    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [January 20, 2000]
    [Pages 92-93]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority and an Exchange With
    Reporters
    January 20, 2000

    Israel-Palestinian Peace Talks

        President Clinton. Let me just say I am delighted to have Chairman
    Arafat back in the White House. As all of you know, I am absolutely
    committed to seeing a comprehensive peace agreement involving the
    Palestinians and the Israelis, committed to doing whatever I can to
    achieve that. The resolution of the issues between Palestinians and
    Israelis is at the core of the comprehensive effort that we all want to
    make for peace throughout the Middle East, and we have to work through
    them.
        As in any process like this, there must be inevitable and difficult
    compromises. No one can get everything that either side wants. But I'm
    convinced we can get there, and I'm convinced that Chairman Arafat is
    proceeding in great good faith, and so I'm glad to see him, glad he's
    here.
        Q. Mr. President, is it possible for these talks to be completed by
    the deadline for the framework agreement? And if not, would you support
    extending it?
        President Clinton. Well, I think that will have to be worked out
    between the two sides, and specifically between Chairman Arafat and
    Prime Minister Barak. And they will work that
    out. I think the main thing I want you to know is that I'm convinced
    it's possible for them to reach a comprehensive peace in a reasonably
    short period of time. And I'm going to do whatever I can to facilitate
    it.
        Q. Chairman Arafat, so far you've got promises and no action. How
    optimistic are you, sir, about the implementation of the accords?
        Chairman Arafat. First of all, a few days ago we did receive the 5
    percent of the territories according to the Sharm al-Sheikh agreement.
    And within 2 weeks we will receive the 6th percent. And this is
    something that Prime Minister Barak and I agreed to 24 hours, 48 hours
    before arriving in the United States.
        There is no doubt that there will be difficulties along the way.
    These are expected difficulties. But there is also determination that we
    have to reach the comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle
    East, not only on the Palestinian track but also on the Syrian and
    Lebanese tracks, as well.

    [[Page 93]]

        And here I would like to take this opportunity to thank President
    Clinton for all the efforts that he's exerting on the Syrian track, the
    Lebanese track, and of course, on our Palestinian track.
        Q. Mr. Chairman, what do you think of the President's remark, which
    was said earlier at the State Department--so it must be U.S. policy,
    we're hearing it all over town now--that nobody can expect 100 percent,
    that there has to be some compromise. You know, we've just had an
    experience with Syria insisting on 100 percent, and the talks are now
    suspended. Will you settle for less than 100 percent of your demands?
        President Clinton. I don't agree with that, by the way, that
    characterization of the question in the Syrian-Israeli talks.
        Q. Okay.
        Chairman Arafat. The negotiations is the best way. This is what
    happened with Egypt; this is what happened with Jordan; and this is what
    will happen with Syria, as well as Lebanon; and also it happened with
    the Palestinians with the help of President Clinton.
        Q. Missing the deadline of February, will that inevitably mean the
    missing of the deadline of September, too, or will you work not to do
    that?
        President Clinton. I don't think anything is inevitable here. I
    think that both these leaders and these parties
    are absolutely committed to resolving this in the most expeditious
    possible way. So I think we should always let them speak for themselves
    and make their own decisions, and I'll do my best to be helpful.
        Q. [Inaudible]--comprehensive peace in the Middle East in that one
    year?
        President Clinton. Well, we certainly could have, and I'll be
    disappointed if we don't, because we have the leaders who can do it, the
    issues are clear--even if they're difficult, they're clear. And I
    certainly think we could have it, and I'm going to do everything I can,
    every day I've got, to try to achieve it.

    Israel-Syria Peace Talks

        Q. Mr. President, when can we expect talks on the Syrian tracks to
    be resumed?
        President Clinton. I think they'll both have something to say about that before long. I
    think they'll keep working right along. This is not--you shouldn't
    overreact to what has been said about this. I think they're both
    completely determined to get this resolved in an appropriate way. And I
    think they'll have things to say about it as we go along here. But don't
    read too much into this. Actually, the parties have a framework for
    making these decisions that's more clear and more bridgeable than I
    would have thought by now.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:22 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Ehud Barak of
    Israel. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.