Statement on Israel-Palestinian Peace Process
(May 4, 2004)
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for waiting. Let me now read you what the Quartet has agreed:
We reaffirm our commitment to our shared vision of two states living
side by side in peace and security. One of those states will be Israel
and the other a viable, democratic, sovereign and contiguous Palestine.
We call on both parties to take steps to fulfill their obligations
under the roadmap, as called for in Security
Council Resolution 1515 and in our previous statements, and to meet
the commitments they made at the Red Sea summits in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh.
In that context, we welcome the Israeli Government's recent reaffirmation
of its readiness to implement certain obligations under the roadmap,
including progress towards a freeze on settlement activity. We urge
the Israeli Government to implement these commitments and to fully meet
its roadmap obligations.
We view the present situation in the Middle East with great concern.
We condemn the continuing terror
attacks on Israel and call on the Palestinian
Authority to take immediate action against terrorist groups and
individuals who plan and execute such attacks.
While recognizing Israel's legitimate right to self-defense in the
face of terrorist attacks against its citizens within the parameters
of international humanitarian law, we call on the Government of Israel
to exert maximum efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
We also call on the Government of Israel to take all possible steps
now, consistent with Israel's legitimate security needs, to ease the
humanitarian and economic plight of the Palestinian people, including
increasing freedom of movement for people and groups, both within and
from the West Bank and Gaza,
removing checkpoints and other steps to respect the dignity of the Palestinian
people and improve their quality of life.
The Government of Israel should take no actions undermining trust,
such as deportation, attacks on civilians, confiscation and/or demolition
of Palestinian homes and property, and other measures specified in the Tenet work plan.
The Quartet calls for renewed efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire,
as a step towards dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure
and renewed progress towards peace through implementation of the roadmap.
We note the Government of Israel's pledge that the barrier is a security
rather than political barrier and should be temporary rather than permanent.
We continue to note with great concern the actual and proposed route
of the barrier, particularly as it result in confiscation of Palestinian
land, cuts off the movement of people and groups, and undermines Palestinians'
trust in the roadmap process by appearing to prejudge the final borders
of the future Palestinian state.
We took positive note of Prime
Minister Sharon's announced intention to withdraw from all Gaza
settlements and parts of the West Bank. This should provide a rare moment
of opportunity in the search for peace in the Middle East. This initiative,
which must lead to a full Israeli withdrawal and complete end of occupation
in Gaza, can be a step towards achieving the two-state vision and could
restart progress on the roadmap.
We further note that any unilateral initiatives of the Government of
Israel should be undertaken in a manner consistent with the roadmap
and with the two-state vision that underlies the roadmap.
We reaffirm President Bush's
June 24, 2002 call for an end to the Israeli occupation that began
in 1967 through a settlement
negotiated between the parties.
We also note that no party should take unilateral actions that seek
to predetermine issues that can only be resolved through negotiation
and agreement between the two parties. Any final settlements on issues
such as borders and refugees must be mutually agreed to by Israelis
and Palestinians based on Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515; the terms of reference
of the Madrid Peace Process,
previous agreements; and the initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah endorsed by the Beirut Arab League Summit.
It must also be consistent with the roadmap.
We have agreed to undertake the following steps, with appropriate mechanisms
established to monitor progress and performance by all sides.
First, we will act on an urgent basis, in conjunction with the World
Bank and the UN Special Coordinator and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee
on the basis of a World Bank/UNSCO Rapid Assessment Study, to ensure
that Palestinian humanitarian needs are met, Palestinian infrastructure
is restored and developed, and economic activity is reinvigorated.
Two, we are prepared to engage with a responsible and accountable Palestinian
leadership committed to reform and security performance. The Quartet
members will undertake to oversee and monitor progress on these fronts.
Three, we will need to ensure that -- we will seek to ensure that arrangements
are put in place to ensure security for Palestinians and Israelis, as
well as freedom of movement and greater mobility and access for Palestinians.
We underscore the need for agreed transparent arrangements with all
sides on access, mobility and safety for international organizations
and for bilateral donors and their personnel.
As Israel withdraws, custody of Israeli-built infrastructure and land
evacuated by Israel should be transferred through an appropriate mechanism
to a reorganized Palestinian Authority which, in coordination with representatives
of the Palestinian civil society, the Quartet and other representatives
of the international community, will, as quickly as possible, determine
equitable and transparent arrangements for the ultimate disposition
of these areas.
