    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 1994)]
    [Pages 91-96]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With President Hafiz al-Asad of Syria in
    Geneva

    January 16, 1994

        President Asad. At the conclusion of the important and constructive
    talks which were conducted today between President Clinton and myself, I
    wish to express my deep satisfaction for what these talks have effected
    in terms of the United States determination to do all it can in order to
    bring the peace process to its desired objective, the objective of
    establishing the just and comprehensive peace in the region through the
    implementation of the U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, and
    425, as well as the principle of land for peace. In this respect, I
    appreciate the fact that, notwithstanding the great importance that
    President Clinton attaches to the internal affairs of his country, he
    has attached a special importance as a full partner and honest
    intermediary to helping the parties reach a comprehensive peace that is
    in the interest not only of the peoples of the region but also the
    people of the world at large.
        Today's meeting between President Clinton and myself came to crown a
    number of exchanges and telephone communications between us over the
    last year. I hope that our meeting today will contribute to the
    realization of the aspirations of the peoples in the region, mainly that
    this new year will be the year of achieving the just and comprehensive
    peace which puts an end to the tragedies of violence and wars endured by
    them for several decades.
        During our meeting, I had the opportunity to stress to President
    Clinton Syria's firm commitment to the principles and bases of the peace
    process and our strong conviction that peace cannot be genuine and
    lasting unless it was comprehensive and based on the principles of
    international legitimacy and justice. This means endeavoring to reach a
    just solution on all tracks.
        Historical evidence, both past and present, have proved that
    separate peace and partial solutions were not conducive to the
    establishment of real peace in the region. In this regard, I would like
    to express my satisfaction that President Clinton himself has committed
    to the objective of comprehensive peace.
        On this basis, we have agreed to work together for the successful
    efforts aimed at putting an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and at
    reaching a genuine and comprehensive peace that enables the peoples of
    the region to focus on the development, progress, and prosperity.
        This meeting has also provided us with the opportunity to exchange
    views over a number of issues including those related to bilateral
    relations between our countries. We have agreed that the noble objective
    toward which we are working requires a qualitative move

    [[Page 92]]

    in these relations. We have also discussed questions related to the
    regional situation, as well as all matters that might constructively
    contribute to the achievement of security and stability in the Middle
    East.
        Syria seeks a just and comprehensive peace with Israel as a
    strategic choice that secures Arab rights, ends the Israeli occupation,
    and enables all peoples in the region to live in peace, security, and
    dignity. In honor we fought, in honor we negotiate, and in honor we
    shall make peace. We want an honorable peace for our people and for the
    hundreds of thousands who paid their lives in defense of the countries
    and the rights.
        There is hardly a home in Syria in which there is no martyr who had
    fallen in defense of his country, nation, and of Arab pride. For the
    sake of all those, for our sons, daughters, and families, we want the
    peace of the brave, a genuine peace which can survive and last, a peace
    which secures the interests of each side and renders to all the rights.
    If the leaders of Israel have sufficient courage to respond to this kind
    of peace, the new era of security and stability in which normal peaceful
    relations among all shall dawn anew.
        President Clinton. I believe you could tell from that statement that
    I have just completed a constructive and encouraging meeting with
    President Asad.
        From the first days of my administration, the achievement of a
    comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, based on
    Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the principle of territory
    for peace, has been one of my highest foreign policy objectives.
        In pursuit of that priority, I have always viewed Syria's
    involvement as critical. That is why, from the outset of our
    administration, I have engaged President Asad in a regular
    correspondence by telephone and letter, and why I'm now pleased to have
    had this opportunity to hear personally President Asad's views about how
    best to make this a year of breakthroughs on all fronts.
        During our meeting, I told President Asad that I was personally
    committed to the objective of a comprehensive and secure peace that
    would produce genuine reconciliation among the peoples of the Middle
    East. I told him of my view that the agreement between Israel and the
    PLO constituted an important first step by establishing an agreed basis
    for resolving the Palestinian problem. I also told him that I believe
    Syria is the key to the achievement of an enduring and comprehensive
    peace that finally will put an end to the conflict between Israel and
    her Arab neighbors.
        President Asad, as you have just heard, shares this objective, not
    just an end to war but the establishment of real and comprehensive peace
    with Israel that will ensure normal, peaceful relations among good
    neighbors.
        Crucial decisions will have to be made by Syria and Israel if this
    common objective is to be achieved. That is why President Asad has
    called for a ``peace of the brave.'' And it is why I join him now in
    endorsing that appeal. Accordingly, we pledged today to work together in
    order to bring the negotiations that started in Madrid over 2 years ago
    to a prompt and successful conclusion.
        Critical issues remain to be resolved, especially the questions
    relating to withdrawal to peace and security--excuse me--the question of
    relating withdrawal to peace and security. But as a result of our
    conversation today, I am confident that we laid the foundations for real
    progress in the negotiations between heads of delegation that will begin
    again next week in Washington.
        President Asad and I also discussed the state of relations between
    the United States and Syria and agreed on the desirability of improving
    them. This requires honestly addressing the problems in our
    relationship. Accordingly, we've instructed the Secretary of State and
    the Syrian Foreign Minister to establish a mechanism to address these
    issues in detail and openly.
        For too long, the Middle East has been denied the benefits of peace.
    And yet, it is within our power to create the conditions that will
    enable Israeli and Arab, Moslem, Christian, and Jew to live together in
    peace. Today's meeting was an important step toward fulfilling that
    vision. We have a lot of work to do, but we are closer to our goal.
        Thank you.

