Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 13, 1995 TAG: 9502140073
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The pledge was taken by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Nabil Shaath, an adviser to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, at an unannounced meeting with Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who then disclosed the results at the White House.
``Both made clear that there would be no turning back from the search for peace,'' said Christopher. ``Both expressed their determination to work together to overcome the challenges that the Israelis and the Palestinians currently face.''
He tempered his remarks, however, to say no one was under any ``illusion'' that there would not be difficulty concluding this phase of the Israel-PLO self-rule agreement.
``We are at a critical moment in the peace process,'' Clinton said as he presided at a meeting of the Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers and Shaath of the PLO at Blair House, the presidential guest quarters across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.
``What we have to do now is to have specific achievements, lasting achievements,'' Clinton said.
The three-hour meeting produced an agreement to establish new industrial free-trade zones in the region, and the president said he would clear the way for exports from those zones to enter the United States duty-free.
A joint communique issued at the end of the meeting said ``there can be no real peace in the region without security and stability.''
Negotiations between Israel and the PLO have ground to a standstill over a wave of attacks by Muslim fundamentalists and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's decision to seal off Gaza, the origin of much of the violence.
Christopher acknowledged that the one-day meeting did not provide a solution. However, he reported a productive three-way meeting with Peres and Shaath before the Blair House talks.
He said the Palestinians had promised ``to pre-empt terror'' and Israel to negotiate redeployment of its troops promptly and to hold elections among the Palestinians.
Christopher called it ``a very significant step'' that sets the stage for productive talks later in the week between Rabin and Arafat.
On another touchy subject, Christopher said Israel had promised not to build any new settlements on the West Bank, confiscate land or use public funds to assist Jewish settlers in the territory.
by CNB