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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
95/06/09 Press Conf.: Sec. Christopher, PM Rabin & Pres. Mubarak
Office of the Spokesman
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Cairo, Eypt)
____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 9, 1995
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK, PRIME MINISTER YITZAK RABIN
AND SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER
Itihadiya Palace
Cairo, Egypt
June 9, 1995
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: I welcome Prime Minister Rabin and I welcome
Secretary of State Warren Christopher to Egypt. I think the need is to
meet to solve problems and meet together in a very good atmosphere. I
had long discussions with Prime Minister Rabin, about bilateral
relations, and we discussed the peace process and how it is going and it
was a very positive negotiation with the Prime Minister. I say that
whenever there are problems in the peace process, I think it is better
to meet face-to-face and discuss with each other and we are used to
this. I met Mr. Rabin several times and Mr. Christopher several times.
This is the only way to sit face-to-face and face the problems and see
how we could manage to make the process continue. We are convinced of
peace; we have signed a peace treaty with Israel about eighteen years
ago. We supported the Madrid conference and we made tremendous efforts
that that conference could convene. We made tremendous efforts and I
think Mr. Rabin and Secretary Christopher know that with the
Palestinians until they reached the signatures on the Declaration of
Principles which we appreciated. And we still are supporting the peace
process until peace prevails all over the area. Our negotiations were
very positive, very good atmosphere, and I hope and I am sure that all
will continue on the same line until peace prevails all over the area.
Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER RABIN: Mr. President, Secretary of State, allow me first
to thank you for hosting this meeting in a very good atmosphere because
we are all committed to achieve comprehensive peace in the region.
Egypt showed courage, vision and imagination in being in the lead of
changing the Middle East by signing a peace treaty with Israel, by
maintaining this peace and has served as a model of what can be achieved
in the Middle East if comprehensive peace is achieved. It took too long
after the signing of the peace treaty until the Madrid peace conference
was convened and negotiations started.
As the Prime Minister of Israel, I believe that what has been achieved
in the last two years is no doubt a tremendous achievement - the mutual
recognition between Israel and the PLO, looking at the PLO as the
representative of the Palestinian people, signing the Declaration of
Principles, signing the Cairo agreement that brought about the
implementation of the first phase of the DOP. Gaza and Jericho were
first, and now we are in a very deep, serious negotiation with the PLO,
with the Palestinian Authority, about the implementation of the second
phase of the DOP, it is to say of the West Bank, Judea and Samaria.
It's more complicated. We set as a target date the first of July and we
will do our part the most serious effort to meet this date. There are
some problems, but no doubt in my mind we have crossed the point of no
return in the implementation of the whole DOP all over the area which
the DOP refers to.
I hope that the negotiations with Syria will be resumed but this is more
up to the Americans to tell because we don't have the direct contacts
and dialogue as we have with Egypt, the Palestinians, the Jordanians.
We are busy now consolidating the second peace treaty that we signed,
after Egypt, with Jordan and I believe we are moving ahead in the
consolidation of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel. For me,
its a tremendous change that no doubt in my mind promises we will do the
utmost, as soon as possible, we will see a different Middle East; a
Middle East in peace, in which each country will live in peace without
the threat of war, hopefully without the threat of violence and
terrorism. And no doubt today, the main obstacle on the road to
solution of the problem between the Palestinians and us, is the
terrorism carried out by the enemies of peace, the enemies of the
agreement signed between the PLO and Israel. We hope that what was
started by the Palestinian Authority to control this terror, and we
appreciate the efforts of the Palestinians in doing so, no doubt will
facilitate our capability to reach an agreement and to see a different
situation in the region.
Again, I would like to thank you Mr. President, the atmosphere in our
talks, we went into details of our discussion with the Palestinians,
what we see vis-a-vis the Syrians, and we appreciate very much your
efforts and assistance in advancing the peace process in the whole
region with the purpose of achieving a comprehensive peace.
Thank you very much. Thank you very much Mr. Secretary for your
assistance and the United States' assistance.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Mr. President and Prime Minister. Mr. President
may I join in thanking you for hosting this event and also for the
leadership that you continue to provide in the pursuit of peace here in
the Middle East. Mr. Prime Minister, I want to add a word of thanks to
you for the tremendous leadership you have shown, and the courage you
have shown in seeking peace in the Middle East. Today's meeting
reflects a rejuvenation of the Israeli-Egyptian partnership, a
partnership that is so vital in the development of peace, cooperation,
and stability here in the Middle East. Today Egypt and Israel stand as
bastions of peace, the region's pillars of peace. When the two
countries and their leaders come together in a partnership, they can
achieve an enormous amount of progress in the pursuit of peace. This is
that kind of time.
