    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [February 4, 1993]
    [Page 44]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher's Trip to the
    Middle East
    February 4, 1993

        In accord with my pledge to maintain continuity in the Arab-Israeli
    peace negotiations, I have decided to dispatch Secretary of State
    Christopher to the Middle East. His purpose will be to convey to all the
    parties my commitment to advance the peace negotiations. He will elicit
    their views on how best to promote progress, and he will discuss
    bilateral issues and regional problems, including Iraq.
        This will be Secretary Christopher's first mission abroad. It is an
    indication of the priority my administration attaches to peacemaking in
    the Middle East. It also presents an opportunity for the parties to
    focus their energies on the formidable challenge of achieving peace in a
    strife-torn region.
        With violence engulfing so much of the world, it is striking that in
    the Middle East a process of direct negotiations has begun. Israel, all
    its Arab neighbors, and the Palestinians have been engaged in a common
    endeavor to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on
    U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
        The United States, together with our Russian cosponsor, played a
    critical role in launching these negotiations. It is my intention to see
    that we continue that role.
        We cannot impose a solution on the Middle East. Only the leaders of
    the region can make peace. Theirs is an awesome responsibility. Those
    who oppose the process, who seek to subvert it through violence and
    intimidation, will find no tolerance here for their methods. But those
    who are willing to make peace will find in me and my administration a
    full partner. This is an historic moment. It can slip away all too
    easily. But if we seize the opportunity, we can begin now to construct a
    peaceful Middle East for future generations.