21 June 2003
Transcript: Powell, Abbas Discuss Security Aspects of Gaza Transfer
(Secretary of state, Palestinian prime minister meet June 20) (3500)
Secretary of State Colin Powell says he and Palestinian Authority
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas discussed practical security aspects of
transferring responsibility for Gaza from Israel to the Palestinian
Authority during their meeting in Jericho June 20.
"[I]n our conversation today, most of the time was spent not on
esoteric subjects, but on practical aspects of security: How to
arrange for the transfer of responsibility for Gaza, the details of
the transfer, what are the outstanding issues that have to be dealt
with before we can go forward with this transfer," Powell said.
The secretary of state said he assured the Palestinian prime minister
"of President Bush's strong engagement in the process, and of the
President's personal commitment to help the Palestinian people build a
better and brighter future." At the same time, he urged Abbas to seize
this "moment of opportunity" and "to move urgently ... with great
speed and deliberateness."
"[W]e don't want time to pass without action taking place, and so I
have encouraged both sides today to do everything they can to take the
steps called for in the roadmap," Powell said. "What we are trying to
achieve together is the President's goal: a viable, independent,
sovereign and democratic Palestine living in peace and security
alongside an Israel that has been fully integrated into the region,"
he said.
The transcript of the joint press conference follows:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 21, 2003
Joint Press Conference
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
Jericho Intercontinental Hotel, Jericho
June 20, 2003
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS (from Arabic): Mr. Secretary, allow me to welcome
you again to Jericho. Your presence here, for the second time in a
month, is a clear indication of the seriousness of the American
administration at the highest levels to deal with our region.
Relations between the United States and Palestine have started to take
their natural state, and we hope that they continue to improve and
strengthen, based on our shared vision of peace, democracy and
freedom. Since our last meeting here, many developments have taken
place, some of which are positive, while others are tragic.
For our part, we have started implementing the roadmap with the Aqaba
statement, and we are now ready to start taking tangible steps,
through which Palestinian and Israeli citizens will feel their
positive impact. In this context, Mr. John Wolf plays a very important
role, which will become more important as progress is achieved in the
peace process. Additionally, your upcoming meeting with the Quartet
committee will revive the international role in solving our conflict.
Also, we have embarked on a national Palestinian dialogue that stems
from our commitment to democracy as a means for our existence in
Palestine. This aims to fulfill our commitments before the Palestinian
Legislative Council and leads to a comprehensive calm. Our dialogue
with the various factions has been characterized by our seriousness
and responsibility, and we hope that we will reach a conclusion in the
near future.
However, several tragic incidents have also taken place. Since the
Aqaba summit, 47 Palestinians and 27 Israelis have been killed.
Closures have also been tightened so much so that the movement of
Palestinian civilians has become harder than at any other time. Homes
are still being demolished, and citizens are still becoming victims of
assassination and arrest. Meanwhile, settlements are being expanded.
At a time when the borders between countries are becoming less
visible, Israel is wasting no time in building a separation wall
between the Palestinians and their land. In brief, the atmosphere of
political progress that was achieved has not been translated into
tangible actions through which the Palestinian citizen can feel the
usefulness of the roadmap and the peace process.
Mr. Secretary, we are still committed to the roadmap, which we view as
one complete process that will lead us to achieve our national goals
of ending occupation that started in 1967, building our Palestinian
state with Holy Jerusalem as its capital, and reaching a just and
agreed-upon solution to the refugee issue, based on international
legitimacy. The strategic Palestinian decision to achieve its goals
through negotiations has not been changed. We will exert all of our
efforts and fulfill all of our commitment because we believe that
doing so is in our best national interests.
But in order for our efforts to succeed, Israel has to transform
itself from being an opponent to being a partner. We are on the verge
of an historic era to resolve our conflict once and for all, and,
therefore, our approach must change. The logic of confrontation has to
be replaced by the logic of peace. The Israeli actions stem out from
its hesitance to adopt the new road toward progress. We have demanded
that Israel withdraw from all of the Gaza strip and from the city of
Bethlehem as an initial step to enable us to fulfill our commitments.