Four, effective security arrangements continue to be critical to any
possibility of progress. Palestinian security services should be restructured
and retrained consistent with the roadmap to provide law and order and
security to the Palestinians and to end terror attacks against Israel.
Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting
settlement to the Arab-Israel conflict, based on Resolutions 242 and
338. We remind all parties of the need to take into account the long-term
consequences of their actions and of their obligation to make rapid
progress towards resumption of a political dialogue.
An appropriate coordinating and oversight mechanism will be established
under the Quartet's authority. We call on all states in the region to
assert every effort to promote peace and to combat terrorism.
Thank you very much, and we will now take your questions.
MODERATOR: The first one goes to Tony Jenkins of Expresso, Portugal.
QUESTION: My question is to Secretary Powell.
Sir, what is the purpose of this group when George Bush and Ariel Sharon
are making deals on their own that seem to have rendered much of the
work of this group irrelevant?
SECRETARY POWELL: I don't think that the exchange of letters
between Prime Minister Sharon and President Bush has done any such thing.
If you look carefully at the exchange of letters and statements of
President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon, you'll see a commitment to
not prejudging final status issues; you will see a commitment to final
status issues being resolved by agreement between the two parties; you
will see a commitment to 242, 338 and the other relevant resolutions;
you will see a commitment to the roadmap process.
Nothing anticipated doing, as we go forward, will be inconsistent with
the roadmap. So if you read carefully what the President said, and what
he put into the letter to Prime Minister Sharon, you will see that it
is all consistent with what we are doing here today.
And, in fact, what we have done here today is note the new opportunity
that exists for progress in the Middle East because, for the first time,
we have an Israeli Prime Minister who has stood up and said that he
wants to evacuate the settlements: 21 in the West Bank -- excuse me,
21 in Gaza and 4 in the West Bank.
Now, Mr. Sharon had a setback, obviously, with the Likud Party the
other day, but he continues to say that is his goal, to go forward with
evacuations, and he's examining how best to do that.
And I take note that all polling suggests that the majority of Israeli citizens would like to see a movement
in this direction. In the process of discussing this matter with the
Israelis, the President and the Prime Minister took into account certain
realities that we believed were appropriate to be taken into account
with respect to right of return and with respect to alignment of the
armistice lines that might be appropriate.
Previous negotiations knew that these features would have to be taken
into account, these realities would have to be taken into account, and
any future negotiations would have to take them into account. And the
President made it explicit.
I think what we have to look at now is how to move forward, and that's
what the Quartet was focused on today: how to take advantage of this
new opportunity of the evacuation of settlements, as opposed to just
relying on the statements of the past, but something that can actually
occur -- the evacuation of settlements -- and how we can get the Palestinians
ready to take advantage of this opportunity and to get back into the
roadmap, get back on the path to peace.
QUESTION: Thank you. I'd like us to stay on the subject of the
Middle East initially. We'll go to other subjects later.
Barry Schweid, Associated Press, Washington.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) Palestinian Authority, or do you just
mean a strengthened security force? Do you favor reorganizing the leadership
of the Palestinian Authority, so there will be a chance to come to terms
with Israel?
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Basically, yes, security was part of
it, but we didn't focus just on security. In the past, when we talked
about the reform of the Palestinian Authority, we had also talked about
empowered Prime Minister working with the international community and
reform of the security sector. Quite a lot of work has been done with
the Palestinians, particularly by the European Union, on the economic
and financial area, also with the World Bank and IMF involved.
So we are looking at this whole set of reforms that will give us --
will give the Palestinians capacity and will have a counter -- a government
or an authority on the other side that can take on these responsibilities
with full capability.
MODERATOR: Raghida Dergham, Al-Hayat, New York.
QUESTION: Yes, a follow-up to this question, please. What do
you mean by appropriate mechanism when you're saying that you have not
determined once Israeli withdraws from certain areas to whom it will
be transferred?
And, Mr. Secretary Powell, why is it difficult for you to give the
King of Jordan, King Abdallah, a letter of assurances, which is really
not asking very -- for much, although you have give such a letter to
Prime Minister Sharon? Aren't you undermining his efforts? And did he
commit to come to the United States regardless, if you give him the
letter or not?
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: On your first question, let me say
that we are dealing with an evolving situation. As Secretary Powell
indicated, the Likud Party voted against the plan. The Prime Minister
has reaffirmed his intention to go ahead. We are monitoring it and we
are waiting to see how things evolve and then adapt our plans or mechanisms
accordingly.