Today's meeting comes at a time of renewed efforts and renewed hopes for
the pursuit of peace here in the Middle East. First, the Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations have regained their momentum with renewed
confidence on the part of both sides. The parties are making a good
faith effort to reach an agreement on the second phase of the
Declaration of Principles with a target date of July 1 and a very
serious negotiation going on.
Second, the negotiations between Israel and Syria have moved to a new
phase, a commitment of the parties to hold senior level military talks
at the end of the year is a very encouraging sign and I will be pursuing
that when I go to Damascus tomorrow. More must be done to take
advantage of this great current opportunity. One of the things we must
do is to find an economic base for the peaceful steps that have been
taken. The Amman summit this October will provide an opportunity to
pursue that and provide real economic opportunity for the people of the
Middle East as they begin to enjoy the fruits of peace.
Today I believe we turned a new page in the Egyptian-Israeli
relationship, one that is promising as we build for the future, we've
taken another step to transform the region toward peace, and to make
peace irreversible. Our hope is to achieve something that President
Clinton once called "the quiet miracle of a normal life". That's what
the people of the Middle East deserve and I think this step today, with
the generosity and commitment of the President and the Prime Minister,
moves us a step closer to that normal life. Thank you very much.
QUESTION: Prime Minister Rabin, please, I would like to hear from you
what guarantees are you offering to alleviate international concern of
the possibility of meeting the 1st of July deadline?
PRIME MINISTER RABIN: It's not a deadline, but a target date and one
has to distinguish between the two. Allow me to say, without going too
much into details, we are committed as far as the West Bank to bring
about re-deployment of the Israeli forces in two phases.
Phase number one, to make it possible for the Palestinians to have
elections the way they decide. We are not interfering. What kind will
it be, separately to the chairman of the council of the Palestinians or
Palestinian Authority, or will it be regional. We have to follow
exactly what was agreed on in the DOP.
And then there is the 2nd phase called a further re-deployment. The
problem is, to what extent we will be able to achieve not only agreement
about the first phase, but also the second. For us, it will be
sufficient to reach an agreement on the first phase to facilitate and to
make closer the date of elections and to discuss the further re-
deployment later on. So far, the Palestinians would like to reach an
agreement about both, this is the major issue that might cause delays
but we will try our best. And there is no need for any guarantee, the
agreement is between us and the Palestinians and I believe they are
committed as we are committed to carry out the agreement and implement
it.
QUESTION: Every time there is a breakthrough in the peace process a
sort of violence erupts in the Occupied Territories. So is there any
sort of understanding between the Israeli Government and President
Arafat on how to curb this wave of violence and avert falling into the
trap of terrorism?
PRIME MINISTER RABIN: We look at the Palestinian Authority as the
authority in the areas under their control today. As I said, we have
seen lately, I will define exactly the timing, more effective coping by
the Palestinian Authority, its security forces against this kind of
terrorism. I believe you could hear the leaders of the Palestinian
Authority describe these terror acts as an attempt to undermine the
agreement we reached with the PLO and I believe that you are right, the
terror is the main obstacle to move ahead because I have to explain to
the people of Israel why instead of the peace I promise them, there is
terror. Would you buy it if you were an Israeli? They want peace to be
peace for both sides, security to both sides. Both sides have to keep
their commitments under the agreement.
QUESTION: Mr. President, recently you had a long conversation with
President Assad of Syria. My question, Mr. President, is do you find in
your mind that Syria is interested to reach an agreement with Israel or
determined to reach an agreement with Israel by elections in Israel and
the U.S. next year? Second question, do you find the Syrians eager to
conclude a separate peace between Syria and Israel or a package deal
that will include Lebanon and get the approval of the Arab League?
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: I believe that the Syrians and Pres. Assad are very
serious about reaching a peace agreement. But what you mention about
the package or no package I did not discuss with him. I am speaking
about the tracks, the Syrian track. I think it is well known that the
Lebanese will not go through with an agreement without the Syrians. But
I think Pres. Assad this time is much more relaxed, much more willing to
go through the process for one reason or another, maybe because of some
feelings that there is a good response from the Israeli side. I hope
that something could be concluded but I cannot tell if it will be before
or after the elections, this depends on the negotiations that will be
held by the end of this month.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I might add to that my expectation is that there
will be separate agreements with Israel and Syria and Israel and
Lebanon, not a package arrangement. Obviously, there is a relationship
between all four tracks, and a closer relationship between those two
tracks, but nevertheless, I would be quite confident there will be
separate agreements.