    [[Page 93]]

    Middle East Peace Process

        Q. Mr. President, do you feel that you have a firm commitment from
    President Asad to normalize relations with Israel? And by that I mean
    open borders, free trade, and diplomatic relations.
        President Clinton. The short answer is yes. I believe that President
    Asad has made a clear, forthright, and very important statement on
    normal, peaceful relations.
        Now, in order to achieve those relations, a peace agreement has to
    be negotiated in good faith and carried out. But this is an important
    statement, the first time that there has been a clear expression that
    there will be a possibility of that sort of relationship.
        Q. Mr. President, it has proven that separate agreements were
    unsuccessful, and the proof is the Lebanese accords and the Jericho
    accords. Don't you think that we need a very clear commitment on a
    comprehensive peace? Then regarding the implementation of U.N.
    resolutions, regarding Iraq, U.N. resolutions were implemented. But as
    far as Lebanon and Resolution 425, until now the Security Council
    Resolution was not implemented despite the American approval. So how can
    this situation be improved? How can we get the commitment to implement
    these resolutions?
        Thank you, sir.
        President Clinton. First of all, as to the specifics of
    implementation, that will be part of the process of negotiation. But let
    me answer the first and more important question, I think.
        I think all the parties in this process recognize that it cannot
    succeed unless all the tracks are brought to a successful conclusion.
    That is, I think even--President Asad was very eloquent in our meeting
    today about the question of Lebanon, and Jordan for that matter, in
    saying that even Syria, if it were fully satisfied with its differences
    with Israel, that they could be worked out, that there still would have
    to be a comprehensive peace in which the issues affecting Lebanon,
    issues affecting Jordan, and the issues relating to the PLO would, in
    addition to the Syrian issues, would all be resolved. We are all
    committed to that.
        Q. This is a question for President Asad. Mr. President, President
    Clinton is the fourth President that you're now meeting. Do you think
    you can afford to wait for a fifth one, or have you decided to sign
    peace now?
        President Clinton. I'm glad you got that question.
        Could you repeat the question in Arabic, please?
        Q. No, I cannot repeat the question in--[laughter]--in English. Mr.
    Asad, President Clinton is the fourth American President you're meeting
    now. Do you think you can afford to wait for a fifth one, or have you
    decided to sign peace now?
        President Asad. Yes, we are ready to sign peace now.
        Q. President Clinton, beyond the broad assurances that you and
    President Asad have spoken of here about the willingness to seek peace
    and to negotiate it, do you have, sir, as a result of these meetings,
    any of the kinds of specific, detailed concessions or a sense of
    willingness to make concessions that might make a successful negotiation
    possible? And if so, can you tell us in what areas they are?
        President Clinton. Well, as you know, I have a very strong
    conviction that the specifics of this agreement will have to be
    negotiated by the parties themselves. And even though I have in my mind
    several things, I think that it is very important that those of us who
    are trying to facilitate these discussions not discuss the details of
    them. The parties are going to have to work that out.
        Let me say that an indication has been given here by the very
    important statement that President Asad has already made, stating
    clearly that it is time to end the conflict with Israel, make peace with
    Israel, that the peace should lead to normal and peaceful relations. I
    would hope that this would provoke a positive response in Israel and
    that then the parties would get together and work these details out.
    That is not for the United States to dictate.
        Q. Mr. Clinton, despite the peace negotiations, ever since the
    Madrid Conference, Israel continues with its policy of settlements in
    the occupied Arab countries. Although Syria has signed the Non-
    Proliferation Treaty and has been asking for years for the
    denuclearization of the Middle East as a region, Israel refuses, in
    fact, to sign and ratify

