[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[October 17, 2000]
[Pages 2209-2211]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Remarks With President Hosni Mubarak of 
Egypt at the Conclusion of the Middle East Summit in Sharm al-Sheikh
October 17, 2000

    President Mubarak. In the name of God Almighty; to His Excellency, 
Bill Clinton; His Highness, King Abdullah, son of Hussein; His 
Excellency, Prime Minister Barak; Mr. Chairman Arafat; U.N. Secretary-
General Kofi Annan; Mr. Javier Solana, High Representative of the 
European Union: We spent the past 2 days since we started our summit in 
constructive discussions and extensive dialog about all the aspects of 
the escalating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, 
discussions aimed at restoring the situation back to normal, through 
withdrawing the occupying forces, lifting the blockade, putting an end 
to violent acts, taking measures aiming at restoring trust and 
confidence to the two Palestinian and Israeli sides, with a view to 
resuming the peace efforts after the situation is stabilized in the 
region.
    Before I give the floor to His Excellency, President Bill Clinton, 
the President of the United States of America, in his capacity as the 
key sponsor of the peace process, to present his report on the outcome 
of our relentless efforts over the 2 days, I would like to stress a 
number of key points that we should take into account in the stage to 
come.
    First, the outcome we have reached in this summit may not meet the 
expectations of all peoples. However, they constitute at the same time a 
basis on which we can build on if we have good intentions and if the 
real desire to achieve peace is there.
    Secondly, the most important thing in the vision of all peoples in 
the days to come is the extent to which the two parties are committed to 
implement what has been agreed upon precisely and how far they are 
willing to push the peace process forward. Hence, the following days 
will witness redeployment of the Israeli forces, lift the blockade 
imposed on 3 million Palestinian people, reopening airports, ports, 
crossing points in order to pacify the Palestinian streets and bring 
matters back to normal.
    Number three, our ultimate objective must and will be reaching a 
just and comprehensive peace. We do appreciate the leading role assumed 
by the United States of America, the key sponsor of the peace process, 
and the sponsorship of Mr. Bill Clinton. And we highly commend the role 
he assumed including his strenuous efforts he exerted during this 
summit, which were crowned in reaching an agreement.

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    It's my fervent hope that the peace process will go on as planned 
and that we avoid having recourse to provocative acts, confrontations. 
Rather, we have to establish a constructive dialog in order to settle 
all the unresolved problems, to arrive at a peace agreement in a context 
of full respect of religious sanctities and the right of peoples to live 
in peace and stability.
    And now I give the floor to His Excellency, President Bill Clinton, 
the President of the United States of America.
    President Clinton. First of all, I want to thank President Mubarak 
and his able team for making it possible for us to have this meeting 
that we have held in this magnificent and beautiful place. I especially 
want to thank President Mubarak for Egypt's consistent and pivotal 
partnership in the peace process and for playing a critical role in our 
efforts here. I also want to thank His Majesty King Abdullah for his steadfast leadership for peace, which 
again was in evidence.
    I would like to thank the E.U. high commissioner, Javier 
Solana, my longtime friend, who worked with me 
to bring an end to violence in the Balkans and now is working in the 
Middle East. And especially I want to thank Secretary-General Kofi 
Annan, who has been here now in the region for 
more than a week and who has worked tirelessly to bring an end to 
violence and to make this meeting possible.
    But of course, the greatest credit for the progress we have made 
today belongs to Prime Minister Barak and 
Chairman Arafat, who have had to overcome the 
difficulties of these last several days, and we all recognize that 
theirs was the primary decision to make.
    Our meeting has not been easy because the last 2 weeks have been so 
hard, a tragic and terrible confrontation costing many lives and 
injuries, threatening everything that we have worked to achieve between 
Israelis and Palestinians and throughout the region over the past 7 
years now. Even as we meet, the situation in the territories remains 
tense. Yesterday again was violent.
    This is a reminder of the urgency of breaking the cycle of violence. 
I believe we have made real progress today. Repairing the damage will 
take time and great effort by all of us.
    When we leave here today, we will have to work hard to consolidate 
what we have agreed. Let me summarize what has been agreed so there will 
be no misunderstanding.
    Our primary objective has been to end the current violence so we can 
begin again to resume our efforts toward peace. The leaders have agreed 
on three basic objectives and steps to realize them.
    First, both sides have agreed to issue public statements 
unequivocally calling for an end of violence. They also agreed to take 
immediate, concrete measures to end the current confrontation, eliminate 
points of friction, ensure an end to violence and incitement, maintain 
calm, and prevent recurrence of recent events.
    To accomplish this, both sides will act immediately to return the 
situation to that which existed prior to the current crisis, in areas 
such as restoring law and order, redeployment of forces, eliminating 
points of friction, enhancing security cooperation, and ending the 
closure and opening the Gaza airport. The United States will facilitate 
security cooperation between the parties as needed.
    Second, the United States will develop, with the Israelis and 
Palestinians as well as in consultation with the United Nations 
Secretary-General, a committee of factfinding on the events of the past 
several weeks and how to prevent their recurrence. The committee's 
report will be shared by the U.S. President with the U.N. Secretary-
General and the parties prior to publication. A final report shall be 
submitted under the auspices of the U.S. President for publication.
    Third, if we are to address the underlying roots of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, there must be a pathway back to negotiations and a 
resumption of efforts to reach a permanent status agreement based on the 
U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and subsequent 
understandings. Toward this end, the leaders have agreed that the United 
States would consult with the parties within the next 2 weeks about how 
to move forward.
    We have made important commitments here today against the backdrop 
of tragedy and crisis. We should have no illusions about the 
difficulties ahead.
    If we are going to rebuild confidence and trust, we must all do our 
part, avoiding recrimination and moving forward. I'm counting on each of 
us to do everything we possibly can in the critical period ahead.
    I am sure it will be a disappointment to some of you, but one of the 
things that all the leaders agreed was that our statement should stand 
on

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its own and we should begin by promoting reconciliation and avoiding 
conflict by forgoing questions today.
    Thank you very much.

Note: President Mubarak spoke at 1:43 p.m. at the Jolie Ville Golf 
Resort. In their remarks, the two Presidents referred to King Abdullah 
II of Jordan; Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel; Chairman Yasser 
Arafat of the Palestinian Authority; United Nations Secretary-General 
Kofi Annan; and European Union Council Secretary General Javier Solana, 
High Representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. 
President Mubarak spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an 
interpreter.