    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 27, 1994]
    [Pages 1881-1886]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Hafiz al-Asad of Syria
    in Damascus
    October 27, 1994

        President Asad. President Clinton, ladies and gentlemen, I am
    pleased to welcome President Clinton in Damascus, the oldest
    continuously inhabited city in the world, in the heart of a region which
    witnessed the dawn of human civilizations and the cradle of divine
    religions. This region, whose peoples have long suffered, especially
    throughout this century, from the horrors

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    of wars, the bitterness of conflict and bloodshed, hopes at last to
    enjoy peace and stability.
        The visit of President Clinton at the head of the high-level
    American delegation to our country and the positive and fruitful talks
    we had today constitute an important step towards the realization of
    this noble objective to which the people of the region and the world at
    large aspire.
        Our talks today have focused on the different aspects of the peace
    process and its developments. In this regard, I would like to express my
    deep satisfaction with the fact that our views were identical regarding
    the importance of achieving a comprehensive peace on the basis of
    Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the principle of land for
    peace and that the solution we seek has to be just in order to be stable
    and lasting.
        I have reaffirmed to President Clinton the continued commitment of
    Syria to the peace process and her serious pursuit of a comprehensive
    and just peace as a strategic choice that secures Arab rights, ends the
    Israeli occupation of the Arab land in conformity of the Security
    Council Resolutions 242, 338, and 425, and enables all peoples of the
    region to live in peace, security, and dignity.
        I also stressed to President Clinton--emanating from the principle,
    full withdrawal for full peace, I stressed to President Clinton the
    readiness of Syria to commit itself to the objective requirements of
    peace through the establishment of peaceful, normal relations with
    Israel in return for Israel's full withdrawal from the Golan to the line
    of June 4, 1967, and from the south of Lebanon.
        In this context, the statement of President Clinton on the eve of
    his trip to the region asserting that no comprehensive peace can be
    achieved in the region without Syria is a realistic expression that
    reflects an international consensus regarding this fact. Our nation has
    sacrificed hundreds of thousands of martyrs, not out of love for war or
    fighting but in defense of its rights, dignity, and land. That's why we
    aspire today to transform the region from a state of war to a state of
    peace: a peace that renders to each party its rights, ends occupation,
    saves the blood of the innocent, and preserves man's dignity; a peace
    that prevails throughout the region and enables its peoples, both Arabs
    and Israelis, to live in security, stability, and prosperity.
        Finally, I would like to convey greetings to the American people
    through President Clinton and to thank President Clinton for his
    personal efforts and the efforts of his aides. I would like to express
    my readiness to work with him for achieving a real, comprehensive, and
    just peace in the region.
        Thank you.
        President Clinton. I am glad to have had the opportunity to stop in
    Syria to meet with President Asad. After yesterday's signing of the
    peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, I came to Damascus today to
    continue working for our common goal of peace in the Middle East.
        During our meeting this morning, President Asad and I affirmed our
    common commitment to that goal and want to accelerate progress toward
    our objective. Yesterday's signing represents an important step forward.
    But our job will not be done and we will not rest until peace agreements
    between Israel and Syria and Israel and Lebanon are achieved.
        A Syrian-Israeli agreement is key to achieving a comprehensive
    peace. Given Syria's important regional role, it will inevitably broaden
    the circle of Arab States willing to embrace peace. And it will build
    confidence throughout the area that peace will endure.
        My talks here with President Asad are a sign of our mutual
    determination to achieve a peace of the brave as quickly as possible.
    The United States will do everything possible to help make that a
    reality.
        For peace to endure, it must also be just. Peace between Israel and
    Syria must be based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242
    and 338 and the principle of land for peace. Peace must also be real,
    more than mere words on paper, more than just the absence of war.
    Nations must establish normal, peaceful relations.
        Peace must also be secure for both sides. Security for one side
    should not come at the expense of the other's security. Peace must
    guarantee security against surprise attack by any side. And peace must
    enable the parties to invest in economic development, rather than
    military might.
        All sides must enjoy stability and tranquillity. Violence must
    cease. Borders must no longer be subject to aggression, terrorist
    infiltration, violent acts, or bombardment. The murderous acts of terror
    that we have witnessed over the past weeks have two targets: first,
    innocent peo-

