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U.S. Department of State
93/10/01 Remarks with Belgian ForMin Claes: Conf. to Support Mid-East
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 1993
REMARKS BY
SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER
AND
BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILLY CLAES
AT
THE HEADS OF DELEGATION LUNCHEON
DURING
THE CONFERENCE TO SUPPORT MIDDLE EAST PEACE
Washington, D.C.
October 1, 1993
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Thank you again for your cooperation. Our
session this morning, I think it's fair to say, was a striking success.
On behalf of Secretary Bentsen and Foreign Minister Kozyrev, Minister
Federov, I want to thank you all for attending the conference and for
your participation and your generosity.
In the coming months, we must make sure that we continue to work
together to make sure that the pledges are fulfilled and that they're
translated into tangible improvements on the ground in the occupied
territories.
At the same time, we must all redouble our efforts to work for a
comprehensive peace in the region. The Israeli-Palestinian agreements
are a crucial component, an important building block, but they must be
fortified by progress on the other tracks.
Speaking of other tracks and speaking particularly of the multilateral
track, I want to note how pleased I am that the first of the
multilateral meetings will take place in the region when Tunisia hosts
the refugee group in October and Egypt hosts the environmental group in
December. I hope there will be many other meetings of the portions of
the multilateral track in the region in the near future.
As we've heard this morning and as you could tell from the speakers, the
European Community is playing a very vital role in providing resources
and providing leadership. The EC financial commitment complements its
active leadership in the multilateral track.
The EC is a prime example of how integration of economies can bring
former adversaries together in producing stability and prosperity in a
region. I'm pleased now to introduce Foreign Minister Claes of Belgium,
who is President of the Council of Ministers of the European Community
for this period, and I introduce him to speak to you on this occasion.
Foreign Minister Claes.
(Applause)
FOREIGN MINISTER CLAES: Mr. Secretary of State, Ministers,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. The history of mankind teaches us
that going to war is easier than making peace. Whether it is inherent
to human nature or not, I leave to the reflections of psychologists and
(inaudible).
It is, therefore, with enthusiasm that we all have greeted the vision
and courage of the leaders who took the decisive step to sign the
Israeli-Palestinian Agreement, in our view, by (inaudible) in the Middle
East peace process. Our response was all the more swift and positive
and, indeed, it represents the concretization of ideas Europe has
fostered since many years.
The Declaration of Venice of 1980, for example, contained ideas which
for some were unspeakable, and even unthinkable, at that time. When we
consider what has been achieved now, it had some prophetic value. But
the step which has been taken now, however far-reaching and important,
will only take its full significance if the momentum of the peace
process is maintained and if all the countries involved pursue their
efforts in order to achieve a complete, just, and lasting peace.
Peace will only be global when conditions will be realized for a new
start in the economic and social development of the region.
A population frustrated in its ambitions for education, welfare, public
health and prosperity would be an easy prey for political unrest. This
would in turn continue to be a threat to the stability of the region and
of the world.
The sponsors of the Madrid Conference and the participating countries
were very conscious of the economic and social aspects of any lasting
peace.
The multilateral track of the conference was created in order to give
hope to populations who have suffered wars rather than (inaudible)
during more than 45 years. The bilateral track was created to solve the
problems of the past. The multilateral track looks resolutely to the
future.
Ladies and gentlemen, I shall not dwell upon the amount of our
contributions. The figures have already been quoted. Let me just say
that they have an important significance. They represent our
commitment. They are the consequence of our long-lasting support for
the peace process. They mean that we have firm hopes for the
development of a region which is culturally and spiritually one of the
sources of our civilization.
It is also an act of faith in the various peoples who will learn to live
together. We are convinced that the qualities, the level of education
and of professional qualifications, which exist in the region,
constitute assets for a brilliant future and rapid development.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have addressed my congratulations to the
courageous leaders who have made the first steps towards peace. I would
fail to my duty if I didn't mention also the role played by the
Norwegian Foreign Minister in this achievement. He deserves our
gratitude. And I would like to conclude in commending all those who
support their efforts.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate once more the
host country for the brilliant organization of this conference on such
short notice.
Thank you. (Applause)
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