[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
[October 26, 1994]
[Pages 1874-1877]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1874]]


The President's News Conference With President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in 
Cairo
October 26, 1994

    President Mubarak. Good morning. It is a source of great pleasure 
for me to welcome President Clinton and his able assistants in Cairo on 
behalf of the people of Egypt. We look upon President Clinton with great 
admiration and esteem. He's a man of courage and conviction, a man of 
ideals and action alike.
    Since he has assumed his awesome responsibilities, he has 
demonstrated an exceptional ability to combine his evident concern over 
domestic matters with a genuine interest in foreign policy. Under his 
leadership, the United States has played a pivotal role in the 
maintenance of world peace and security. Such a role is indispensable in 
an era of profound change and--[inaudible]. It was only natural that the 
Middle East received much attention from the President and the American 
people.
    During the past 2 years, much has been achieved on the road to 
peace. To a great extent, this was due to the active role the Clinton 
administration undertook with vigor and perseverance. And it has been a 
success story all along.
    We are not unmindful of the obstacles that remain on the road to a 
comprehensive and lasting peace. But we are determined to pursue that 
goal with vigor and determination. As you move to consolidate the steps 
which were taken on the Palestinian and Jordanian tracks, we cannot lose 
sight of the centrality of the Syrian and Lebanese track. Today I 
discussed with President Clinton the necessity of making meaningful 
progress on these tracks. I assured our guests that President Asad is 
wholeheartedly committed to a just and honorable peace. So is the 
Lebanese leadership. Hence, we should spare no effort in order to reach 
that goal without delay. In the weeks ahead, we shall work together and 
more in harmony toward that end.
    We must rekindle hope in the hearts of the peace-loving forces in 
the region. And with the same goal we must fight despair and violence. 
We deplore the killing of innocent people and attempts to spread fear 
and hatred. The time has come for healing all wounds of the past and of 
creating a better future for Arabs as well as Israelis.
    President Clinton, you have made a great contribution to the 
solidification of the ever-growing friendship between our two nations. 
Through your words and deeds alike you have cemented our partnership for 
peace and development. This role is highly appreciated by our people.
    In our discussion this morning we explored new ways and means for 
strengthening our cooperation even further. We are determined to make it 
a stable and everlasting aspect of our policy.
    In short, we are in agreement that this relationship, which is based 
on mutual respect and mutuality, is a constant element of progress and 
stability, a model for cooperation and solidarity among nations.
    Much credit goes to you, Mr. President, and your vision and sound 
judgment. I wish you success in the efforts you are exerting during this 
trip. Your decision to make Cairo your first stop is a good omen, for it 
is here in this proud city that the first and most difficult steps and 
decisions towards peace were taken.
    May God Almighty bless your endeavor and guide your steps. And thank 
you.
    President Clinton. Thank you. Thank you, President Mubarak.
    It is fitting that we begin this day, which will include the 
celebration of a new peace between Israel and Jordan, in Egypt with 
President Mubarak. Egypt's courageous example set at Camp David and 
President Mubarak's tireless leadership in the peace process have paved 
the way to the historic progress we celebrate on this day. Mr. 
President, this region, indeed, the entire international community, owe 
to you and your nation a deep debt of gratitude. Egypt led the way. And 
I am proud to stand here with you, the United States is proud to stand 
with Egypt as partners in the pursuit of peace.
    Today I reaffirmed to President Mubarak my commitment to do all I 
can to achieve a comprehensive settlement. The peace we seek calls on 
the parties to do more than lay down arms. We seek reconciliation 
between peoples, cooperation between governments joined by a vision of 
shared destiny. The United States has walked each step with Egypt. 
Despite many sac-


[[Page 1875]]