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    ple who have been killed and wounded; and second, the very peace that
    President Asad supports. All who work for peace must condemn these
    terrorist acts. President Asad and I agree that the peace process allows
    no place for the killing of innocent civilians.
        I also told President Asad of my desire to see the relations between
    our two nations improve. In an era of peace, improved relations would
    benefit both countries and improve regional stability and security.
        Finally, I want to tell the Syrian people how very glad I am to have
    the opportunity to visit your country, if only briefly. Like your
    neighbors in Israel, you have waited too long and have suffered too much
    to be further denied the hope for a new and better future.
        On behalf of the American people, I pledge that I will work with
    President Asad to do everything possible to make real this new and
    peaceful future.
        Thank you.

    Middle East Peace Process

        Q.  President Asad, you do seem to hold, in the minds of many, the
    key to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and you have now
    expressed the bottom line of what will be true peace in the Middle East.
    How do you intend to go about getting it? And how soon will it occur?
        And President Clinton, do you agree that there should be a full
    withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Golan Heights to Lebanon and
    Syrian troops from Lebanon to make a real peace in the Middle East?
        President Clinton.  I think I answered the question in my statement.
    We believe that the peace between Israel and Syria must be based upon
    the United Nations Security Council resolutions. And we made some
    progress today in our own talks, the details of which, as you would
    expect, I am not free to discuss. But we are moving forward today,
    consistent with the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and we
    will continue to do it until we have a peace that is based on those
    resolutions.
        President Asad. For a long time we've been moving according to a
    mechanism that pushes us to achieve the peace process. We are relying in
    this, as President Clinton said, on Security Council resolutions and on
    different activities undertaken by all the parties, particularly the
    United States of America. We achieved a few things, and we didn't
    achieve other things. We are going to continue our pursuit in order to
    reach there, in this way or in any other more effective way, in order to
    achieve peace sooner.

    [At this point, a question was asked in Arabic, but a translation was
    not provided.]

        President Clinton. I didn't get the translation. Am I on the wrong
    channel?
        Q. [Inaudible]--security and stability of the region?
        President Clinton. Well, first, as I said, I think the role of Syria
    in the security and stability of the region is absolutely critical. I
    don't think we can finish a comprehensive peace or maintain peace in the
    region unless there is peace between Syria and Israel. And I think the
    benefits that would come to the people of both countries over the next
    several years are enormous if such a peace can be achieved.
        My view of President Asad, based on our two meetings and our many
    conversations over the telephone and his constant willingness to receive
    the Secretary of State and other representatives of the United States,
    is that he is committed to achieving a peace. He is clearly a very
    effective and determined advocate for the interests of his country and
    its people. But I believe he wants peace, and I believe we will achieve
    it.
        Q. President Asad, the majority of the Israeli public, according to
    the polls, does not believe it is physically safe to give up the Golan
    Heights. This mistrust has been added by the fact that you haven't
    visited Israel; you haven't met with Mr. Rabin; there's no direct talks;
    you haven't spelled out the exact terms of peace; your support for 10
    rejectionist groups in Damascus and Hezbollah. All this taken together,
    sir, I want to know what assurance can you give the Israeli public--now
    that you are able to address them through this press conference, they
    could hear you--what assurance can you give them that withdrawal will
    indeed lead to true peace and not to the next war? Thank you very much.
        President Asad. The concern of any country in the world about its
    security does not justify for that particular country to preserve the
    lands of other states, of other countries. And countries which fought
    throughout history did not put conditions for achieving peace that one
    party should visit the other or should not visit the other.

