1-2 Israeli and Palestinian Contact / Israeli and Palestinian Meetings
in Washington /Influence of other Middle East Countries on
Negotiations
3-5 Possibility of Trilateral Meetings / US role in Washington
Meetings / Effects of the Administration Change on the MEPP
5-6 Comment on the Deployment of Russian Topol-M Missiles / Compliance
with START II Treaty
U.S. Department of State
Press Briefing
DPB # 129
Tuesday, December 26, 2000 1:00 P.M. (On The Record Unless Otherwise
Noted)
MR. REEKER: Welcome back after a holiday break. Judging from the crowd
today, I think a lot of people are continuing their holiday breaks. But I
am pleased to be here and we can go ahead. I have no announcements. I will
be happy to take whatever questions you may have.
QUESTION: Have there been any contacts between anybody in the Department
and people in the Middle East over the last 48 hours?
MR. REEKER: I am not aware of any particular contacts, although that
doesn't rule out obviously telephone contacts that go on. I don't have a
lot to update you from the last reports we had after Saturday's meeting. As
you know, last week Dennis Ross and his team met with the Israelis and the
Palestinians in peace talks at Bolling Air Force Base here in Washington.
They had parallel bilateral meetings, as well as trilateral meetings,
direct discussions between the two parties themselves. They had very
serious, intensive and constructive discussions.
Then on Saturday the parties saw President Clinton, as well as Secretary
Albright and others, at the White House for about 30 minutes. Following
that meeting, Dennis Ross and his team met with the parties for an
additional 45 minutes, and my friend and colleague, Mr. Crowley over at the
NSC at the White House, provided a readout of that Saturday afternoon. We
could help you get transcripts of that if anyone is interested.
I think as Mr. Crowley said in his meeting, the President made some
suggestions and offered some ideas to the parties based on what he, the
President, and what all of us have been hearing from both teams -- from
Camp David, from the talks last week at Bolling. And the parties have taken
back ideas to consult with their leaders -- obviously the Israelis with
Prime Minister Barak and the Palestinians with Chairman Arafat -- and we
expect to hear from them later this week on whether these ideas are the
basis for moving forward. Once we hear from them, then we will have a
better sense of how we will move forward and what the next steps might
be.
QUESTION: There is an indication from Arafat that they need further
clarification of the Administration's proposals. Exactly what clarification
are they seeking?
MR. REEKER: I am not aware of any particular request for clarification.
That may be something that is involved in any discussions that Ambassador
Ross and his team may be having. As I indicated and as Mr. Crowley
indicated from the White House Saturday, the President in his meeting
presented some suggestions, made some suggestions, offered ideas to the
parties, based on what we have heard from the parties going back to Camp
David, where we raised serious issues and there was serious discussion, and
right through to the discussions that were held at Bolling last week. The
leaders now need to have their own consultations at home and get back to
us. When we hear their reactions, then we will know how we are going to
move forward.
QUESTION: What efforts is the US making to build support among Arab
countries for whatever deal you hope the two sides are heading towards here,
and how critical is that support going to be?
MR. REEKER: I think all along we have had discussions on a fairly regular
basis with other countries in the region who have obviously been an
important part of this. Secretary Albright spoke on some television
programs Friday and talked about regular discussions we have with President
Mubarak of Egypt, for instance, and with other leaders in the region.
I don't have a specific readout for you over the holiday weekend of any
additional talks that were going on, but we have a continuous dialogue,
obviously, with our friends and allies and countries in the region. Our
embassies carry out a lot of that; other times the Secretary may speak
directly with leaders. Ambassador Ross is obviously deeply involved.
QUESTION: Is that going to be essential here for this process?
MR. REEKER: I think the countries in the region have played an important
role all along. As the Secretary talked about, for instance, Egypt's role,
Jordan's role and others, so we want to keep them apprised as much as we
can. And obviously the leaders of the two sides in the region will have
their own conversations also with other countries in the region.
QUESTION: How much of a yes do you think President Clinton and the US
peace team is going to need to hear in order to believe it's worth
continuing effort? I think some of what Don was saying is that the
Palestinians have been indicating they're not ready to say yes. Clearly
they are feeling more like yes, if this were so, yes if that were
so.
MR. REEKER: I think the bottom line is that we have not heard back from
the parties yet. After their meeting at the White House Saturday, the two
teams headed back to meet, obviously, with their respective leaders. I have
certainly seen plenty of media reports about those leaders discussing
things publicly, obviously privately, in terms of reviewing what the
President said and where we stand on things.
What we need to do is wait for their response, and I am just not going to
be able to characterize what that might be until we hear from them. We will
wait. We will hear their reactions. This is a very difficult task. We are
dealing with all the major issues now. In the end, this is a set of very
serious, intensive, constructive things. We have stated before -- and I
will say it again -- that we appreciate the effort and commitment and
openness put forth by both sides in the process. So we are just going to
wait for the comments of the parties and then decide how best to proceed
after that.