rifices, the journey to peace has brought Egypt to better times. After 
so many years of conflict and so many casualties, no Egyptian has died 
in battle against Israel since 1973.
    Now we're on the verge of seeing those and other benefits extend 
throughout the region. I salute President Mubarak for the crucial role 
he has played in bringing the Palestinians and the Israelis together. 
Your work helped make possible the historic handshake between Prime 
Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat in the White House last year.
    To keep moving on that front, President Mubarak and I have just met 
with Chairman Arafat. We had a useful discussion about the need to fully 
implement the Declaration of Principles between the Palestinian 
Liberation Organization and Israel. We reviewed the progress toward 
elections and the early empowerment of Palestinian authorities in the 
West Bank.
    I made it clear that the United States places great importance on 
establishing strong and accountable democratic institutions. I also told 
Chairman Arafat that as the Palestinian administration starts to work on 
setting up a system to raise revenues, the United States will lead an 
international effort to support the Israeli-Palestinian agreement on 
early empowerment in the West Bank.
    We also discussed a matter of great urgency, the absolute necessity 
to combat Hamas and all other extremist groups using terror to 
perpetuate hatred. We agreed that the same courage is needed to fight 
the enemies of peace that Chairman Arafat showed in making peace.
    I want to reaffirm that the United States will stand with all 
friends of peace. Terrorists must not be allowed--must not be allowed--
to intimidate the peoples of this region into abandoning the peace 
process. At this moment of opportunity, those who perpetuate violence 
pose the greatest threat to the Palestinian people and to all Arab 
people. The enemies of peace are desperate, but they must not defeat the 
hopeful forces of the future.
    President Mubarak and I discussed our determination to stand as 
partners in this and many other efforts. We have worked on many things 
around the world in the past; we do in the present. I congratulated him 
again on the success of the remarkable population conference here at 
Cairo. We will continue to work together on many fronts, including the 
need to stand up and repel the Iraqi threat to Kuwait.
    Our countries share a commitment to promote economic growth in Egypt 
as well. At my request, the Vice President met with President Mubarak 
when he was in Cairo in September, and they initiated a new partnership 
for economic growth. Earlier this week our two countries agreed to 
establish new committees to support this partnership. The Vice President 
will be saying more about that in the next few months. I believe he'll 
have the opportunity to come back here.
    Again, let me thank President and Mrs. Mubarak for their gracious 
reception. And let me thank President Mubarak especially again for his 
leadership in this process. I am confident we would not be where we are 
today had it not been for him.
    Thank you, sir.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. I'd like to ask both President Mubarak and President Clinton how 
Chairman Arafat responded to your saying that it is an absolute 
necessity to combat Hamas and other groups of terror and how both of you 
interpret Chairman Arafat's comment about the Israel-Jordan agreement, 
saying that those who support it should drink sea water?
    President Mubarak. Chairman Arafat is very keen to put the violence 
of Hamas to an end. I remember when one of the events took place a 
couple of weeks ago, he did his utmost and he captured several of the 
people of Hamas when he heard that the man--the soldier is still in 
Gaza, although it proved that the man was not in Gaza. He came here the 
second day, and Secretary Christopher was here, and he told him about 
the effort which Arafat did to avoid this trouble. Hamas needs 
cooperation between both sides, so as not to spoil the peace process and 
the progress of peace in the area.
    President Clinton. I felt that we got a very firm and unambiguous 
response. Certainly, the position that I took, the position that 
President Mubarak took was very firm and unambiguous. And Chairman 
Arafat said he would continue to do all he could to combat terrorism, 
specifically Hamas but other groups as well. And I am satisfied with the 
response that he gave, and I believe he will attempt to implement it.
    We discussed that and a whole range of other issues. But I believe, 
on this issue, he will continue to do that. He understands, I think, 
clearly that Hamas is his enemy now, that once you

[[Page 1876]]