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        The issue is not concerning rhetorical or formal issues, not with a
    visit. There are people who visited Israel before, but he himself
    complained--when he was in office, he complained and went on for a long
    time before being able to reach a peace agreement with Israel.
        The important point is that the assumptions or the attempts to
    confine the peace process to small things, to formal things concerning
    the visit of one party to the other, or that one of us is concerned
    about security and that he should arrive there or we should take them
    there--to be secure and not to have any concern from anything--this was
    never there in reality or in books.
        There's nothing we have that proves our desire for peace except our
    saying that we want peace. And anyone who does not believe what we are
    saying, he would have no other way for peace. It would be him who
    doesn't want peace.
        What also makes us believe that they want peace? We have many proofs
    which we have against them that they do not want peace and not us who
    don't want peace. Such matters to a certain extent were the subject of
    discussion and contemplation between me and President Clinton, and we
    are both convinced, as I believe, we are convinced that the United
    States is serious in pushing the peace process forward.
        And as I've heard from President Clinton, he has proved that we are
    serious. Why the others are not convinced that we are serious--although
    I heard statements from Israeli officials which say that Syria is
    serious in the peace process--and probably what I remember is that Rabin
    was in the front, he was in the front of those people who said a short
    while ago that Syria is serious in wanting peace. And I hope I remember
    quite well, I hope my memory is accurate in this. I heard him saying and
    asserting that Syria is serious in the peace process. So of whom is he
    afraid?
        Q. Mr. President, in your speech today you emphasized the
    significance of security for both sides, i.e., Syria and Israel. On
    numerous occasions, Israeli leaders have sought preferential and rather
    advantageous security arrangements as a precondition for any peace pact
    with Syria. It's common knowledge that Israel possesses a huge arsenal
    of both conventional and mass destruction weapons, refuses to sign the
    nuclear arms nonproliferation treaty. How do you explain your
    endorsement of any future package of security arrangements in view of
    Israel's illogical and unacceptable precondition?
        President Clinton. Well, first of all, I don't have to explain it
    because there won't be a peace agreement until both sides agree on
    security measures. And these are measures that to some extent are
    objective and to some extent are based on intuition, the feeling about
    what the possible future threats to Syria and to Israel are. But the
    United States has absolutely no hesitation in facilitating an open and
    straightforward exchange on those issues. Both sides will have to be
    satisfied that their security needs are met. And it's been my experience
    that countries, and particularly their leaders, are the best judge of
    what those security requirements are.
        I don't believe for a moment that President Asad or Prime Minister
    Rabin would agree to a peace that would undermine the security of either
    nation. I think both of them will feel that they're more safe after the
    agreement rather than less safe. And that, to me, is the ultimate answer
    to this question.
        Q. Mr. President, Secretary Christopher said that leaders,
    Presidents like yourself, are capable of bold moves that negotiators and
    diplomats aren't able to make. Can you tell us, were there any bold
    moves made today that you can report in terms of agreements on the Golan
    Heights or peace or terms of security?
        President Clinton. Well, let me restate what I said earlier. First
    of all, I respect and I welcome the statement that President Asad has
    made here today, which goes beyond, in my judgment, the public diplomacy
    initiatives which have been made in the past. And I think that that
    statement should be reassuring to the people of Israel and should
    encourage more dialog and a greater willingness to pursue the peace
    process.
        Secondly, in our private discussions there was some progress made,
    the details of which I will not and I should not discuss at this time.
    But we are moving forward. I will obviously see Prime Minister Rabin. We
    will have a frank and open discussion, as we always do, and we'll do
    what we can to keep moving forward.
        Q. Mr. President Clinton, I have a question for you please. On
    numerous occasions the United States has stressed commitment to Israel's
    security and has provided Israel with all forms of financial and
    military support. How would you, Mr. President, reconcile your role as
    an honest intermediary in the peace process and

