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LEADERS WILL BE ASKED TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS TODAY
Rubin says three leaders have begun tri-lateral discussion
Chesapeake College, Maryland -- President Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat sat down to begin tri-lateral discussions early October 22, State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin reported to the press.
"It's our goal to ask the leaders to make some important decisions today so that this long period with the peace process off-track can move to a period where the peace process is back on track," Rubin said.
Rubin said "we want to bring this to a conclusion as soon as we can, and we want to work as quickly as we can. These are important issues. Important decisions need to be made, and we are hoping to make as many of them as possible today."
Following is the transcript of Rubin's remarks:
(Begin transcript)
By
James P. Rubin, Spokesman
Chesapeake College
(10:55 A.M.)
MR. RUBIN: Good morning everybody, how are you?
QUESTION: Good. Rested.
MR. RUBIN: Where we are: I will probably be briefing in about an hour. I just wanted to give you a quick update and let you know what Joe has told his pool, which is that about 20 minutes ago the three leaders sat down to begin tri-lateral discussion. It's our goal to ask the leaders to make some important decisions today so that this long period with the peace process off-track can move to a period where the peace process is back on track.
QUESTION: Jamie, did the two sides get the text today?
MR. RUBIN: Last night they did, yes.
QUESTION: Could you bring us up-to-date on last night? Did she see Arafat, Albright?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, the Secretary saw Arafat -- I thought I called that in late last night --
QUESTION: Yes, you did.
MR. RUBIN: -- after a number of meetings and phone calls with the Prime Minister throughout the evening and late afternoon.
QUESTION: Well you told us how it began, but how long did they meet?
MR. RUBIN: I don't know -- a half hour, 45 minutes. She brought them up-to-date to let them know the text was on its way and explain the President's intentions to come back today so that the leaders can make some important decisions. She had briefed the President several times last night about the state of discussions with the Israeli side and wanted to bring him up-to-date on what had transpired and what the President's intentions were for today.
QUESTION: Is drafting now in suspension while they look at the text?
MR. RUBIN: No I wouldn't say that. I would say today there will be a parallel process on discussions of the text at the expert levels and discussions of important political issues at political levels.
Right now the Secretary is with the President in the tri-laterals. The Israelis have brought their Foreign and Defense Ministers, and the Palestinians have Abu Mazin and Abu Alaa, and another person whose name escapes me right at this moment.
QUESTION: What can you say in general about the text that they are looking at? Have all the issues on˙20security been discussed? The PLO covenant? What in general can you say about the text they are looking at?
MR. RUBIN: Right. I gave you the update as best I can. I'm going to try to get some more approval to say some more things by 12 o'clock.
QUESTION: Jamie, can you tell me approximately when the texts were given to the parties last night?
MR. RUBIN: Late last night -- the final version.
QUESTION: Late last night, early this morning? How late did they go?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, late last night, early this morning.
QUESTION: How late did they go?
MR. RUBIN: I think people worked until the wee hours of the night.
QUESTION: How about the Secretary?
MR. RUBIN: She, having briefed the President three times last night, having had three separate important discussions with the Prime Minister -- two in person and one on the phone -- then saw Arafat and then went to sleep very late.
She got up very early to sit down with the full team to lay out the course of the day. Then she briefed the President for about a half hour/45 minutes on how she saw the day unfolding and what the key issues were and what the key decisions were that needed to be made.
QUESTION: How does she see the day unfolding?
MR. RUBIN: It's a terrific question, and I hope to give you more at noon.
QUESTION: Jamie, can you comment on a report in a certain newspaper that you all are going to blame the Israelis if these talks fail?
MR. RUBIN: I don't know how to respond to that.
QUESTION: Jamie, you have talked for a week about a sense of urgency, and today about Clinton coming here to help the leaders make the hard choices. Is there a sense that if they make those hard choices today, you all will wrap it up?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we want to bring this to a conclusion as soon as we can, and we want to work as quickly as we can. These are important issues. Important decisions need to be made, and we are hoping to make as many of them as possible today.
QUESTION: Can you confirm -- will King Hussein be returning today?
MR. RUBIN: With regard to King Hussein, I believe he has made clear that he is ready and willing to assist. They haven't made a final declaration as to what form that should take, but I expect that there will be involvement of the King today.
QUESTION: Jamie, is there initial discussion now of the signing ceremony?
MR. RUBIN: Again, as I've told you in the past, that is the easiest thing in the world to organize.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. RUBIN: I will see you at 12:00.
(End transcript)