[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[December 17, 1992]
[Pages 2198-2199]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With Ambassador Mowaffak Aloaf of the 
Syrian Peace Delegation
December 17, 1992

    The President. We're glad you're here and look forward to hearing 
from you how you feel the peace process is going and all of that. We 
salute you for staying in the game and being at the negotiations. I want 
to assure you of our determination to try to bring these as far along as 
we can while we're here. And I'm confident that our successors will want 
to see this process actively and vigorously continued.
    Ambassador Aloaf. Well, we are grateful very much, Mr. President, 
for receiving us. We consider this, really, as an indication of the 
great importance you attach to the peace process, something where our 
people and our authorities are convinced very deeply of. And they 
already, I think, have expressed their appreciation for your efforts.
    This is your peace initiative. If we 
are sorry that after 13 months of this 
peace process we are still without real 
progress, it is because we know how 
much effort and how much--especially 
Secretary Baker--time, I think--has 
spent a lot of energy and efforts under 
your leadership in order to make this 
peace process the hopeful end for

[[Page 2199]]

a conflict which has lasted for more than half a century--before and 
after.
    The President. Well, we can talk in a little more detail now as to 
how you see it and what you think we might be doing. But I, again, I say 
welcome.
    Q. Do you believe the process has not succeeded, Mr. President?
    The President. He doesn't remember that I don't take questions at 
these photo opportunities. But I'm glad and appreciate your----
    Q. Are you boycotting the talks today, Mr. Ambassador?
    Ambassador Aloaf. We are not boycotting the peace process. We are 
protesting against what's happening today when more than 400 people, 
human beings, sitting blindfolded, their hands tied behind their back, 
in buses, waiting for a decision about something which is, to begin 
with, really not acceptable in neither an international nor in 
humanitarian roles. So we shall tell our Israeli counterpart how we feel 
about that. And we believe that this is not really helpful to the peace 
process.
    Q. But you will remain in the peace process.
    Ambassador Aloaf. We are in the peace process because we believe in 
the seriousness of the United States of America. We consider this 
invitation by President Bush to us as an indication of that importance 
and also as a message to the successor of President Bush, President-
elect Clinton, a message that the peace process is important not only to 
the parties but also to the United States of America and to the world.
    The President. I can assure you it is. And we'll see where we go. 
But we'll discuss that item here now as soon as we have our private 
talks.

                    Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. in the Oval 
                        Office at the White House.