We hope that Israel refrains from hindering this step by focusing on
certain details. And to demonstrate its seriousness, Israel must
release the Palestinian prisoners, lift restrictions on the movements
of citizens, stop its provocative actions, stop the building of
settlements and the separation wall, and lift its siege against
President Arafat.
We realize that embarking on any new stage will definitely be
surrounded by difficulties and concerns. But we also know that
hesitant, shy steps will not yield in any outcome. We have made our
decision and declared it before the whole world, our legislative
council and our people through our national dialogue. When Israel
decides to do the same, it will find partners in us.
Mr. Secretary, the roles of the American administration and
international community are of vital importance. As we start
implementing the roadmap, we and the Israelis will definitely look for
your much-needed assistance. We trust that you, the Quartet committee,
and the international community will not spare any effort to help
facilitate our work. Also, your presence in larger numbers and a more
significant involvement in investigation and observation will help in
resolving conflicts and will expedite the realization of favorable
results.
Sir, the task before us is hard, but the goal is noble. We are
committed because we are convinced that the peoples of this region do
not only look forward to a better future, but also to a better
present. We know that you too are committed. I have no doubt in
President Bush's seriousness. As far as the Israeli government is
concerned, I hope that its temporary concerns will not hinder its
commitment to this overall goal.
We thank you again for your efforts, and we look forward to meeting
with you again soon.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister, and I am
pleased to be back in Jericho again. [It's been] five weeks since my
last visit, and to have the chance to have a good discussion with you
and your ministers. It was a very good discussion following up on the
Sharm [el Sheikh] and Aqaba Summits, which were just a little over two
weeks ago. For his part, the Prime Minster, as he just noted,
reaffirmed his commitments made at the summit, and I assured him of
President Bush's strong engagement in the process, and of the
President's personal commitment to help the Palestinian people build a
better and brighter future. We all have work to do and the best way
forward for both the Palestinian people and the Israeli people is
decisive action toward realization of the President's vision, all of
our visions, for two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side
in peace and in security.
I am pleased that Ambassador John Wolf is here; he spent the entire
meeting with the Prime Minister and I, and he is here as the
President's envoy to help the two sides take the practical steps
necessary to move forward with the roadmap. And, he and his team will
be monitoring and promoting the performance of both sides. None of
this is easy. Both the Palestinians and Israelis need to make some
very difficult decisions and to take some hard steps.
Now is a moment of opportunity and we all must seize it. I know that
the Prime Minster wants the best for his people, as does the United
States. As the Prime Minster has said, violence and terror is not the
way to build a state. I am encouraged that the Prime Minster has
authorized his ministers to re-engage in direct talks with the
Israelis on security and other issues, and in our conversation today,
most of the time was spent not on esoteric subjects, but on practical
aspects of security: How to arrange for the transfer of responsibility
for Gaza, the details of the transfer, what are the outstanding issues
that have to be dealt with before we can go forward with this
transfer? Ambassador Wolf will be following up our discussions with
both sides.
In my talks with Prime Minster Sharon and his government today, I made
clear that Israel too has obligations. Israel must follow up on
initial steps to build confidence and to ease the daily plight of the
Palestinian people. Earlier today, Prime Minster Sharon and I
discussed all of the issues that are of so much concern to the
Palestinian people, including prisoners, removal of unauthorized
outposts, and concrete steps to improve the daily life of the
Palestinians. He understands that he has a responsibility to see that
progress is made on these issues, as well as on security. And, I think
as we move forward and down the path laid out by the roadmap, and as
both sides take that strong action that I mentioned earlier, we can
see additional progress in these areas of improving life and
conditions of life for the Palestinian people and allowing the people
of Israel to feel a sense of security.
We have to move urgently, we have to move with great speed and
deliberateness. It has been only two weeks since the Aqaba Summit, but
we don't want time to pass without action taking place, and so I have
encouraged both sides today to do everything they can to take the
steps called for in the roadmap. What we are trying to achieve
together is the President's goal: a viable, independent, sovereign and
democratic Palestine living in peace and security alongside an Israel
that has been fully integrated into the region. All around us are
extremists who want to block our path. We saw another terrorist attack
today, which we condemn, and our condolences go out to the families of
the victims. We must not allow terrorists to win. The President has
committed the United States to helping us move forward, and I am
pleased that Prime Minister Abbas is committed to working with us, all
of us working together in the cause of peace. Thank you Mr. Prime
Minister.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS (from Arabic): Thank you.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary of State Colin Powell, what are the American
guarantees for implementing the roadmap? And on another issue, why do
you concentrate on the security of Israeli citizens while ignoring the
security of Palestinian citizens?
SECRETARY POWELL: The President has expressed his total commitment and
the commitment of his government to help with implementation of the
roadmap. That is why Ambassador Wolf is here. That is why a team is
being created under Ambassador Wolf to monitor. And through our
monitoring activities, through our brokering activities, serving as
friends of both sides, we in fact provide something of a guarantee to
what is happening, and both sides can have some assurance of
performance as a result of Ambassador Wolf's efforts, the efforts of
the other members of the American diplomatic team in Tel Aviv and in
Jerusalem.
I mourn for all who have lost their lives during this terrible period.
I am as concerned about the mourning family of a Palestinian as the
mourning family of an Israeli. They are all human beings, all God's
children. And America is trying to do everything it can to solve this
crisis so that there will be no more mourning. And the only way to do
that is to get the terror, and the violence, under control so that
response is not in any way justified or called for, and to find a way
to move through this peacefully.
And one of the first steps in the roadmap process is to find a way to
transfer responsibility in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority so that
people can see the Palestinian Authority under the new leadership of
Prime Minister Abbas take responsibility for the welfare of its own
people. And demonstrate to the region that they are capable of putting
in place the security and dealing with terrorist acts. And with that
kind of step, then I think Israel is prepared to take additional steps
in the roadmap and the United States is in a position to help both
sides move forward.
QUESTION (Arshad Mohammad, Reuters): Prime Minister Abbas, how much if
any, progress do you feel you have made in seeking to negotiate a
ceasefire with Hamas and other militant groups? And Secretary Powell,
given your conversations today, what is your assessment of how near or
far such cease-fire agreements may be?
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS (from Arabic): You know that we started a long
time ago an internal national dialogue between us and the Palestinian
organizations. Our Egyptian friends have participated in these efforts
that we have exerted over the last eight months. These efforts have
continued throughout this period, both in Cairo and in Gaza. In the
last few days, we have held talks in Gaza. We can say that all of the
Palestinian factions realize their high responsibility toward our
national issues. They realize the need for reaching a solution that
will relieve our people and help achieve their ambitions and hopes of
establishing a Palestinian state and resolving other problems
concerning: the current status of the prisoners, the daily lives of
people, ceasing settlement activities and the separation wall erected
on Palestinian land to divide us and the Israelis. The people are
concerned with all of these issues and would like to see a peaceful
settlement for all of them. I feel the desire of the people's need for
peaceful solutions of these issues and therefore, I am highly
confident that we will reach an agreement with all these factions.
SECRETARY POWELL: Not being party to these discussions, I wouldn't
speculate on whether or not they will be successful, and if
successful, how long will it take to achieve that success. Our focus
is on the roadmap process and the particular focus today is moving as
rapidly as we can to dealing with the situation in Gaza and Bethlehem,
I might add, and I think that would be a very, very powerful and
important first step -- if we can do that first step from where we are
now. And I think that if we can do that, and the people in Gaza can
see life return to the strip and their own authority in charge, then I
think it would give them confidence that organizations such as Hamas
and other terrorist organizations perhaps do not have the right answer
and that the right answer is the roadmap and moving forward toward
peace. We should not in any way hold that activity hostage to what
might or might not be happening in the cease-fire, as they are called,
discussions.
