    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [May 24, 2002]
    [Pages 873-874]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V.
    Putin on the Situation in the Middle East
    May 24, 2002

        Mindful of the responsibility the United States of America and the
    Russian Federation as co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, we
    believe that there is an opportunity to move away from the current
    unacceptable situation of terror and violence towards a resumption of
    meaningful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. We are agreed
    that we have to move aggressively to help the parties take advantage of
    this opportunity. In the Middle East, neither conflict nor peace is
    inevitable. Peace will not come to the Middle East on its own. We must
    do all we can for the attainment of peace.
        In that spirit, the United States and Russia pledge their maximum
    efforts to realize the vision of a negotiated settlement, including two
    states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace and security within
    recognized borders. This should become part of a comprehensive
    settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute based on UN Security Council
    resolutions 242 and 338, the Madrid principles, and the principle of
    land for peace, and existing agreements and understandings. We share
    these approaches, which were reflected in UN Security Council resolution
    1397.
        We reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of all terrorist acts,
    considering terrorism and any form of violence an absolutely
    unacceptable means for achieving political goals. At the same time,
    recognizing the legitimate right of Israel to fight terrorism, we urge
    the Israelis and Palestinians to consider carefully the consequences of
    any actions they may take and to work to create and sustain an
    environment in which the parties can return to a serious political
    dialogue. We urge the parties to move forward on a settlement between
    Israel and the Palestinians along the lines of the goals outlined by the
    President of

    [[Page 874]]

    the Russian Federation in his March 26 message to the Arab Summit in
    Beirut and by the President of the United States at the UN General
    Assembly last November and advanced by him in his April 4 statement on
    the Middle East.
        The United States and Russia are encouraged by several recent
    signals that have created a window of opportunity: the peaceful
    resolution--with the cooperation of the Israeli government and the
    Palestinian Authority--of the standoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem and
    the recent Israeli withdrawals from Palestinian areas; the Arab League's
    endorsement of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah's initiative; and the May 12 joint call by the Saudi,
    Egyptian, and Syrian leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh for a negotiated
    solution and an end to all forms of violence. The Arab states have an
    essential role to play in the search for a just peace.
        We believe that the parties themselves and the international
    community should seize this opportunity by pursuing a comprehensive
    strategy that includes the following parallel steps: security and
    freedom from terror and violence for both Israelis and Palestinians;
    serious and accelerated negotiations leading to a just political
    settlement; and efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs and help
    promote the rebuilding of strong, accountable, democratic, and market-
    oriented institutions as the basis for a vibrant Palestinian state. This
    will require vigorous efforts by the Palestinian leadership and action
    by all parties concerned to create an environment in which progress can
    be made in all the above mentioned directions.
        The United States and Russia reaffirm their commitment, expressed
    most recently at the April 10 and May 2 meetings of the ``Quartet,''
    composed of the United States, Russia, European Union, and United
    Nations, to undertake all efforts to help Israel and the Palestinian
    Authority in the achievement of these goals. We are prepared to provide
    humanitarian and economic assistance to the Palestinians at this time of
    urgent need. We are also prepared to assist in the reconstruction of
    Palestinian institutions, including those of the Palestinian Authority,
    in order to lay the foundation of a future Palestinian state worthy of
    the Palestinian people and able to live as a good neighbor in peace with
    Israel.
        The United States and Russia are committed to using an international
    meeting this summer to create serious momentum to move forward on our
    comprehensive strategy for peace in the Middle East.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.