And so this is why we didn't come up and say, "This is what we
are going to do." We need to see how the situation evolves.
Thank you.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think I -- yeah, the only thing I
would say is that Jordanian officials are in Washington today, and we're
discussing this situation with them and looking over various language
that might be used. But I will just let those discussions take place
among our officials in Washington and leave it at that for the moment
because I've been here for the last couple of hours.
MODERATOR: Benny Avni, Israel Radio, New York.
QUESTION: My question also has to do with that reorganization
plan. There's an effort in the World Bank to raise funds for the Palestinians.
My question: Is this a condition? And is it more involvement of the
international community with the Palestinian economy? And aren't we
risking turning it into an Oil-for-Food-type program?
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: I think the World Bank has already
been involved in the situation for quite some time. As I indicated,
there's been quite a lot of assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
And, of course, when we talk about Palestinians fulfilling certain
obligations and taking on certain action, they need to have the capacity,
they need to be able to organize their society and move ahead. We cannot
let the economic and humanitarian situation wait till some other day.
Whenever we can strengthen their capacity and improve the economic and
humanitarian situation, I think it should be done.
MODERATOR: Conor O'Clery, Irish Times, Dublin. Conor O'Cleary.
QUESTION: I'd like to ask the Russian and Irish Foreign Ministers
what their impressions are. Is the roadmap back on track after this
meeting today?
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Thank you. I think that the roadmap
never disappeared in terms of our moving forward, and today's statement
by the Quartet, which has just been cited by the Secretary General,
confirms definitely that this is the only unified position, the one
unified position, of the Quartet.
FOREIGN MINISTER COWEN: Well, in answer, Conor, I think (inaudible)
meeting of the Quartet at a time when hope is in short supply. But the
Quartet has reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive, inclusive
settlement negotiated between the parties and the support for a two-state
solution and for the roadmap as a means of achieving this.
The final status issues, such as frontiers and refugees, can only be
decided by agreement between the parties themselves, and there's an
important reassurance that a settlement will not be imposed.
We have identified a number of obstacles to progress on which we believe
immediate action is necessary, including violence and terrorism, Israeli
settlement activity, the route of the separation barrier, and we're
agreed that a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza could mark an important
step towards implementation of the roadmap and the realization of a
Palestinian state.
The Quartet is ready to provide support in bringing that about, and
we're looking for the support for the international community in reaffirming
our commitment to such an outcome.
MODERATOR: Dmitry Gorokhov, ITAR-TASS Moscow.
QUESTION: A question for Minister Lavrov. Russia was the initiator
of this meeting?
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Yes, the Quartet members were interested
in this meeting taking place as soon as possible, and so I would call
it a collective initiative, but we did actively call for this type of
meeting to take place.
The focus, I would say, and what just has been noted by the Secretary
General, the Quartet has maintained its position and I would say has
consolidated its position, as was already stated. We agreed to set up
a monitoring and oversight situation to see how each one of the parties
will deal with and comply with their roadmap obligations and the steps
that they have promised to undertake and which they signed to undertake.
It's very important, in particular, not only to reaffirm the roadmap
and all the Security Council resolutions and all the agreements that
the parties have entered into as a basis for a Middle East settlement,
but it's also necessary to achieve this settlement only through negotiations,
including, of course, all final status issues.
So I think that just that alone emphasizes the importance of today's
meeting. And I would add that the Quartet says that any unilateral steps
take have to be in line with all the undertakings under the roadmap,
and the Quartet will facilitate the parties doing this through the oversight
mechanisms I've alluded to and will ask the donors to provide assistance
in reform to the Palestinian Authority and so that Palestinians themselves
will be able to deal with their land.
MODERATOR: Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, Washington. Glenn
Kessler.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, laying aside the question of a letter
for the King of Jordan, there is a perception in the Arab world that
President Bush gave away two of the best bargaining chips the Palestinians
had when he gave his letter to Sharon. Why is the Administration resistant
to the idea of making a balancing statement that would recognize concessions
the Palestinians might receive from the Israelis?
And I'm also interested to see if the other parties up there are interested
in -- whether they think such a statement would be appropriate at this
time.
SECRETARY POWELL: We are in conversation with Arab leaders,
with King Abdallah and his associates, President Mubarak and his colleagues. We are in contact with Prime Minister Abu
Alaa. I spoke to him last week explaining our position. And I think
that the statement we have issued today on behalf of the Quartet, consisting
of the European Union, the United States, the United Nations and the
Russian Federation, I think is some assurance to the Arab world and
to the whole world that we are committed to the basis upon which the
peace process rests. That's the appropriate UN resolutions.
We are committed to the parties agreeing amongst themselves on final
status issues and not having those final status issues opposed. So,
to some extent, I think we've put out a statement here that should provide
that sort of assurance to the Arab world and to Palestinians.
And we are in conversation with our other Arab friends to see what
assurances and comments they may need from us to make sure that they
know that the President has not abandoned them, has not abandoned the
hope for the creation of a Palestinian state. He has not abandoned the
vision that he laid out in June of 2002.
But where were we going with that vision? Where were we going with
this process? Now where were we a few weeks ago?
We were still hoping for something to break, something to come into
the equation that would change the equation and give us something to
work with. We now have that with the stated intention of Prime Minister
Sharon and with the clear support of the Israeli people to move in this
direction. And this gives us something to work with, and we're trying
to take advantage of that opportunity.
That's what the Quartet has done here today. That's what President
Bush did a few weeks ago, by embracing what Prime Minister Sharon stated
was his intention. And so this is the time for us to look at the opportunity
that has been presented, rather than to get into arguments that don't
take us anywhere. This takes us somewhere.
If we seize this opportunity and work with the parties, we'll get back
onto the roadmap, both sides will be expected to meet their obligations
under the roadmap and settlements will be evacuated. Settlements will
be gone from Israeli occupation and that settlement property will be
converted to constructive use on the part of the Palestinian people
who will be free to move about these areas and build a society for themselves,
a civil society, political infrastructure, a security force that will
protect them and also keep terrorists from taking advantage of this
freedom that the Palestinian people will have.
And so we view this as an opportunity to be seized. That's what the
Quartet said today, and I think a statement that we put out today should
be read that way by our friends and colleagues in the Arab world.
MODERATOR: Talal Al-Haj, Al-Arabiya, Washington Bureau.
QUESTION: And my question is to the Secretary General first.
It's a simple question, sir.
Does the announcement of President Bush during the Sharon conference
and the letters exchanged between the two leaders live to the letter
and spirit of 242, 338, and
especially, 194, the right
of return?
And my question to you, to Secretary Powell: President Bush went to
war to uphold the United Nations resolutions in Iraq; 194 preserved
the right of the return for the Palestinians; 338 and 242 also speaks
about the armistice line of 1949. Wasn't it the right podium to change
these rules of the game here in the United Nations, the Security Council,
instead of bilateral letters between the two leaders and through press
conferences?
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: I think on the -- on your first question,
let me say that the Quartet, which includes the U.S., today has reaffirmed
again the basis for the peace process, including the resolution you
have cited, 242, 338. And we also refer to the Arab initiative of Crown
Prince Abdullah, which was endorsed by the Arab League.
And so the basis for moving forward and the land-for-peace is clear
and accepted by all of us. And you heard Secretary Powell indicating
that that is a basis that we are all moving forward, including Washington.
SECRETARY POWELL: 194, 242, 338, 1397, 1551, all well known
to us, and we understand that the parties themselves have to mutually
agree between them before any of these issues are settled in final status
negotiations. That's what the President's exchange of letters with Prime
Minister Sharon says. In every paragraph, that is reaffirmed. So we
believe we are operating on this solid basis.
The President also said -- and this gets to the heart of your question
-- that we have to consider certain realities on the ground. The parties
have to consider them as they go into final status discussions. But,
ultimately, all of the issues that you touch on are matters to be resolved
between the parties themselves and we did not prejudge.
We made a statement that what we believed was appropriate, what might
have to happen in order to get to final settlement. But ultimately,
final settlement is something to be resolved between the two parties
themselves in negotiation with each other, with the assistance of the
international community in a manner consistent with the roadmap, and
the Quartet stands ready to assist in this process.
MODERATOR: Leopold. Reuters. New York.
QUESTION: Secretary Powell, the Prime Minister of Israel is
revising plans because of the Likud vote. Would the U.S. endorse a partial
withdrawal?
And I have another question for the Secretary General and for Minister
Lavrov and Solana.
The last time we sat here, you talked about "bold moves were necessary
by the international community." Do you consider Sharon's move
the bold one, or do you have something else up your sleeve?