    [[Page 94]]

    this Non-Proliferation Treaty and is still accumulating and amassing
    weapons. Don't you think, sir, that such practices go counter to the
    concept of peace for which you are striving? Thank you.
        President Clinton. First, sir, I believe the question of settlements
    in disputed areas is one of the things that clearly will have to be
    resolved in connection with this peace process, consistent with United
    Nations resolutions and the concept of territory for peace. I said that
    in my opening statement. I expect that to be worked through.
        Secondly, on the question of weapons, I believe the best chance we
    have to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, that include not
    only nuclear but also biological and chemical weapons, and indeed, to
    slow the sophisticated conventional arms race in the Middle East, is to
    finish this peace process successfully. I think that is, as a practical
    matter, the only way to do it, and the United States will work as hard
    as we can toward that objective.
        Q. President Asad, are you clearly stating unequivocally today that
    in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, Syria
    would be prepared to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel,
    including open borders, including tourism, the same kind of peace treaty
    that Israel established with Egypt?
        President Asad. As we all know, especially the United States of
    America and President Clinton, we are endeavoring for a comprehensive
    peace in order for it to be lasting, in order for it to be just. In this
    context, we are striving for the achievement of true peace which
    guarantees the rights of all, a stable life for all. Here lies the
    interests of the peoples in the region and the peoples of the world.
        Myself and President Clinton completely agreed on these issues, the
    requirements for peace. We will respond to these requirements. And you
    know, of course, this will hinge on the discussions and the peace
    negotiations and not to be solved in a press conference.

    Syria-U.S. Relationship

        Q. The U.S.A. is a partner and an honest intermediary. Syria
    responded favorably in order to achieve this peace process in the
    interest of the world. Yet, the U.S.A. is still treating Syria in a
    different manner, different from the manner in which it treats Israel,
    especially in terms of financial and military aid. How would you explain
    this, sir?
        President Clinton. Well, as we have made clear, we have had
    differences over the years with Syria over a number of issues, including
    our differences over questions relating to certain groups, the PKK, the
    Hezbollah, the Jibril group, and others--other issues. We talked about
    these differences for about an hour today without any view toward trying
    to resolve them.
        We agreed on two things, and I think this is very important. One is
    that if we can maintain one another's confidence working toward a
    peaceful solution in the Middle East, that that will do a great deal for
    our bilateral relations and for a better future. And the second is that
    we needed to have a process that had integrity, established by the
    Secretary of State and the Syrian Foreign Minister, that would go beyond
    public exchanges to a very specific delineation of the differences
    between us and an honest effort to resolve them or to make progress on
    them.
        So, sir, I think the best answer to your question is that we think
    that the progress perhaps can be made. We've set up a mechanism to deal
    honestly with the differences between us, and we believe maintaining
    each other's confidence by good faith and effort in the Middle East
    peace process is the most important thing we can do at this moment in
    our history.
        Press Secretary Myers. We'll take one more.