QUESTION: You used three words: effort, commitment and openness. Would
you include a willingness to compromise among the things you appreciate?
Have you seen one?
MR. REEKER: I think what I will do is just stick with what I said, Barry,
and that is that we appreciate the serious, intensive, constructive talks
that took place last week, and the effort put forth by both sides. What we
need to do now is wait and let the two sides get back to us, and then we
will see where we are going to go.
QUESTION: So if the question were, "Have you seen compromise from both
sides or even a willingness to compromise," you won't deal with that?
MR. REEKER: I am just not going to get into details or the specifics of
the discussion.
QUESTION: That's not a detail; it's a description. I'm asking you if you
can describe the two sides as willing to compromise. You don't have to, but
I'm asking if you --
MR. REEKER: I think the answer --
QUESTION: And you're not willing to.
MR. REEKER: -- as you know, Barry, is that we are not going to discuss
the details of the discussions or the specific proposals. That would be a
description of the discussions, and I am not going to do that.
QUESTION: With all due respect, I mean openness -- if openness is okay to
say and commitment is okay to say, and it's not descriptive of the details,
whether or not there is a mood of compromise would be in the same
category.
MR. REEKER: Why don't I stick to the words that I am going to use and let
you write your own story.
QUESTION: Okay, thank you.
QUESTION: Are you encouraged by the public comments that Prime Minister
Barak has made in the news media just within the last 48 hours?
MR. REEKER: Again, I am not going to comment on his public comments. What
we are going to do is wait for the response of the two leaders to the
President and to our team. Rather than add to that mix, we will just wait
and get their response, as we are expecting this week.
QUESTION: Well, we're just trying to figure out where all the players
are. The Secretary is away on vacation. Will she be back later this
week?
MR. REEKER: The Secretary is on leave. She is spending the holiday with
her family. She is in constant contact, of course, and will be back in the
office by next week unless circumstances change.
QUESTION: If we could follow up on what Josh was asking about reaching
out to the Arab world, one of the criticisms of Camp David was that you
didn't -- or the United States didn't adequately seek out the advice of
Arab leaders before going into Camp David. Are there any plans for any
Administration officials to travel to moderate Arab states over the next
few weeks?
MR. REEKER: I am not aware of any travel plans at all.
QUESTION: One of the things that Barak has said, that I am wondering if
the US team is also concerned about, is that he fears some of the other
peace treaties may be unraveling, or may be susceptible to unraveling if
this doesn't go through and this doesn't move forward -- with the Egyptians,
with the Jordanians.
Is that something the US team is also concerned about and is taking into
consideration in their effort?
MR. REEKER: I think our focus all along has been on trying to help
wherever we can, as the President and the Secretary have said so many times
and we have discussed from here. The United States has pledged to do
whatever we can to help this process. It is the parties' process -- the
Israelis and the Palestinians -- and they need to take the steps that they
can to make the difficult decisions that they need to, to move the process
forward. So in terms of this process, that is what we are focused
on.
QUESTION: It doesn't sound like you're considering it in context, which
obviously must be done.
MR. REEKER: Again, I think the parties probably consider things in
context. I leave that for them to describe. We also look at things
obviously in context; everything has its own context. But this is a process
that we have worked on very diligently, that we have tried to do whatever
we can to help the parties in this process -- which again is their process.
The President and Secretary Albright are pledged to do that right through
the end of their term, and so that is what we will continue to do. Right
now we are at the stage where we are waiting to hear back from the two
parties after last week's talks, which of course have built on the whole
process that we have discussed for some time.
QUESTION: Let me try this again. An end to conflict was the other -- the
conflict -- was the other of the two major goals. In the five days of talks,
did the US hear any new promises or any new assurances or any new
mechanisms to cut back, curb the violence?
MR. REEKER: I don't believe, Barry, I have anything to add to what has
been said since the end of those talks after what P.J. Crowley had to say
Saturday. Obviously the violence is something we have deplored. The cycle
of violence needs to end. It doesn't accomplish anything. The solution, the
coming to of some sort of an agreement, has to take place through talks and
dialogue. What we want to see is a comprehensive agreement to bring peace
to the Middle East. So obviously violence is something we want to see ended,
but I don't have anything specific to add out of these talks on that
front.
QUESTION: The politically precarious situation of Prime Minister Barak,
as well as President Clinton's imminent departure, does that pose any
particular challenge to reaching a comprehensive agreement?
MR. REEKER: Again, as I indicated in response to Terri's question
President Clinton and Secretary Albright have stated their commitment to
doing everything they can to support peace efforts in the Middle East as
long as they are in office. I think Secretary Albright said again on Friday
that we think there is an historic opportunity here. We are trying to take
advantage of the time that is left in this Administration.
But that said -- and we have discussed it before -- United States support
for Middle East peace is not a partisan issue; it has been a top priority
for all American administrations, Democratic and Republican, and I believe
will remain so in the future. So our support for the parties and the
process will not end on January 20, but we have an important opportunity
here.