become a partner in the peace process you have to fight for peace and 
those who seek to undermine it are seeking to undermine you. I think he 
clearly understands that. And I was satisfied with the answer I 
received. And we will have to now proceed to achieve the results. But I 
think the understanding there is clear.
    Q. And what about the Israel-Jordan treaty, his response----
    President Clinton. We did not discuss his comments yesterday. I can 
tell you this: I think that this is a great day, and I think that it 
will continue the process. And I agree with President Mubarak, we have 
to also move on with Syria and with Lebanon. But clearly, the peace 
process is moving in the right direction.
    Q. U.S. President, you are the first American President to visit 
Syria in 20 years. Do you expect to narrow the gap between the Israeli 
and the Syrian viewpoints or produce a breakthrough on this track before 
the end of 1994?
    President Clinton. I expect that we will make some progress. I 
expect that we will narrow the gap. I do not expect this trip to Syria 
to produce a dramatic breakthrough in the immediate aftermath of the 
trip, but I believe we have made a good deal of progress in the last few 
months. I have been quite encouraged by that, and it is on that basis 
and my conviction that both President Asad and Prime Minister Rabin and 
their two peoples want to continue to work for peace that I go to Syria.
    In terms of the timing of a breakthrough, I don't want to commit 
myself to that because that really is up to the parties. They must 
determine the substance and the timing. But I believe we should move as 
quickly as possible, and I am pushing it as quickly as possible. I 
cannot give you a date.
    Q. President Clinton, earlier this week your Secretary of State 
spoke in Washington, and he talked about putting international pressure 
on Iran to deal with Hamas. He didn't name the Western states, but it's 
clear that there are some, perhaps including Germany and France, that 
are believed to be trading with Iran. What kind of international effort 
do you plan to lead to crack down on Iran? And I'm wondering whether 
President Mubarak can talk about perhaps what the Arab world might be 
willing to do to put pressure on other terrorist states as well.
    President Clinton. Well, first of all, let me say that what we want 
to do with regard to Hamas and these other terrorist groups is to try to 
move to put pressure on all points of support for them that we are able 
to determine. And that would include an effort that would go beyond 
Iran.
    Obviously, there are things that can be done that are well-known to 
all of you in the form of refraining from having economic relations. And 
we're going to ask all of our friends throughout the world to support 
this, all the people who are the friends of peace and the enemies of 
terrorism. We ask them to recognize that they cannot have it both ways.
    Q. President Clinton, in connection with terrorism, and also 
Chairman Arafat, how will the U.S. objectively evaluate what he is doing 
to combat terrorism? And is there any plan that the U.S. would have to 
peg the amount of money that it would raise for the implementation of 
the agreement between Israel and PLO to his cracking down on terrorism?
    President Clinton. Let me answer the second part of that question 
first, because I think it's important to get this out. There was 
absolutely no discussion of tying any effort--of aid by the United 
States or the international community to this effort. The effort to 
combat terrorism is the first step that is the precondition to making 
the whole peace process work.
    So we did discuss the need that we have always acknowledged and 
supported to continue with elections in the territories, to have 
economic development assistance. But there was no quid pro quo 
discussion. Chairman Arafat started the discussion himself with his 
desire to combat terrorist groups and with his willingness to do all 
that he could.
    I think that we would all admit that it is impossible to guarantee 
100 percent success in any effort. I mean, in the United States we're 
not 100 percent successful in combating crime or organized crime. What 
we want is 100 percent effort. And I think it will be obvious to the 
Israelis, who are partners in the peace process with the PLO, and to the 
United States and to the other parties whether that effort is being 
made. I must say that from my own observation, based on what our own 
people have told me, there has been an increasing effort in the last 
several weeks on the part of Chairman Arafat and the authorities in the 
territories to do what they can on this front. And I think it will 
continue to increase. And I think President Mubarak agrees with that.

[[Page 1877]]

    President Mubarak. Yes, I agree with that.
    Q. President Clinton, sir, what is the statement you're making after 
speaking so strongly against terrorism by visiting Syria, a country 
which the U.S. still labels as an advocate of terrorism?
    And President Mubarak, please, did you discuss the issue of the 
sanctions imposed against Libya with President Clinton, and if so, do 
you hope for a lifting--a complete or partial lifting of these sanctions 
soon?
    President Clinton. Let me answer the Syrian question first and then 
defer to President Mubarak.
    Terrorism is still an issue between our two countries, and it cannot 
be ignored. But the most successful way to end terrorism in this part of 
the world is to have a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Syria is 
a partner in the peace process. We are making progress in that process. 
I believe President Asad wants a comprehensive peace and wants an end to 
terrorism as a part of that. And therefore, I think it would be a 
mistake for me not to take this opportunity, since I'm in the region, to 
try to go to Syria to further the peace process.
    President Mubarak. Concerning the sanctions in Libya and Iraq, we 
just touched these two issues in general. They were on my agenda. We 
just had a very short discussion about it.
    Q. Are we still at the status quo now as it is, or will there be 
developments with regards to these sanctions?
    President Mubarak. This needs further discussions with the United 
States.
    Q. The question from Egyptian television is addressed to the two 
heads of state. President Clinton, President Mubarak, what's the 
American viewpoint and the Egyptian viewpoint respectively on the delay 
on implementation of self-rule in the territories?
    President Clinton. The American viewpoint is that we should proceed 
as quickly as we can. We want to have--we want to support the elections 
process, and we want to support the multinational development process in 
the territories. And we do support that. We also are very sensitive to 
and understand the security concerns of Israel. So one of the things 
that I had hoped to do in my meeting with Chairman Arafat, and again in 
my meetings in Israel, is to try to work through the differences on both 
sides about that so we can proceed with the elections and proceed with 
the development process. I think we should do it sooner rather than 
later, giving proper concern to the security needs of Israel.
    President Mubarak. Concerning the Egyptian point of view toward 
this, we are with the continuation of the implementation of the 
declaration principles. But if we are going to respond to terroristic 
action, this will delay the peace process and this will not lead to any 
security and any comprehensive peace in the whole area.
    Thank you very much.
    Q. And Mr. President, please, did Chairman Arafat ask your 
assistance or mediation to solve the problem of the holy places in 
Jerusalem between Jordan and Palestine?
    President Clinton. No, we did not discuss that at all.
    President Mubarak. Let's just leave it at that.

Note: The President's 75th news conference began at approximately 9:45 
a.m. at El-Qubbeh Palace. In his remarks, he referred to Yasser Arafat, 
Chairman, Palestine Liberation Organization.