[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
[June 8, 2002]
[Pages 948-953]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference With President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt at Camp David, Maryland
June 8, 2002

    President Bush. Mr. President, thank you. Welcome to Camp David. It 
is a joy for me and Laura to have you here at this beautiful part of our 
country, a place where we like to come and relax and a place where we 
like to welcome our friends.
    We had a--the President and I had a good dinner last night. We 
talked a lot about our mutual concerns, opportunities to make the world 
a more peaceful place. And we got up and had a good private visit and 
then met with our delegations.
    First, I want to thank the President of Egypt for his country's 
strong support in our war against terror. I know there's been a lot of 
focus on, obviously, the Middle East, and I'll mention that in a second, 
but we're still in a war against people who want to harm America and 
people who want to harm Egypt. And we've had--we've got a good friend, 
Americans have a good friend, when it comes to this war on terror, in 
Egypt.
    The President understands that we've got a long way to go in order 
to be successful. He's now been told again by me that my most important 
job is to secure our homeland, and this country is plenty tough and 
plenty patient and plenty determined to achieve that objective.
    Obviously, we spent time talking about the Middle East, and we share 
a common vision of two states living side by side in peace. And I 
appreciated so very much his--listening to his ideas as to how to 
achieve that objective, that grand goal. The world--the Palestinians 
hurt, and I know that. And my concern is for the Palestinian people. And 
my view is, is that if the Palestinian people have a government that is 
transparent and open and willing to serve the people, Israel will be 
better off, Egypt will be better off, America will be better off, and 
we're more likely to achieve peace. And we discussed how to achieve 
those objectives.
    The President of Egypt has had a lot of experience, and I appreciate 
his experience, and I appreciate his advice. Anytime he is willing to 
give it, I'm willing to listen. And so, Mr. President, I want to thank 
you for your time, and I appreciate your

[[Page 949]]

friendship, and welcome you to Camp David.
    President Mubarak. Thank you very much for that. I will deliver my 
speech in Arabic language.
    President Bush. He's going to speak in Arabic. That's good. The 
American press----
    President Mubarak. I would like to thank President Bush for his 
welcoming remarks, which reflects the deep friendship between us. During 
our stay at Camp David here, I conducted extensive discussions with 
President Bush on a range of issues of mutual concern, most important of 
which was the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, and especially 
the Palestinian-Israeli track and its negative impact on regional and 
international security in general.
    There is no doubt that the peace process in the Middle East is 
passing through a critical junction which requires us to exert all 
possible efforts on the political and security tracks, to rebuild the 
confidence between the parties, on one hand, and to relaunch a serious 
political negotiations aimed at final settlement on the other.
    While Egypt's leading quest for peace in the Middle East has 
achieved its objectives here at Camp David 24 years ago, we have come 
back together today fully committed to exert our maximum efforts once 
again, so that peace and security may prevail in the Middle East region. 
And I must affirm here that your personal role, Mr. President, and the 
role of the United States today remains as important as was America's 
contribution towards reaching the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel 
more than two decades ago. And we look forward to the continuation of 
the effective role.
    The entire international community, ladies and gentlemen, has 
supported the courageous vision of peace in the Middle East put forward 
by President Bush in his speech before the United Nations last fall. 
This vision was adopted by the Security Council in its Resolution 1397, 
which affirmed that peace in the Middle East must be based on two 
states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side. We in Egypt and the 
entire Arab world support this vision and strongly believe that it 
represents the only way to achieve progress towards the settlement of 
the conflict.
    Now it is time to move to implement our common vision in an 
effective and systematic way. And we have a strong foundation to 
implement that vision, and that is represented in the principles adopted 
by the Madrid peace conference and supported by the initiative adopted 
by the Arab League summit conference in Beirut, which affirmed Arab 
rights while responding to all Israeli concerns. These are the terms of 
references that should govern all future efforts.
    For us to be able to achieve this vision, the confidence that was 
lost between the two parties during the previous period must be rebuilt 
as we embark on serious political negotiations that will contribute to 
the realization of our objectives. In this context, Israel must: End the 
siege imposed on the Palestinian people and withdraw its forces to 
positions occupied on September 28, 2000; and halt assassinations and 
the repeated incursions in the territories under the control of the 
Palestinian Authority; and immediately halt all settlement activities in 
the occupied territories, including the illegal confiscation of land and 
expansion of settlements under the pretext of natural growth or any 
other consideration.
    At the same time, the Palestinian Authority must continue to 
intensify its efforts towards restructuring in a way that facilitates 
the better performance of its functions based on the principles of 
transparency and trust, in preparation for the establishment of its 
sovereign, independent state. The Palestinian Authority must continue in 
its firm implementation of President Arafat's decisive commitment to 
halt the violence and intensify the security cooperation and 
coordination under the supervision of the United States.

[[Page 950]]

    It also falls upon all of us, as partners in peace, to work towards 
alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, through economic 
and humanitarian assistance, so as to remove the feeling of despair that 
stands in the way of reaching the desired settlement.
    Mr. President, Egypt and the Arab states have affirmed their 
condemnation and rejection of the use of force and violence against 
civilians. Egypt has also affirmed its commitment to continue its major 
role in the search for peace. At the same time, the United States has 
affirmed, by putting forward this clear vision for peace, its commitment 
to effectively play its role in its capacity as the main sponsor of the 
peace process.
    We look forward to a strong American engagement in the coming phase 
to implement this vision, in the context of an agreed timeframe and 
through negotiations on a permanent settlement that should lead to the 
establishment of a Palestinian state on the entire West Bank and Gaza 
and East Jerusalem. For the settlement to be just and comprehensive, 
Israel must withdraw from all the Arab territories occupied during 1967, 
including Syrian and Lebanese territories.
    While pursuing our efforts, it must be kept in mind that there are 
forces that lack the conviction of our joint vision and will continue to 
obstruct our efforts to move towards a final and a comprehensive 
settlement. The way to confront the enemies of peace is to move forward 
with courage and determination to renew hope to the Palestinians and 
Israeli peoples in the future in which prosperity and stability prevail 
and away from the menace of violence and confrontation.
    My meeting here today with President Bush has reaffirmed our joint 
determination to revive the hopes of peace through the longstanding 
partnership between our two countries and through which we have and will 
continue together to reach historic achievements on the path of peace 
between Arabs and Israelis for the benefit of the peoples of the region 
and also for the benefit of regional and international stability.
    The depth of Egyptian-American relations represents one of the 
essential cornerstones in our joint pursuit of peace and stability in 
the Middle East. In this context, we discussed today means to strengthen 
our bilateral ties, including our trade and economic relations, so as to 
reinforce Egypt's ability to implement its plans for economic reform and 
to guide us toward a more balanced trade relationship between us.
    Our meeting today coincides with a visit by the United States Trade 
Representative, Mr. Robert Zoellick, to Egypt, to meet with his 
counterparts on the Egyptian side, which I hope that it will result in 
tangible progress in furthering our relationships to new heights.
    Mr. President, I look forward to working with you in the weeks and 
months ahead to chart the correct path on the road to peace, so that we 
can complete together the implementation of the mission that we have 
started together here at Camp David more than 20 years ago to achieve 
just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East. I am 
confident that our joint efforts, supported by a solid determination, 
will lead us to achieve this goal in the near future.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you.
    Q. President Bush----
    President Bush. Hold on a second, please. We'll answer two questions 
apiece, two from the American side, two from the Egyptian side. I'm 
going to call on the American first. If you don't mind, contain your 
questions to one of us, if that's possible. And we'll start with Mr. 
Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press], who I know--I know will 
adhere to that rule. [Laughter]
    Ron Fournier.
    Q. Mr. President----
    President Bush. Thank you.

[[Page 951]]

Timetable for a Palestinian State

    Q. Do you agree with President Mubarak that there needs to be a 
deadline for a Palestinian state to give the Palestinian people hope? 
And on the other hand, I want to know if President Mubarak--the reforms 
of the Palestinian Authority that you say--that President Bush says will 
give the Israelis hope, can they be done with Arafat still in charge?
    President Bush. See, it's hard to reform the press. [Laughter] It 
may be harder to reform the press than to implement the needed reforms 
in the Palestinian territories. Your first question was?
    Q. Do you agree with President Mubarak that there needs to be a 
deadline----
    President Bush. Yes. Here's the timetable I have in mind. We need to 
start immediately in building the institutions necessary for the 
emergence of a Palestinian state which, on the one hand, will give hope 
to the Palestinian people and, on the other hand, say to the world, 
including the neighborhood, that there is a chance to defeat--to live in 
peace, to defeat terror. And that's important.
    I also agree with the President of Egypt that, as we discussed the 
development of institutions necessary to provide hope and security in 
the region, that we've got to be talking about a political--have a 
political dialog. Part of the consultation process that we are having is 
to determine what's feasible in terms of that political dialog, what's 
feasible in terms of the timetable that a lot of people are anxious to 
talk about. We're not ready to lay down a specific calendar, except for 
the fact we need to get started quickly, soon, so that we can seize the 
moment.
    And one of the things I'm most appreciative about, about the--about 
the progress made to date is, people now understand they have 
responsibilities. As I said in my April 4th speech, I talked about the 
responsibilities necessary to achieve a vision of peace. And President 
Mubarak has shown that he is accepting responsibility. He's very much 
involved in this process, and he's very much anxious that we work 
together to achieve that which is necessary and, to put it in his words, 
to come up with an effective and systematic way to get to the vision 
that we've--that I've outlined.
    President Mubarak. What's your second question, please?