In terms of the first part of your question, we really leave Israeli
politics to Israel and others, and we are working with the leadership in
Israel. We had a team, as you know, led by the Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben-
Ami, here last week. He has gone back to consult obviously with Prime
Minister Barak, and we are just waiting to hear a response from both
parties.
QUESTION: Do you have any comment on Russian deployment of Topol-M
missiles, which may be a response to NMD plans?
MR. REEKER: We are certainly aware, as ran on your wire, of today's
activation of the SS-27 missile, also known as the Topol-M. This is part of
Russia's strategic modernization program, and the activation of this is a
continuing process by which Russia is replacing multiple-warhead intercontinental
ballistic missiles designated for elimination under the START II Treaty.
Those are being replaced with the single-warhead SS-27s, or Topol-Ms. So we
support very much their efforts to prepare for a post-START II environment,
and that is exactly what you are reading about in those reports.
QUESTION: Let me just see if I understand that correctly. So these would -
- the mutli-warhead missiles were a violation of START II?
MR. REEKER: Under START II -- and we could certainly get you some more
detailed information on that if you wish it -- these missiles, the multiple-
warhead missiles, ICBMs, were designated for elimination, and they are
being replaced by these single-warhead SS-27, or Topol-Ms. So this is
exactly what has been envisioned under START II and part of that process.
QUESTION: So you don't see any connection with NMD at all?
MR. REEKER: I think I see exactly what I said: This is what was called
for under START II, and that is what is being implemented.
QUESTION: On Russia, a Russian researcher is now going on trial for
espionage in very familiar circumstances -- closed door, no evidence, et
cetera. He was working for the USA and Canada Institute, and is accused of
spying for the United States.
Do we have any comments about his case?
MR. REEKER: I am afraid I don't know anything about it. That would be a
Russian citizen, right?
QUESTION: Yes, but accused of spying for the US. He works for the US and
Canada Institute.
MR. REEKER: I hadn't even seen anything about it. The US and Canada
Institute is a major --
QUESTION: In Moscow.
MR. REEKER: Yes, exactly. I don't know anything about it.
Anything else?
QUESTION: Unless you want to add to the Serbia statement, which is a
couple of days old. Anything new to say?
MR. REEKER: No, I think really that was all we had. We put that out
yesterday, in fact, following the Serbian elections.
QUESTION: Are you any closer to a decision on North Korea on whether it
will be --
MR. REEKER: No, I would just refer you to the White House. I think there
is nothing. I certainly have nothing new to add on that.
QUESTION: Maybe General Powell is in the building. Do you have anything
on that? Somebody thought they saw his detail.
MR. REEKER: Yes, I believe General Powell is in the building. Expect him
here each day this week. He and his transition team are working hard at
reviewing materials, reviewing prospective candidates for jobs that will
need to be filled, and they will continue doing that this week.
QUESTION: You mean candidates who work for the State Department
now?
MR. REEKER: I don't know exactly whom they are speaking with, but
obviously they have positions that need to be filled and so they will be
working on that.
QUESTION: No, I just wondered if job seekers could come in without
passes. I assume you mean people in the building.
MR. REEKER: I don't think anybody can come in without a pass, Barry.
People that are cleared in and invited in and have an appointment can also
come in. The come in droves every day.
QUESTION: All right. Well, I'm trying to see if we have a little footnote
to a story here. You mean the building is currently in this week a
clearinghouse for filling some posts at the State Department, is that fair
enough?
MR. REEKER: That is not what I suggested. What I suggested was that --
QUESTION: Maybe I missed the point. Okay, do it again.
MR. REEKER: Secretary-designate Powell and his transition team are
working this week, as they worked last week, in preparation for the
transition. They are meeting with State Department officials to begin
preparing for Secretary-designate Powell's confirmation process and
obviously also looking at filling positions that will need to be filled in
the new administration.
QUESTION: Is he working out of the Secretary's office, or does he have
his own? Have you guys set up a suite?
MR. REEKER: No. Obviously you haven't been here in previous days. There
is a suite of offices called the transition offices on the first floor of
the building. Secretary Albright will remain in her office at her desk when
she is here until January 20.
QUESTION: Did we have any problems with any of our embassies over the
Christmas holiday? Any that were closed or any --
MR. REEKER: Not that I am aware.
QUESTION: Nothing? That's good.
MR. REEKER: Not that I am aware of.
QUESTION: No changes, by the way -- this is a weekend, and usually
certain situations are reviewed after a weekend. Anything opening that was
closed?
QUESTION: Oh, yeah. What about Doha?
MR. REEKER: Doha opened quite a while back, I believe. I was not aware
that it was still closed.
QUESTION: What was that?
MR. REEKER: Doha reopened about two weeks ago.
QUESTION: And the consulates in Turkey? Did they get opened yet?
MR. REEKER: They reopened last week, yes.
QUESTION: All right. Well, thanks very much.
MR. REEKER: Sure.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:25 P.M.)
