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28 January 2005

U.S. Envoy Encouraged by Visit With Israeli, Palestinian Leaders

State's Burns says both sides serious about advancing peace efforts

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns said he felt encouraged by his visit to the Middle East, and said he sensed that both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships have “a degree of seriousness and a sense of purpose” that will allow movement on efforts to achieve peace.

Speaking in Jerusalem January 28 with BBC Radio, Burns said, “There is a real sense of urgency here -- on the part of the United States and, increasingly I think, on the part of the parties themselves.”

The assistant secretary said both sides are committed to the road map for peace that will lead to a two-state solution, which includes the building of mutual trust and confidence as well as the obligations to be performed by both sides.

Burns said the Palestinians must make clear their commitment to resolve the conflict peacefully and to act on the understanding voiced by Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas that violence has “done an enormous amount to undermine the legitimate political aspirations of Palestinians.”

“As the Palestinians show seriousness with regard to security -- and they clearly are beginning to do that -- it’s going to be essential for the Israelis to act as well, particularly to ease closures, restrictions, freedom of movement for Palestinians,” he said. 

He said the United States is determined to play a “critically important” role in encouraging progress and will “demonstrate over time our commitment to this process.”

Following is the transcript of Assistant Secretary Burn’s remarks:

(begin transcript)

BBC RADIO WORLD SERVICE INTERVIEW
WITH ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NEAR EAST AFFAIRS
WILLIAM BURNS

JERUSALEM
JANUARY 28, 2005

American Consulate General, Jerusalem
Public Affairs Section

JAMES REYNOLDS: Ambassador William Burns, you’ve been here meeting both sides.  How is your visit going?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WILLIAM BURNS: My main impression is one of encouragement.  I think there is, as many people have said, a moment of opportunity before us.  But what struck me most is the seriousness of both President Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon about taking advantage of this moment of opportunity.  That is reflected in the specific steps that the Palestinians are taking now on security and that, I believe, the Israelis are prepared to take to try and sustain that momentum.

REYNOLDS: I understand that the new Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be coming here.  Do you know when that is?

BURNS: Some time in the very near future, within the next couple weeks, I believe.

REYNOLDS: She’s been here before, of course, as National Security Advisor.  She was here in June 2003 and that was when the international peace plan, the roadmap, was getting started.  At the time, President Bush said that the Americans would ride herd on the two sides here, but when the violence returned just a few weeks later, the U.S. backed off, its special envoy left town, and the process collapsed.  So, this time around, some people ask, can anyone trust a White House that pulls out of this conflict when life gets difficult?

BURNS: The President is quite determined and Secretary Rice is quite determined to try and take advantage of this moment of opportunity.  All of us have had frustrations and disappointments in the past.  Not least have been the frustrations and disappointments that Palestinians and Israelis have had to cope with themselves.  What I sense here is a degree of seriousness and a sense of purpose on the part of both leaderships that is going to allow and create some room to maneuver and some room for movement.  The United States’ role in encouraging that is going to be critically important and we’re determined to play it. 

REYNOLDS: You talk about the seriousness of each side here.  Ariel Sharon plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip -- that’s his disengagement plan.  And then after that, he said publicly that he wants to return to the roadmap -- that plan which didn’t get anywhere in 2003.  Do you believe him?

BURNS: I believe that there is a commitment on the part of both sides to the roadmap.  The roadmap makes clear that the destination of this process is a two-state solution.  And it makes clear that you have to create a foundation and build trust between the parties in order to bring that about.  It makes clear that both sides have obligations that are going to have to be performed.  As the Palestinians show seriousness with regard to security -- and they clearly are beginning to do that -- it’s going to be essential for the Israelis to act as well, particularly to ease closures, restrictions, freedom of movement for Palestinians. 

REYNOLDS: Just still on the Israeli side if I may.  Let’s look at Ariel Sharon’s roadmap track record.  In 2004 -- it’s the first step, it’s there in the beginning part of the plan -- Ariel Sharon was obliged to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth; stop building homes on occupied land.  But, he never did so, and the United States never made him stop.  Despite saying that he should stop time and time again.  So, this time, in 2005, why should anyone believe the American and the Israeli assertions about the roadmap?