    Lebanese Peace Process

        Q. Mr. President, the subject is so close to your heart, but you
    evaded answering whether you felt that Israel should sign the Non-
    Proliferation Treaty. But my real question is, did you discuss and set a
    timetable for Israeli and Syrian troops to come out of Lebanon?
        President Clinton. We did not have any discussions today about the
    details of any phase of the Middle East peace process because the other
    parties are not here present,

    [[Page 95]]

    and it would not have been an appropriate thing to do.
        Q. [Inaudible]----
        President Clinton. Excuse me. I got one of those helpful little
    hints from one of my staff members down here. I apologize to interrupt
    you. I want to be perfectly forthright, because I don't want to leave a
    false impression that might be adversely interpreted against President
    Asad.
        We did discuss the importance of having the Lebanese peace process
    go on parallel to the Israeli-Syrian process. I reaffirmed my support
    for the Taif Accords, and President Asad agreed that there should be a
    successful conclusion of the peace process which left Lebanon free and
    independent as a nation. So there was no difference between us on the
    objective. And I didn't want anything I said to be read unfairly against
    him on that score. We actually, I think, reached complete meeting of the
    minds.

    Syrian Role in Middle East Peace

        Q. In my view, on the 15th of September at the White House, you
    called for a bigger Syrian role in the peace process and on His
    Excellency President Asad to play a personal role in forging ahead a
    breakthrough in the peace process. Now that you've met President Asad
    face-to-face for the first time, what is your impression of President
    Asad, and how do you view his personal role in achieving that
    breakthrough?
        President Clinton. Well, first of all, I had heard a lot about
    President Asad's legendary stamina in these meetings. [Laughter] And
    when we called a break 4 hours and 20 minutes into our meeting, I can
    tell you that his reputation does not exceed the reality; he deserves
    every bit of it.
        Secondly, we had the opportunity--because we did talk for so long,
    we had the opportunity to exchange not only our views about the issues
    in play at present, but also I had the opportunity to learn President
    Asad's perspective over a period exceeding 20 years now on some of these
    issues. And it reinforced my belief as expressed in September that there
    would be no comprehensive peace in the Middle East unless he were
    willing to take a leadership role and that he has decided to take the
    risks that all these leaders, if they really want peace, are going to
    have to take.
        And so I guess I would have to say that that is the most important
    thing to me, the thing that was most impressive. I believe that he is
    committed to trying to work through this as quickly as possible. And I
    think others will see that commitment and will respond in an appropriate
    way.

    U.S. Role in Middle East Peace

        Q. President Clinton, peace is an international issue. The U.S.
    administration is striving seriously to achieve peace. It is an
    international need; it's a need for the U.S.A. and Syria and Israel. One
    wonders why the peace process tumbles every now and then. And how will
    the U.S. administration, as the major sponsor of the peace process,
    tackle obstacles bound to face us in the future? Thank you.
        President Clinton. First of all, I think it tumbles every now and
    then because it's difficult to do. If it were easy to do it would have
    been done before. The parties have been at odds for a long time. There
    is a lot of mistrust to overcome. There are a lot of details to be
    worked out. And whenever there is any ambiguity at all or uncertainty,
    then that is likely to lead to other problems down the road. So there
    are lots of reasons why it happens.
        What the United States is trying to do is to take advantage of what
    I think is an appropriate moment in history when you have leaders
    committed to getting this done, leaders who understand that the
    interests of their people will be served over the long run by
    comprehensive peace. And so what we can do, I think, is to try to keep
    the process going, keep the trust level up among the parties, try to be
    an honest broker, and work through the problems. And when these
    difficulties do arise, as they have, as you implied, in the aftermath of
    the PLO-Israel accord, to try to help work through them as quickly as
    possible and get things back on track.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President's 45th news conference began at 4:15 p.m. at the
    Intercontinental Hotel. President Asad spoke in Arabic and his remarks
    were translated by an interpreter. A tape was not

    [[Page 96]]

    available for verification of the content of this news conference.