CLINTON MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN ARAFAT
USIA
USIS Washington File
22 January 1998
CLINTON MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN ARAFAT
(Two days after meeting here with Israel's Prime Minister) (580)
By Wendy S. Ross
USIA White House Correspondent
Washington -- In his continuing effort to revive the stalled Middle
East peace process, President Clinton met with Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat in the Oval Office January 22, two days after
his meetings at the White House with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
"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," Clinton said as the two leaders sat down to talk in the
morning.
"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," Clinton said.
The meeting lasted over an hour and the two were expected to meet
again the evening of January 22, the same scenario Clinton followed
earlier in the week with Netanyahu.
Clinton outlined for reporters 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," the President said.
Clinton said the United States was doing what it could to move the
parties closer together. If he has succeeded in doing this, he 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."
Speaking in Arabic, Arafat said that "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 successful.
He also conferred with Vice President Gore after his meeting with the
President.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright also met with Arafat the evening
of January 21 and the afternoon of January 22 at his downtown hotel,
and was scheduled to brief the press late January 22 on these
meetings.
White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry told the press that "the net
result of the meetings we have had this week will lead to additional
work that we expect to pursue in the days ahead. I imagine for that
reason we will be fairly circumspect on what we say about the meeting
today."
McCurry also said that Clinton had received a short farewell call
January 21 from Israel's Prime Minister just before he departed from
Andrews Air Force Base to return home.
Arafat told the press upon leaving the White House January 22
following his morning meeting with Clinton that it "was encouraging."
The Chairman urged "exerting every possible effort to revive the peace
process and put it back on track."
"I hope that Mr. Netanyahu will understand that peace is not only a
Palestinian need. It's an Israeli need, it's a Palestinian need, it's
an Arab need, it's an international need," Arafat said. "And I hope
that Mr. Netanyahu will turn his words to deeds and comply with the
agreements."