BURNS: Well, I think what we are going to have to see are results that begin to build people’s confidence.  What we’re beginning to see, what is encouraging, are steps by the Palestinians.  We’re beginning to see -- not just the rhetoric but I think you’ll see it in actions as well -- an Israeli recognition of the significance of those steps and the importance of them investing in this process too.  And the United States will demonstrate over time our commitment to this process.  That's easy for me to say; the challenge is going to be to demonstrate this in performance. 

REYNOLDS: What will you do if the Israelis or the Palestinians don’t go along with the process? Because what we’ve seen in the last few years is that there is clearly no punishment apart from U.S. withdrawal. 

BURNS: Well, I think the punishment is one which Palestinians and Israelis have in a sense inflicted on themselves.  I think the punishment is the loss of hope that both peoples have faced.  It’s the daily humiliations and the extraordinarily difficult conditions the Palestinians face under occupation, and a sense of insecurity that many many ordinary Israelis have had to face.  I believe that both parties now are beginning to move in a more hopeful direction.  That is not going to be self-sustaining.  It is going to require the active engagement of the United States, and that is what you are going to see. 

REYNOLDS: What does the United States think about Mahmoud Abbas?

BURNS: President Abbas, first, ought to be proud of the way in which the Palestinian elections took place.  That is something of which all Palestinians, I think, can be proud.  As we’ve said, we’ve been very encouraged by the steps that President Abbas has taken and is continuing to take on security and in other areas to restore law and order and to establish the fact that the Palestinian Authority really is the authority of the Palestinians. 

REYNOLDS: You talk about the security steps.  Mr. Abbas said in his campaign that part of his aim of stopping violence is to co-opt some of the armed groups into the security forces and to include Hamas in the political process.  Do you go along with that?

BURNS: I think that the political process that’s unfolding for Palestinians is one that does hold out some hope . . . that includes Presidential elections, as mentioned before, and the parliamentary elections scheduled for July.  What’s essential is that Palestinians and Palestinian groups make clear their commitment to a peaceful political resolution of differences, and act on the understanding that President Abbas has made clear that violence has done an enormous amount to undermine the legitimate political aspirations of Palestinians.

REYNOLDS: For the moment, things are going well.  Palestinian security forces have deployed, the Israeli Defense Minister has said there will be an end to what he calls proactive operations in the Gaza Strip, and you, Mr. Ambassador, are here.  What happens down the line, in a few weeks or a few months, when things aren’t going well? Will you be back here? Will there be an envoy here? Will Dr. Rice be here? How will the world see that the United States is not again walking away from this conflict?

BURNS: You are going to see a sustained American commitment in a variety of ways; not just in the high-level visits, like that of Secretary Rice.  I think you are going to see it in the ways in which we try to contribute on the ground to helping Palestinians rebuild their security capacity.  In ways in which we help on the ground Palestinians and Israelis to rebuild coordination.  In ways in which we help on the ground in terms of rebuilding economic hope.  What I’m certain what you’re going to see is a sustained American effort on the ground to support that opportunity.

REYNOLDS: The roadmap calls for a Palestinian state by now, by the year 2005.  That hasn’t happened.  When will it happen?

BURNS: The sooner the better.  All of us would like to have seen a two-state solution by now.  President Bush has made very clear that he is prepared to spend his political capital to try to bring that about.  I believe deeply that a two-state solution is in the best interests of both parties.  I think there is a solid majority of people in both populations who understand many of the difficult trade-offs that are going to be required. 

REYNOLDS: But Mr. Ambassador, what is interesting is that this time the White House, yourselves -- the State Department -- are not putting a timetable on it. 

BURNS: The roadmap is still on the table.  We made very clear we would like to move as fast as we can to realize all the steps and the potential of the roadmap.  I think the sooner the two parties can begin to make progress in fulfilling their obligations, with our help and with the help of others, the better for all of us.  And that’s what we’re determined to do.  There is a real sense of urgency here -- on the part of the United States and, increasingly I think, on the part of the parties themselves.

REYNOLDS: Ambassador Burns, thank you very much.

BURNS: Thanks.

(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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