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    your different way of dealing with Syria, which since the outset of the
    peace process has confirmed her seriousness and positive attitude to
    make the process successful?
        President Clinton. The commitment of the United States to the
    security of Israel is something that goes back a long way, is of long
    standing, and is a given as a part of our foreign policy. I think that,
    notwithstanding that commitment, President Asad and all others in the
    Middle East who have dealt with us in this peace process would say that
    we have done our best, not just me but especially the Secretary of
    State, Mr. Ross, and others, to be an honest intermediary, to carry the
    legitimate concerns of the various parties, to try to help them make
    peace.
        I would say to you, if I might, what I said in the previous answer:
    This peace agreement will never occur unless Israel and Syria sign with
    the absolute conviction that they will be more secure for signing it,
    not less secure. So whatever the details of the ultimate security
    arrangement are in this peace treaty, if it is signed by the leaders of
    both countries it will only be because they are both convinced that they
    will be safer after they sign than they are before. And we will support
    that in any reasonable way that we can.
        Q. President Asad, President Clinton referred to terrorism earlier.
    As you are aware, the United States keeps Syria on its lists of
    countries that sponsor terrorism. Did you in this discussion promise not
    to sponsor terrorism anymore? Did you acknowledge that you, in fact, do?
    And can you tell us what the Syrian view is of terrorist activities?
        President Asad. We did not discuss terrorism as a separate title.
    And the context of our discussions mentioned some of the examples of the
    discussions which took place between me and some of the senior American
    officials, these discussions which are related to accusing Syria of
    supporting terrorism. I said in these discussions to the American senior
    official, whom I asked then to mention for me one incident in which
    Syria has committed a terrorist action, and he was helpless. He was not
    able to mention one single incident in which Syria supported terrorism.
        Terrorism--but as it is known, the problem of terrorism is an
    accusation, allegation because of the conflict between us and Syria.
    This is a fact. None of you, in my opinion, neither an Arab nor an
    American, who doesn't know that the reason for accusing Syria of
    terrorism--it's not because that Syrians and those who are in Syria are
    practicing terrorism but for reasons which are related to our stand
    regarding Israel. That's why this accusation went on for a very long
    time. And regardless of the desire of many people, both in Syria and the
    United States, at different times to solve this problem, we did not
    reach until now such a solution.
        But at any rate, this was not one of the topics on the agenda in my
    discussion with President Clinton, and we are discussing what is more
    important. And our concern and focus was on the peace process.
        If the time allows, I would have asked all of you, does any one of
    you have anything that proves that Syria has done a single terrorist
    act. But I don't want this to be a question to you because time does not
    allow such a question.
        President Clinton. I'll make two points. First of all, in our
    meeting I said, and I believe President Asad agrees, that if we are
    going to have peace in the region and a peace agreement is made, then
    supporting those who try to undermine a peace that is made is
    inconsistent with that, particularly if they try to undermine it with
    terrorist tactics.
        Secondly, we do not, we cannot, and we will not support the killing
    of innocent civilians. And President Asad has said repeatedly and said
    to me in our meeting today that he thought that was wrong as well,
    wherever it occurred, whether in the bus incident or in Hebron. So we
    did discuss it in that context.
        I am here because I believe strongly that the best way to bring an
    end to terrorism in this part of the world is to achieve a comprehensive
    peace. And I believe we should keep working at it until we get the job
    done.
        Q. President Clinton, you said many times that achieving a progress
    on the Syrian track is the basis for achieving a just and comprehensive
    peace in the region. And incidents have shown that the stalemate in this
    track now is caused by the rejection of Israel to fully withdraw from
    the Golan and from the south of Lebanon. Do you believe, Mr. President,
    that it is possible to overcome this obstacle during this visit of yours
    to Syria? Thank you.
        President Clinton. No, I don't believe we'll announce a peace treaty
    on this visit. I don't believe we will finish the job on this visit. I

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    do know we have made some progress here, and I expect to make some
    progress in Israel.
        I believe, and I have told all the parties in the Middle East this,
    that we should build on what has happened and try to accelerate this
    peace process, not slow it down.
        The people of Israel have been shaken by the incidents in the last
    couple of weeks. But I also think they must have been lifted up by the
    signing yesterday with Jordan. And they also should have been encouraged
    by President Asad's speech to the Parliament, by Foreign Minister
    Shara's interview on Israeli television, by the statement President Asad
    made here today.
        So no, I wish we were signing a peace treaty on this trip. We won't
    do it, but we are making progress.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President's 76th news conference began at 12:55 p.m. in the
    Great Hall at the Presidential Palace. In his remarks, President Clinton
    referred to Dennis B. Ross, Special Middle East Coordinator, and Foreign
    Minister Farouk al-Shara of Syria. President Asad spoke in Arabic, and
    his remarks were translated by an interpreter.