And even if those discussions prove fruitful, we really have to get to
a point, as the Prime Minister has said on more than one occasion,
we're the only ones with guns and military force and any nation has to
be the government under legal control and not an illegal capability,
whether it s being used or not, being allowed to exist.
QUESTION (from Arabic): Mr. Prime Minister Abbas, have guarantees been
provided to you concerning the issue of stopping assassinations
against Palestinian activists?
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS (from Arabic): We know that in order to calm the
situation on the Palestinian side, it is of extreme importance that
the Israeli side stop all assassinations, raids, demolitions of homes
and other provocative actions that, if they persist, will resurrect
the cycle of violence. Therefore, when we ask our people to work
towards achieving calm, and when we say that our people are ready for
calm, the Israeli side has to show that it, too, is ready to stop all
of these actions. And without an Israeli desire, willingness and
seriousness in achieving this, I don t think the situation will
stabilize in the future.
QUESTION: Mr. Prime Minister, as you hold your discussions with Hamas,
what are the outstanding issues regarding security in Gaza, and are
you discussing some sort of transformation of Hamas into a political
organization that might be one day part of a broader Palestinian
government?
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS (from Arabic): We have said that calm in Gaza
must include all aspects of life. There should be no actions except
those leading to a full calm and peace. We have also said in regards
to our commitment in front of the legislative council and elsewhere
that there must be one Palestinian Authority and one law along with
political diversity based on clear democratic foundations. This is
what we have told Hamas and other factions and all our people. I
believe that our people are looking forward to the fulfillment of
these ambitions.
QUESTION: Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Secretary, if you reach a cease-fire
with Hamas, Mr. Prime Minister, we understand from Palestinian sources
that you would then perhaps offer them some role, some part in your
government, and your administration. Is this correct, and if so, Mr.
Secretary, how do you feel about that?
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS (from Arabic): We have told all the Palestinian
factions that they can practice their political freedom in accordance
with their political ideologies, but in a democratic fashion. And when
we will have Palestinian elections, which should be very soon, God
willing, after Israel withdraws from all of the areas occupied on
September 28, 2000, then there will be an effective Palestinian
participation from all parties, organizations and factions. Then,
every person will have the right to participate, or not to
participate, in the government as long as the opposition will be based
on democratic means.
SECRETARY POWELL: The Prime Minister answered it in a way that did not
leave a dangling hook. But the bottom line is that we would expect
that, as the Prime Minister said, anybody participating in public
life, in the state of Palestine, the government of, the people of
Palestine, would be individuals and organizations that are firmly
committed to democracy, to the rule of law, and not to terrorism, and
not to having armed components that are committed to terrorism or are
a threat to the nation. And that essentially is what the Prime
Minister said, and I agree with it. But right now, Hamas is committed
to terror and celebrates the terrorist attacks we are seeing. And it
is no longer possible to separate one part of Hamas out from another
part of Hamas. That is why I believe the entire international
community must speak out strongly against the activities of Hamas. It
is hypothetical to speculate about what some future organization might
look like. The organization that we are dealing with today, right now,
has not demonstrated, in my judgment, that it is a partner for peace.
(INAUDIBLE QUESTIONS)
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you have spoken of the Israeli commitment to
dismantling the settlement outposts, but the roadmap also calls for
freezing settlement activity. What understanding has the
administration reached with the Israelis on that provision of the
roadmap? Specifically, has an understanding been reached that Israel
would allow -- would not allow for construction beyond existing
building areas or marked fence lines and that no more land would be
confiscated for construction? In other words, that settlements may
grow higher, but not wider?
SECRETARY POWELL: Certainly, the unauthorized outposts have been dealt
with, and they are starting to take them down. Of course, there are
some legal challenges to some of the remaining outposts which will
have to be dealt with. The President has said clearly that he wants
settlement activity ended, and that includes the creation of new
settlements. And there is an ongoing debate as to what the constraints
are within existing settlements. We are continuing to have discussions
with the Israelis as to what that means and whether it is acceptable
or whether it constitutes the right move down the roadmap toward peace
or not. But I don t have specific details that I am prepared to share
at this time.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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