QUESTION: (In Arabic) From Israeli television, after your meeting today
with Rabin could I say that the natural relations between Israel and
Egypt are back?
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: (in Arabic) There is no problem between us and
between Israel. We cooperate so that the peace process will continue.
Any two countries in the world could have clouds appear over their
relationship but it does not shake those relations in the way that the
media dealt with it. It is only a misunderstanding between two
countries - no coldness - and the problem will be settled.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you have been exerting efforts on the Syrian-
Israeli track, can you say that there will be an agreement concluded
before the end of the year?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: That's certainly the hope, and I can say that
both parties are working very hard. I think they have a renewed sense
of the need to make progress, I think they recognize the need indeed to
accelerate. That seems to be what's happening at this time, there is a
new intensity about the negotiations. I don't think it's helpful to try
to predict an exact outcome or an particular time frame, but it's clear
the parties have a sense of the need to pick up the speed, and I
delighted that they are.
QUESTION: President Mubarak, after your talks today with Mr. Rabin and
Mr. Christopher, did you ask Mr. Christopher to play the mediator
between Egypt and Israel on the Israeli nuclear program?
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: Look, we are not seeking mediation in that sense,
we have diplomatic ties and good ties with the Israelis but such an
issue is not to be discussed with the press. We may have tackled it,
but it is not for the press.
QUESTION: What is it that you heard, Mr. President, from Pres. Assad in
Damascus you think is required from the Government of Israel to take so
as to enhance the Syrian-Israeli track?
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: I have already told now, when I answered another
question, that I didn't go through small details of the negotiations,
but I can say I felt that Pres. Assad is willing to reach an agreement
for peace. As far as there is a will there is a way.
QUESTION: What will happen if you don't make the July 1 deadline?
PRIME MINISTER RABIN: Look, I said and I will say again, it's a target
date that we will make a sincere effort to meet. I will try to explain
by giving one example how it can be done and what it might entail but I
tell you that we are committed to implement the DOP and lets not look at
it with a stopwatch but with a historic perspective. What we are doing
and what we will do and we will implement. This is the purpose. I
remember when we negotiated here in Cairo and in Taba the first phase.
It took us not three months as planned, but eight months but we achieved
it, we implemented it. And I can assure you, the second phase will be
implemented.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, stipulating what you said about the need of
Egypt and Israel to turn a new page now, why is it that you insisted
Prime Minister Rabin come to Cairo at this time when President Mubarak
has not been to Israel?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Egypt and Israel have a long history of close
relationships, here in this region. After all, it was those two
countries that signed the first peace treaty and work so close together.
When they work together in partnership, it is clear that the circle of
peace can be broadened and strengthened and so it seemed to be quite
desirable to have the two of them get together. I was coming here
today, to Cairo, as I almost always do on my trips to the Middle East to
meet with President Mubarak, if it worked out with PM Rabin to come
here, it seemed to me to be highly desirable. I'm very please he came
and they've had the very good conversation that they had.
QUESTION: But isn't it time for President Mubarak to go to Israel?
PRIME MINISTER RABIN: I didn't raise this issue with President Mubarak.
He knows that whenever he decides to come to Israel he will be welcome
and it's up to him to decide the right time.
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: To comment on that, I have no problem going to
Israel and I have said that several times. We have very good diplomatic
relations a very good atmosphere, both are very committed to the peace
process. But with such an issue, why do you make such a big fuss every
now and then? Meeting here is it better than to go to another country?
Maybe sometime I will go there to continue negotiations no problem for
me.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you have specific proposals to Damascus and
Tel Aviv to promote the Syrian-Israeli peace track in the light of an
agreement reached later on the security arrangements and what are these
proposals.?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: As you know, a framework agreement was reached
between the two countries laying out a set of general principles with
respect to the security matters. There is a commitment now for the
military leaders to meet before the end of the month in Washington to
pursue further negotiations on the very important security issues. The
U.S. will be involved in those meetings, they will be under our aegis,
we will play the usual role of assisting the parties, we will be
probing, asking questions, helping them. But as far as specific
proposals are concerned, it is really up to the two countries and their
military leaders. I think they will have very serious discussions, now
that we have the set of principles, now that the leaders can get down to
the practical aspects of the negotiations, that's where they are at the
present time. The U.S. will continue to play its role as facilitator
trying to assist the parties.
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