Reform of the Palestinian Authority

    Q. I just want to know whether those Palestinian reforms that 
President Bush says have to happen first, can they be done, sir, in your 
opinion, by Yasser Arafat?
    President Mubarak. Look, we should give this man a chance. We are 
working very hard in cooperation with the United States for the reform 
in the Palestinian Authority. Such a chance will prove that he is going 
to deliver or not. If he's going to deliver, I think everybody will 
support him. If he's not going to deliver, his people will tell him 
that.
    Q. President Bush----
    President Bush. The President gets to decide what member from the 
Egyptian press corps----
    President Mubarak. Yes.
    Q. President Bush----
    President Bush. Good going. He selected you. [Laughter]

Israeli Settlements

    Q. Right. Nihal Saad, from Egyptian Television. Thank you for giving 
me the floor. It has been the stand of successive American 
administrations that the settlements, the Israeli settlements, is an 
obstacle to peace. But ever since Prime Minister Sharon came to office, 
there has been a steep increase in the settlements by almost 40 percent. 
Now, what is the stand of your administration concerning the settlement 
building, and what message would you tell the Israeli Government 
concerning that issue?
    President Bush. Well, on April 4th I delivered the speech that I'm 
talking about,

[[Page 952]]

that I would hope you'd review what I said. I said, all parties have got 
responsibilities to achieve peace, including the Israelis. And Israel 
must work to create the conditions necessary to achieve peace. And my 
position hasn't changed since that speech.
    Adam [Adam Entous, Reuters].

Reform of the Palestinian Authority

    Q. Thank you. Mr. President--President Bush, are you confident you 
will get support from Arab leaders for reaching beyond Yasser Arafat to 
other Palestinian representatives?
    President Bush. Look, Adam, here's what I'm confident about. I'm 
confident about the--Arab leaders understand the need for us to develop 
the institutions necessary for a peaceful and hopeful state to emerge.
    Chairman Arafat, as far as I'm concerned, 
is not the issue. The issue is whether or not the Palestinian people can 
have a hopeful future. I have constantly said I am disappointed in his 
leadership. I think he's let the Palestinian people down. And so, 
therefore, my focus is on the reforms necessary to help the 
Palestinians.
    The President believes that the Chairman--
if you notice, he didn't say he's going to deliver--should be given a 
chance to deliver. And that's an interesting point of view. I also 
happen to believe that there is plenty of talent in--amongst the 
Palestinians, and that if we develop the institutions necessary for the 
development of a state, that talent will emerge.
    The issue is bigger than one person. The issue is an issue that 
really deals with people who suffer and people who have no hope. And I 
believe--I believe it is in the Palestinians' interest to have an 
independent state, at peace with its neighbor, and I believe it's in 
Israel's interest. Otherwise, I would not have taken this position.
    Last question.

Halting Middle East Violence

    Q. President Mubarak--my question is addressed for President 
Mubarak. And I want to have a comment from Mr. President Bush, if you 
please. My name is Hanaa Simery, from the Egyptian Television, and my 
question is, is it realistic to ask for a complete halt of violence 
between the Palestinians and Israelis as a precondition for resuming any 
political negotiations?
    President Mubarak. Me or you?
    President Bush. I don't care. Who would you like to answer it?
    Q. Both of you.
    President Bush. Both of us, okay.
    President Mubarak. Both of us, on the same question. All right----
    President Bush. Maybe we'll give the same answer. [Laughter]
    President Mubarak. I think we have the experience, since the Prime 
Minister took office, that he will never start the negotiation unless 
violence could come to an end--even that before Prime Minister Sharon. 
Till now violence didn't stop, and I don't think the violence will come 
to an end unless the people feel that there is hope for peace and there 
is something to show that peace is coming. If they didn't feel that, 
they will not stop violence; it will continue forever.
    President Bush. My attitude about violence is this: People have 
responsibilities to do everything they can to stop violence. Chairman 
Arafat must do everything in his power to stop 
the violence, to stop the attacks on Israel--I mean everything. And that 
includes reforming the security forces so that they are--their primary 
function is to deal with violence.
    The Arab world must work hard to defeat terror and violence. My 
opening comments were sincere about the President of Egypt; he's working 
hard to defeat violence and terror. And so the one thing I'm certain of 
is that we've all got to focus a lot of energy and attention on stopping 
violence, not only in the Middle East but all around the world.
    See, there are terrorists who would love to destroy any peace 
process, and we have

[[Page 953]]

the responsibility to prevent them from doing so. And that means working 
all the time to stop it from happening. There are people who hate 
freedom, and they'll use terror to destroy innocent lives to achieve 
evil objectives.
    And all of us--that's what I'm certain about--all of us must work--
I'm certain if we don't work together and assume our responsibilities, 
it's going to be hard to win the war on terror. I'm certain if we stay 
focused and tough and resolute, we can win the war on terror. And as we 
remain tough, we're going to be able to achieve peace in parts of the 
world where people have kind of said there's no chance for peace, and 
it's not just in the Middle East--not just in the Middle East.
    Thank you all very much for coming.
    President Mubarak. Good job. Thank you.
    President Bush. Good job.

Note: The President's news conference began at 10:32 a.m. outside Holly 
Cabin. President Mubarak's opening remarks were in Arabic, and his 
remarks were translated by an interpreter. In his remarks, President 
Bush referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority. 
President Mubarak referred to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel.