TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON/ARAFAT OVAL OFFICE Q&A WITH REPORTERS
USIA
USIS Washington File
22 January 1998
TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON/ARAFAT OVAL OFFICE Q&A WITH REPORTERS
(Clinton: "I think we have a sense of urgency here") (1040)
Washington -- President Clinton told reporters in the Oval Office
January 22 that following his meeting with Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat,
"what we'll do is to see whether we have moved the parties closer
together.
"And if we have," the President said, "then we'll try to figure out
how to close the loop and get an understanding on what the next steps
are. And if we can do that -- we want to do it, obviously, fairly
quickly, we don't want to just keep dragging this out. I think we have
a sense of urgency here."
In response to a question about the Pope's visit to Cuba, Clinton
said, "I'm glad he went to Cuba. I think it's a wonderful thing and
I'm glad that Mr. Castro invited him to come.
"I'm glad the Cuban government let the Christian people in Cuba
celebrate Christmas last Christmas, acknowledge it in an explicit and
open way," Clinton said. "And I hope that this trip will lead to some
reassessment on the part of the Cuban government that would enable us
to move closer together in many ways."
Following is the White House transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 22, 1998
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH CHAIRMAN ARAFAT
The Oval Office
THE PRESIDENT: Let me say before we begin that I am very pleased to
welcome Chairman Arafat back to the United States as our partner in
the peace process. As I did with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I want to
emphasize what a critical time this is in the process and the
importance of both parties meeting their obligations.
I also would like to take just a second to underline the principles of
the peace process: mutual obligations and the concept of land for
peace, so that Israelis can live in security, recognized by all their
neighbors; and the Palestinians can realize their aspirations to live
as a free people. If we can focus on these principles, I'm convinced
we can make some progress. I'm going to give Chairman Arafat a little
report on my meeting with Mr. Netanyahu and then we're going to go to
work.
Q: Mr. President, when do you think the Israelis will finally meet
their U.N. obligations, or treaty obligations, to give back conquered
land?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to discuss that. We're working on it.
We believe the Oslo process sets out a schedule for redeployment and
that's obviously one of the major issues to be discussed.
Q: But they're not going to meet it, are they?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, give us a chance. We're working on it.
Q: (Question asked and answered in Arabic.)
Q: Mr. President, what's the next step now, and is there a time frame
where you want things to move?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, after this meeting, then what we'll do is to see
whether we have moved the parties closer together.
And if we have, then we'll try to figure out how to close the loop and
get an understanding on what the next steps are. And if we can do that
-- we want to do it, obviously, fairly quickly, we don't want to just
keep dragging this out. I think we have a sense of urgency here.
Q: (Question asked and answered in Arabic.)
Q: Mr. Arafat, do you believe progress was made with Prime Minister
Netanyahu and do you believe progress will be made this week? And
would you agree to a few-stage withdrawal?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: (Through interpreter) As long as there is pressure
and efforts by President Clinton, I'm fully confident that the peace
process will be protected and will be succeeded. And we should not
forget that the President also has sent Madeleine Albright, Secretary
of State, and Mr. Ross, to the region many times to push the peace
process forward.
Q: So you believe Mr. Netanyahu will stand by his commitments?
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: We hope so, he would do so.
Q: Forgive us for raising this while you're dealing with important
issues in the Middle East, but could you clarify for us, sir, exactly
what your relationship was with Ms. Lewinsky, and whether the two of
you talked by phone, including any messages you may have left?
THE PRESIDENT: Let me say, first of all, I want to reiterate what I
said yesterday. The allegations are false and I would never ask
anybody to do anything other than tell the truth. Let's get to the big
issues there, about the nature of the relationship and whether I
suggested anybody not tell the truth. That is false.
Now, there are a lot of other questions that are, I think, very
legitimate. You have a right to ask them; you and the American people
have a right to get answers. We are working very hard to comply and
get all the requests for information up here, and we will give you as
many answers as we can, as soon as we can, at the appropriate time,
consistent with our obligation to also cooperate with the
investigations.
And that's not a dodge, that's really why I've -- I've talked with our
people. I want to do that. I'd like for you to have more rather than
less, sooner rather than later. So we'll work through it as quickly as
we can and get all those questions out there to you.
Q: Mr. President, about the Pope and Cuba, what are your impressions
of the remarkable scenes of the Pope in Cuba, and what about his call
for an end to the embargo?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I'm glad he went to Cuba. I think
it's a wonderful thing and I'm glad that Mr. Castro invited him to
come. I'm glad the Cuban government let the Christian people in Cuba
celebrate Christmas last Christmas, acknowledge it in an explicit and
open way. And I hope that this trip will lead to some reassessment on
the part of the Cuban government that would enable us to move closer
together in many ways.
(end transcript)