State Department Noon Briefing, October 31, 2000
Q: While people are coming, will you have a Palestinian coming by
sometime soon?
MR. BOUCHER: We have, as you know, Acting Israeli Foreign Minister on
Wednesday. We will see -- have the Palestinian visitors later in the
week, towards the end of the week. I think the lead on that is going
to be Mr. Saeb Erakat.
Q: While we're at it --
Q: Towards the end of the week, then?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes.
Q: He's kind of signed up for that? I mean, he's told you he's coming?
MR. BOUCHER: We expect a Palestinian representative to come to
Washington later this week, yes.
Q: While we're at it, they're fairly high level. The original notion
at Sharm of having sort of lower level officials come here to talk
about maybe restarting talks, and then of course you have that
fact-finding -- not to be naïve about it -- I mean, should I ask you
if those two things are still on the scope someplace?
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah. The agenda, I think, is basically the Sharm el
Sheikh agenda is continuing discussions on how to implement that
agenda. As you know, we have said the most crucial thing at this
moment is for the parties to implement the commitments of Sharm el
Sheikh and to try to get back on track by implementing those
commitments and carrying out the agreements. So it's an opportunity
for us to discuss with them the current situation, explore ways that
the parties can act to meet their commitments of Sharm el Sheikh, and
to discuss all the items that were on that agenda, including steps to
calm the violence, the fact-finding commission, and ways to look for a
path back to the peace process.
Q: But, Richard, this isn't exactly what was envisioned at Sharm; this
is something different.
MR. BOUCHER: No, not exactly.
Q: I mean, what had been envisioned there was they would actually only
be -- there would be no violence now and that they would be simply
discussing how to restart the peace process, right?
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, we still have the other items on our agenda as well
because the calm has not been restored, the cycle of violence has
continued. And we think, as we have said repeatedly, the crucial thing
is for the parties to take steps that will end the cycle of violence,
and the best way to do that is to implement the commitments they made
at Sharm.
Q: Following the Sharm meeting -- this is a couple weeks ago -- Arafat
issued two written statements regarding the violence. Does that
satisfy at this point -- it seems to be a still live issue, at least
from the Israeli side -- the commitment to condemn the violence?
MR. BOUCHER: It's not scorecard day today, either. We have made quite
clear we think that there is a lot that both of the parties need to do
to implement the commitments from Sharm el Sheikh. I'm not going to
start with a checklist of saying he's done this, he hasn't done that,
he's done this, he hasn't done that. Both Prime Minister Barak and
Chairman Arafat agreed at that time to take concrete steps to end the
violence, ease restrictions on movement of people and goods, and take
steps to disengage in terms of the security situation. We still think
it's critical that the parties take those steps. We think that's the
right framework; those are the right steps; and it's really critical
that both of the parties move to implement those commitments seriously
and immediately.
Q: The Secretary seemed to find more fault in one of her TV
appearances, last night I guess, with the Palestinian side than with
the Israeli side. And, you know, there have been so many hours since
then. Has she or you noted, or anybody in the building noted, any
difference in -- if you look at some of the things Arafat has said
now? Do you see him as being receptive to her appeals?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: You know, once again, she was asked to comment.
The President commented the other day quite clearly on some statements
that have been made and some things that we felt ought to be done.
Once again, the important point is that both sides have things that
they should do. The Secretary and the President have been quite clear
when they thought that Chairman Arafat's statements in particular were
not being helpful. But there's the best way to reduce the tensions,
the most expeditious means of achieving this end to the violence is
for all the parties, both the parties, to implement all their
commitments.
....
Q: And more on the Middle East. Did Ms. Ashrawi have any meetings in
this building either today or yesterday? And will Mr. Erakat bring Mr.
Dahlan with him when he comes?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have a full list of the Palestinians who might be
coming. I think that, again, the representative is Saeb Erakat, and
we'll see who may or may not be coming with him.
I am not aware of any meetings that Hanan Ashrawi might have had, but
I'll check on that.
Q: You said might be coming. You're sure that Erakat is coming but not
sure about who else might be coming?
MR. BOUCHER: That's what I said.
Q: Did you say -- and can you say whether those are Thursday or
Friday?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I can't say yet when the meetings will be.
Q: She said a couple of things that she has said before --
MR. BOUCHER: I'm sorry --
Q: I'm sorry, I'm interrupting --
MR. BOUCHER: Is she here in an official capacity? Is she here as a
representative?
Q: Indeed, that's a good question. It's been -- she has been the
spokeswoman, she hasn't been the spokeswoman, and as far as my
organization is concerned she is the sometimes spokeswoman. She is a
legislator, but she is here all the time on TV, and others are glad to
put her on. And she has appeared twice already this week.
And I was about to say she said two things she has said before when
things are not doing too well, or when the process isn't doing too
well. One is that the US is one-sided. She obviously means tilted
toward Israel. And a refrain you're hearing more of these days that
others ought to be brought in besides the United States, as was France
and Russia and other even-handed European countries.
Does the US need any help, or would it welcome the French and the
Russians and the Chinese and I don't know who else?
MR. BOUCHER: Barry, look, we've dealt with this question a dozen
times. There is 1001 commentators on the Middle East from all sides
that have lots of things to say. They provide grist for the newspaper
business, for the television business, and even for the wire services.
But I have to say in terms of official US policy, we have explained US
policy. We believe we have a central role. We believe we have many
partners. We talked about it a lot when we went to Sharm el Sheikh. We
have talked about it subsequently. So I really don't have anything new
on that subject to say, and I'm really not going to get in the
business of commenting on everything that any commentator might say.
....
Q: Do you have any specific comment on the latest helicopter attack on
Fatah buildings, and whether you consider this to be proportionate
response?
MR. BOUCHER: I think the only thing that I can do in that regard is to
repeat that it is very important that the sides take steps to stop the
violence. The Secretary has made quite clear we're deeply troubled by
the violence. We have called on both sides to disengage and lessen the
violence. She has also said this is a huge tragedy.
The President and the Secretary are indeed doing everything they can
to get the parties to reengage and return to discussions on the peace
process. In the end, it's up to the leaders on both sides to make the
hard decisions and take the necessary steps that will make the peace
process possible in the end. We remain very committed to doing this,
but they are the ones that need to act to end the violence, make
possible the return to negotiations. So we continue to encourage them
to do so for the sake of their communities and for the sake of their
citizens.
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