And I'll ask him about it after the briefing and call you. Question: What he referred to, not what I referred to? Mr. Rubin: No, no. You're referring to what he said, right? Question: So you know nothing about any reports of progress? Mr. Rubin: I don't know what it's about, but I have always felt that whatever Mr. Lockhart says is fine with me. Question: For the next few days? Mr. Rubin: For the next few days, right. [end of excerpt] Full transcript of Daily Press Briefing on 4/20/00
Peace Process | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State |
