Remarks by Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright And
Foreign Minister of Egypt Amre Moussa
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt October 5,
2000
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: As you see, the talks between President
Mubarak and the Secretary and then the president and President
Arafat, the Secretary and members of the three delegations, has
been a lengthy meeting as a follow up for the meetings that took
place yesterday in Paris. We were on the phone almost the whole
night, from 11:00 until 4 oiclock in the morning -- one or two
hours before we boarded the plane to Sharm el Sheikh and perhaps
minutes before the Secretary boarded her plane to come here.
The situation is indeed serious in the territories-- in the
occupied territories-- and the atmosphere is getting worse, which
does not help the peace process. However, we are sure that
working together with the American sponsor of the peace process,
with us, and with the Europeans would at the end save the process
and restore calm. But this requires that all provocative
actions-- such as the one that Sharon undertook and caused all
the repercussions and sad events in the territories-- we need
those kinds of provocative actions to cease (inaudible) and not
to be repeated. We need the talks to resume. We need a fair
settlement to be achieved. There is agreement on this plan by
all of us. I wish to welcome the Secretary -- Secretary
Madeleine Albright -- and to tell her that we were impressed by
her determination and persistence to move ahead to save the
process. You have the floor maiam.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Thank you very much, Mr. Foreign Minister,
and good afternoon. I am very pleased to be back in Sharm and to
have had this opportunity to consult with President Mubarak and
Foreign Minister Moussa and to have a trilateral meeting with
Chairman Arafat. During my last visit to this beautiful place in
September, it was the middle of the night. So, it is very nice
to actually be able to see it and to have the opportunity again,
as we did then, to work with President Mubarak. At that stage we
worked together closely to help the Israelis and Palestinians
reach the Sharm el Sheikh Agreement. Egypt and the United States
will continue to work as partners in the common goal of an
Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
As all of you know, I have just arrived from Paris where I
engaged in a series of intensive bilateral and trilateral
meetings with Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Barak. In
recent days, the Palestinians and Israelis have gone through an
extremely volatile and tragic period. There have been too many
funerals, too much sorrow, too many tears shed and too many lives
shattered. A way must be found to put an end to the bloodshed,
the violence, the victims and the pain. I offer my personal
condolences to the families of all those who have lost loved
ones. This cannot be the future for the Palestinians and the
Israelis.
Yesterdayis meetings were designed to try to break the tragic
cycle of recent days and to begin to make the difficult
transition from the psychology of confrontation to the psychology
of peace making. This will not be an easy journey, but Prime
Minister Barak and Chairman Arafat made clear to me their
commitment to find a way out of the tragic circumstances in which
they are now caught up. Both leaders have agreed that they will
work actively to end the violence, maintain calm, and to ensure
that there is no recurrence. They have each issued orders to
ensure these objectives are met and it is essential to see a new
reality created on the ground.
For our part, President Clinton has already announced that the
parties have agreed that the United States will chair a
trilateral security committee to facilitate the process of
security cooperation. CIA Director Tenet took part in the Paris
discussions and will remain involved in this effort. The two
leaders also agreed that there is no place in the peace process
for violence and that negotiations are the only way to achieve
their objectives.
Clearly the road to a permanent status agreement will be
extremely difficult, but the negotiations at Camp David created a
unique opportunity to end conflict, and that opportunity must not
be lost. Both leaders agree that they want to accelerate that
process in an effort to determine whether the gaps can be
bridged. President Clinton and I will do everything possible to
assist the Israelis and Palestinians in their efforts and,
working closely with President Mubarak and Foreign Minister
Moussa, we can hopefully move forward toward a permanent status
agreement. We know how important it is to build a bridge from
where we are to where we need to be. In that regard there needs
to be a fact-finding committee that looks at causes of this
crisis, what went wrong and how we can ensure that it never
happens again. We discussed some ideas and we will continue to
work on that subject.
QUESTION: Mrs. Albright, we would have expected the immediate
goal of the United States, as a supposedly unbiased mediator and
superpower, to protect the children --probably dying as we speak
-- as your main target. For Mr. Moussa, I would like to know
what is Egypt doing to help the peace process?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I believe that the United States is doing
everything we can to make sure that calm is restored. I worked
intensively yesterday and got a trilateral meeting together that
was a very important element in this, and a commitment from both
the leaders to do everything they can to lessen the violence. I
believe that todayis events show that there is some movement in
this direction. We obviously have to watch events on the ground
very carefully, but the United States is an honest negotiator and
mediator and we will continue to play that role, because I
believe that we have a unique opportunity that needs to followed
through.
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: I just want to say that to resume the
peace process or for the peace process to continue, we need an
atmosphere that is conducive to such talks. The prevailing
atmosphere is really poisoned and thatis why we have called for
-- indeed urged -- the establishment of a commission of inquiry--
an international one-- in order for the world to be sure that
such actions would never happen again. Weive all been not only
upset but angry because of what we have seen on TV: children
killed, civilians shot at, houses demolished. This is something
that we cannot accept and cannot but militate in favor of
confrontation rather than in favor of peace and negotiations. We
are all interested in this and in peace and in a fair peace-- it
cannot be but a fair peace in order for us to be able to move
ahead and really promote peace. Therefore, Egypt is ready to
help, but help achieving a fair peace. It has to be a fair and
balanced one.
QUESTION: You two spoke of a need of a fact finding commission
rather like Mary Robinsonis (inaudible). What kind of commission
are you looking for and is there a point to be served by having
an international body condemn Israelis actions? This would seem
to be what most people would want to see happen here. In fact,
the Egyptian Foreign Minister says that Sharon is the cause of it
all, so I donit know what facts have to be found. What kind of
commission does the U.S. want to see?
SECRETARYALBRIGHT: Let me say this, that we have received some
ideas from the Egyptians and we will discuss these and other
ideas and we will be working on coming up with an acceptable
approach to all sides.
I think the important point here is that we need to focus on what
is happening on the ground to make sure that commitments that the
leaders made to each other in front of me yesterday are followed
through, that this cycle of violence be ended, that the proper
atmosphere be restored so that the peace process can move
forward. I believe that the best thing to do here is to focus on
getting -- that we are really operating on three levels -- that
we have to make sure that there is calm, that the violence stops,
that there be a way that the fact-finding commission of some kind
that is acceptable be able to go forward, and most importantly,
that we can return to the peace process. Anything that detracts
from moving forward in that direction, I think, is counter
productive.
QUESTION: With all that happened, does it make any difference to
you as Americans to let the Palestinians control this mosque in
the future?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think the important point here is to end
the violence and get to the peace process. There are a number of
ideas on the subject and it is important to work all these issues
out. There are a number of permanent status issues, this is
clearly an important issue. The point now is that it is
impossible to follow through and have a useful discussion in this
kind of atmosphere. Violence has to stop and confrontation has
to stop and I think we need to move forward and think about the
future. We want, the United States, with the help of Egypt,
wants to move forward.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, given the deteriorating situation
and the difficulties between the Israelis and Palestinians, do
you think the whole situation in the Middle East is going out of
control and we are going to see a wave of instability in the
region?
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: (switching from Arabic to English in
answer to above question): We are all angry, very angry, for what
took place and the shooting of the children, and all the very,
very dangerous attitudes bringing back memories of the recent
past. We thought we were moving ahead toward a peaceful
coexistence and a climate of peace. There will be a meeting of
the foreign ministers of the Arab League in two weeks time and I
understand that Iraq (inaudible). What we need to bring the
parties back to the negotiating table.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Can I make the following point in response to
what you asked me? I think that it is very important to focus on
what actually happened yesterday. We had a trilateral meeting
for almost six hours, in which there were not polemical
statements. There was, I think, a genuine putting on the table
of what the problems were by both sides and I found it a
remarkable and a productive meeting. I think we need to keep
that in mind. That even as the problems were created and exist,
that at that time we were able to have what I truly think was a
remarkable session. As a result of that session, the leaders, in
front of me, said they would follow through on a series of
security arrangements -- and they are. This morningis situation
in the area needs to be watched very carefully to see if the
progress made this morning is actually real progress. We will
watch it very carefully. But I think it would be a genuine
mistake if the focus today is on confrontation without thinking
of the remarkable aspect of yesterdayis meeting --trilateral --
that had not happened before -- for six hours in which views were
exchanged, problems were discussed without polemics.
QUESTION: Why, if this meeting was successful was Mr. Barak not
here? The second question is that you say we need to stop
violence, but who is committing the violence? We have over 60
Palestinians killed, so thereis parties killing them.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Let me say the following thing: I think that
we need -- the success of yesterdayis meeting was the fact that
they had made certain commitments and we have to watch what is
happening on the ground. Prime Minister Barak can speak for
himself. But I think, from my perspective, we had an important
and successful meeting. The United States has made it very clear
that the violence has got to stop and that we need to have a
different atmosphere. That is what is has to happen here and we
have to keep our mind and our eye on that.
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: Answering your question, yes, indeed,
when President Mubarak invited Prime Minister Barak to this
meeting it was with a view to help the peace process and bring
together the parties, in addition to the sponsor and ourselves,
in a serious attempt to move ahead and to deal with the causes of
the prevailing situation in the occupied territories. First
point was to decide -- all of us -- such a visit by Mr. Sharon
must not happen again, by Sharon or any other official or
non-official, because of the seriousness of the situation and the
provocative action that has led us -- we have all seen -- has
triggered the sad events which took place recently. In addition
to the fact that I believe firmly in what has been said, that who
was responsible for all the violence, after all those people that
have died or have been killed on the Palestinian side. This was
an excessive use of force. And in fact, the forces of occupation
aggressing against people who were reacting to a very strong
provocation, a very serious provocation, by a former Minister,
who is Sharon. That I just wanted to add that. As for the
absence of Mr. Barak, the invitation was to him to participate in
those efforts. And Egypt is open to all those who want to help
peace. If anyone does not want to participate he is free to do
that.
QUESTION: There are reports that Israeli tanks are pulling back
at key flashpoints, do you take that as an indication that the
situation on the ground is in fact changing? And Madame
Secretary, the federal Yugoslav court has announced that the
presidential elections are annulled and that it will re-run them
in the middle of next year. What does that say about the future
of President Milosevic?
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: First, we hope very much that the
withdrawal of tanks from the Palestinian territories is seriously
taking place, which would help, but it remains to be seen. After
the formation of commission of inquiry, it will tell us what
exactly happened and why were the tanks there, and against who
have they moved the tanks there - - against children, against
women, against who. Were there tanks on the other side?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: According to reports, there have been some
movements back from the flashpoints and I consider that something
that needs to be watched very carefully. We need to understand
what the effect of having this long, intense, trilateral meeting
was and we will continue to watch it carefully, because it is our
hope and expectation that the commitments made to each other will
be followed through. Now, on the question of Yugoslavia, let me
say this, it is very evident to us that an absolute majority of
the Yugoslav people voted for Mr. Kostunica for president. I
think that this is another way to thwart the will of those people
and they should not be asked to wait another year in order to be
able to exist within a democratic Yugoslavia. The people of
Yugoslavia have made their will known. Milosevic should not
thwart them.
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: Two more short last questions.
QUESTION: For Egyptian TV, Madame Secretary, donit you think
that Sharonis visit to the Haram wall was the only reason the
violence escalated between the Israeli and Palestinians and that
the best way to stop the violence is the Israeli admission of the
Palestinian rights in eastern Jerusalem?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: You all make statements as if they were
facts and I donit accept that. I believe that Sharonis visit was
counterproductive and a mistake. Iive said that and that is what
I think. But the additional way which you are editorializing on
this I donit accept.
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: The last one is from a very friendly
Palestinian journalist.
QUESTION: You talked about the tears, the funerals and sorrows
of the people. This, I believe, were coming only from the
Palestinian side. More than 60 funerals took place. My question
is that it seems that the proposal offered to Mr. Arafat was in
no way acceptable to reach an agreement -- whatis been offered
cannot be accepted or take place. Madam Secretary, what is your
comment on that?
SECRETARYALBRIGHT: First of all, it is very important to know
that the leaders agreed to certain security measures that were
acceptable to both of them. I said in my statement that I
regret the deaths and Prime Minister Barak made very clear
yesterday that he also did and he said that to Chairman Arafat.
FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: Any question from the American side?
QUESTION: Whatis next?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think what we have to do is to try to get
some calm restored there and to make sure that the commitments
are carried forward. As I said, Mr. Tenet is prepared to be a
part of the discussions there.
The President last October 1st made some statements in which he
said that we were prepared to help. I will read you this
statement:
The President called on both sides to exert maximum efforts to
restore calm immediately and Prime Minister Barak and Chairman
Arafat agree that as soon as conditions permit, the United States
will chair a meeting of Israeli and Palestinian security
officials for the purpose of fact finding and to prevent a
recurrence of the events of the past few days.
We are expecting that. I have also made quite clear -- as has
the President -- that the United States is prepared to continue
to be as helpful as we can on getting the peace process back on
track. The calm has to be restored to do that. So, we watch the
events on the ground very carefully and we will continue to work
with both sides, with the assistance of the Egyptians, to make
sure that the process moves forward.
Thank you. (# # #)
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