SECRETARY POWELL: Since I don't know what Prime Minister Sharon
might do, all I've seen is press reporting of potential modifications,
let's wait and see what he does, rather than give a speculative answer
to a hypothetical possibility.
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Javier, do you want to say something?
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE SOLANA: (Inaudible.)
SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Okay. No, I think on your second question,
let me say that when you look at the communiqué we issued today,
we are taking initiatives and saying things we have not done before.
I have also had a chance to say in this building, when I was asked
if the roadmap was dead, that it may have been in distress, but it wasn't
dead. And today I think we are -- you have seen the effort by the members
of the Quartet to push ahead with the process and work with the parties
to honor their commitments and obligations they undertook, and help
them implement the agreement.
But as --
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE SOLANA: Let me say that once the document
is in your possession, you can read it. I'm sure you will agree with
me on one issue. This document is a very important document that states
in a very clear manner that the objective of the Quartet and the objective
of the roadmap is to end the occupation that started in 1967 through
the construction of two states: Palestinian state and Israeli state.
That is the essence of the document.
But on top of that, it put forward some mechanisms to achieve that
goal, mechanisms in which, as Secretary Powell and Secretary Annan have
said, go through also the mechanism stated by Prime Minister Sharon
of withdrawal from Gaza.
We said very clearly that that withdrawal has to be total. It has to
be the end of the occupation in that territory. And I think it's a very
important document, the one we have achieved here today among the Quartet,
got put recorded again at the center of gravity of the peace process.
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Via Interpreter) If could add that
we are actually looking at the stated intentions of Israel to leave
Gaza as a very important step that with -- if it's done, would begin
the process which for a long time was at a standstill. It's an important
step, but it is an initial step for a comprehensive settlement to end
the occupation and to fully meet all the obligations of the roadmap.
That's the general position of the roadmap of the Quartet. And so I
subscribe to it.
Whether it's bold or not bold, that's up to the journalists to use
their discretion.
MODERATOR: Last question, Elise Labott, CNN, Washington.
QUESTION: This question is for Secretary Powell, but if other
members of the panel could address it, I think we've covered the Quartet
meeting in great depth.
If I could move over to Iraq, this is on the issue of the international
backlash over the prison abuse photos, which you, yourself, have called
despicable.
It seems that there's great international outrage over this. Your Department
has put out Warden Messages for Americans abroad on possible threats
against Americans for the backlash, and I'd like to refer you to a report
prepared by your Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research suggesting
that this could affect U.S. standing abroad in foreign policy.
How are you going to counter this, and are you afraid that this is
going to complicate efforts in the diplomatic world? And also, do you
think this could affect how any future Iraqi government could trust
the U.S. in the future?
Thank you.
SECRETARY POWELL: The photos that we all saw last week and into
this week stunned every American. It was shocking. They showed acts
that are despicable. The President has spoken to this. It's totally
out of character of what we expect from our men and women in uniform.
What they did was illegal, against all regulations, against all standards.
It was immoral.
When our military commanders learned of what happened, within a day
or so, they had launched investigations. Those investigations produced
results as to who might have been responsible rather quickly.
Secretary Rumsfeld has now launched additional investigations. We'll
deal with the training of our troops, the accountability of our commanders,
and we'll get to the bottom of this.
Yes, I'm deeply concerned at the horrible image this has sent around
the world, but at the same time, I want to remind the world that it
was a small number of troops who acted in an illegal, improper manner.
We will let the military justice system, that I have nothing to do
with and it is another Department -- and the reason I say that because
ultimate legality will have to be determined by the Department of Defense.
But it's just a few number of troops. When you compare that to the
tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of young men and women who
have served in Iraq and who've served around the world, and not just
in its current period but in the past, who have come to build, build
hospitals and schools and restore civil society and rebuild devastated
nations in Europe and Asia, and who are doing likewise in Afghanistan
today, and I know also doing it in Iraq. These wonderful young men and
women are distressed that some of their fellow soldiers acted in this
manner.
The one thing you can be sure of is that justice will be done. We are
a nation of justice. These sorts of actions are not tolerated, and these
individuals will be brought into our military justice system and will
be dealt with in a way that the world can observe and watch. And I can
assure you that no stone will be left unturned to make sure that justice
is done and to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. I'd remind
you to stay in your seats for another moment. And you will find copies
of the Quartet statements at the exits of the room on each side.
Thank you.
Sources: United Nations Secretary General |