State Dept. Noon Briefing, November 13, 2000
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
BRIEFER: Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2000 1:45 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
Q: On the Islamic Conference. Saudi Arabia, long described as a
moderate, supported Iran - in fact joined with Iran - in calling on
Muslim countries with ties with Israel to end them. Has the US said
anything to its good friends in Saudi Arabia?
MR. REEKER: Well, I have seen a number of reports and heard a number
of reports on various comments that have come out of Doha where the
Islamic Conference has been taking place. I am just not in a position
to comment on specific reports of comments that people may or may not
have seen or been able to look at at this point.
But as you know, Barry, we have repeatedly called upon both parties
and all the regional leaders involved to avoid words and actions which
escalate confrontation or fuel tensions in the region. We certainly
have said that repeatedly. Our focus continues to be on practical
steps that can change the situation on the ground, end the violence,
restore calm and move forward towards peace. And so we would, as we
have in the past, encourage regional leaders to do what they can also
to encourage these steps and not to do anything which would help
contribute to the continuing cycle of confrontation there.
Q: And the Palestinian Yasser Arafat proclaimed a continuation of the
Jihad against Israel. Does the US have any comment on that?
MR. REEKER: Again, as Ambassador Boucher has indicated, I just am not
able to go into a minute-by-minute, play-by-play reaction to this. I
don't have a lot to add to I think what was briefed to you following
meetings after Prime Minister Barak was here yesterday. We will
continue to work with both sides to implement the Sharm commitments --
ending the violence, returning to the political process. Obviously it
is up to the parties themselves to make peace. We can do all we can
but, in the end, it is going to be up to the parties themselves.
In terms of Chairman Arafat, you will recall that he met with
President Clinton and Secretary Albright on Thursday afternoon. They
had a full discussion of the current situation, discussed how to end
the violence, get back to the political process. The Secretary met
again, as you know, with Chairman Arafat at his hotel later on
Thursday, and at that time Chairman Arafat assured the President of
his continued commitment to reaching a negotiated settlement.
Q: They discussed ending the violence. Arafat is committed to reaching
a negotiated settlement. That leaves something out. Is our Arafat
committed to ending the violence? And is it expressed in his calling
for a Jihad yesterday in Doha?
MR. REEKER: Again, Barry, I am just not going to get into the
back-and-forth of whatever it was that was expressed on one thing.
Q: It's not back-and-forth. The man called for a Jihad. I'm not asking
for a play-by-play, minute-by-minute. I'm not asking for a laundry
list, I'm not asking you for a blow-by-blow. All the clichés out the
window, all the devices used to duck a straight answer don't apply. He
made a statement. Does the State Department have anything to say about
the statement?
MR. REEKER: I don't even have any specifics on that statement for you,
Barry. We are going to continue to work with both sides and work to
implement - to help encourage implementation of the Sharm el Sheikh
agreements, what the parties agreed to to end the violence and try to
return to the political process.
Q: Is the United States currently undertaking any efforts to arrange
for a three-way summit?
MR. REEKER: I am not aware of any.
Q: Are there any plans for anybody in the Administration to travel to
the region to continue the efforts as you have described them? And in
that connection, might that be along with any US officials traveling
to the funeral later this week?
MR. REEKER: I do expect US officials obviously to travel for the
funeral of Leah Rabin. I refer you to the Secretary's statement made
yesterday about that tragic death, but I don't have anything to
announce in terms of who those officials would be. That would come
from the White House, and I would expect that sometime this afternoon
there would be something on that, who will be traveling in that
capacity.
Q: Are any of those officials staying for talks after the funeral?
MR. REEKER: Not that I am aware of, but obviously once we have an idea
of who is going, the potential for some sort of conversation there,
but I don't believe we are looking at that as the focus of travel.
Obviously the focus is to attend the funeral services.
Q: Can I get back to this - Elaine's question about the summit?
Yasser Arafat said on Thursday, I believe, that that's why he had come
to the United States, was to talk with the President about whether a
three-way summit could be reached. So there are no - there's been no
discussions about a three-way summit?
MR. REEKER: I don't know what was discussed and briefed to you
following the meetings Thursday or the meetings Sunday, but I am not
aware of any plans for a three-way summit. That just isn't something
that has come across --
Q: The briefer said last night there was no discussion at Barak's
meeting with the President of a summit.
MR. REEKER: Precisely. Anything else?
(The briefing was concluded at 2:25 P.M.)
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