Remarks Addresses Palestinian Rights
(January 4, 1978)
U.S. President Jimmy Carter made the following remarks
after meeting Egyptian President Anwar
al-Sadat.
It is an honor and a pleasure for us to be in this
great country, led by such a strong and courageous man.
Mr. President, your bold initiative in seeking peace
has aroused theadmiration of the entire world. One of my most valued
possession, is the warm, personal relationship which binds me and President
Sadat together and which exemplifies the friendship and the common
purpose of the people of Egypt and the people of the United States of
America.
The Egyptian-Israeli
peace initiative must succeed, while still guarding the sacred and historic
principles held by the nations who have suffered much in this region.
There is no good reason why accommodation cannot he reached.
In my own private discussions with both Arab and Israeli leaders, I have been deeply impressed by the unanimous desire
for peace. My presence here today is a direct result of the courageous
initiative which President Sadat undertook in his recent trip to Jerusalem.
The negotiating process will continue in the near future. We fully support
this effort, and we intend to play an active role in the work of the
Political Committee of Cairo, which will soon reconvene in Jerusalem.
We believe that there arc certain principles, fundamentally,
which must be observed before a just and a comprehensive peace can be
achieved.
First, true peace must be based on normal relations
among the parties to the peace. Peace means more than just an end to
belligerency.
Second, there must be withdrawal by Israel from territories
occupied in 1967 and agreement
on secure and recognized borders for all parties in the context of normal
and peaceful relations in accordance with U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338. Third, there must be
a resolution of the Palestinian problem in all its aspects. The problem
must recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and enable
the Palestinians to participate in the determination of their own future.
Some flexibility is always needed to insure successful
negotiations and the resolution of conflicting views. We know that the
mark of greatness among leaders is to consider carefully the views of
others and the greater benefits that can result among the people of
all nations which can come from a successful search for peace.
Mr. President, our consultations this morning have
reconfirmed our common commitment to the fundamentals which will, with
God's help, make1978 the year for permanent peace in the Middle East.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |