Joint Statement with Russian President Vladimir 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 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.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |