July 29, 2005

AN INTENSIVE TOUR BY THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE. RICE REVIEWS WITH ABU MAZEN THE FUTURE OF THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE AND STRESSES THE NEED FOR MORE COORDINATION WITH ISRAEL. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUGGESTS THE CONVENING OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. RICE PAYS A SURPRISE VISIT TO BEIRUT AND MEETS WITH LAHOUD, BERRI, SINIORA, HARIRI AND AOUN. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for steps he has taken to clamp down on militant groups, but cautioned that more Palestinian efforts are needed. "I want to take this opportunity to commend President Abbas and his leadership as well as that of his government for their ongoing efforts to enforce the rule of law in the West Bank and in Gaza," Rice said, speaking at a news conference after her meeting with Abbas. "These efforts demonstrate the Palestinian leadership's commitment to ensuring security and tracking down those that perpetrate violent attacks," Rice said, calling on Abbas to continue these efforts. "There is much work to be done," she said. Rice was in the region in a hastily arranged trip to try and rescue a shaky Middle East truce amid an escalation of violence, determined that Israel's mid-August withdrawal from the Gaza Strip go ahead as planned. Rice met with President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Yousef, who is responsible for the Palestinian security forces. "Rice demanded more Palestinian efforts to consolidate the truce," said Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Khatib, who attended one of the meetings. Israel and the Palestinians declared an end to more than four years of violence at a February summit in Egypt. But Rice also had strong words for the Israelis. The Palestinians want Israel to relinquish control over the border crossings into the coastal strip and allow the Gaza port and airport reopened. Israel is reluctant to relinquish that control, fearing that without Israeli supervision militants would smuggle arms into Gaza. Rice said free movement for the Palestinians was vital. "That means when the Israelis withdraw from Gaza, they cannot be sealed or isolated as an area, with the Palestinian people closed in after that withdrawal," Rice said. Rice said that after the withdrawal from Gaza Strip, the United States wanted to make sure that the territory was not kept sealed and that Palestinians had access to the West Bank. Rice reiterated that the United States was committed to making sure that there was a stop to Israeli "settlement activity." Abbas said the Gaza withdrawal must be the first step toward progressing with the "road map" peace plan, which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. "Israel should be aware that the withdrawal from Gaza must be a step in the road map and must be followed immediately with the resumption of the political process," Abbas said. Abbas also called on Israel to stop expanding West Bank settlements. Rice's visit to Ramallah was part of a last-minute tour in the region that came about after a recent escalation in the fragile lull between Israel and Palestinians only several weeks before the start of the disengagement plan. Before their meeting, Abbas complained that Israel is keeping them in the dark about crucial issues. "We need information how the disengagement will take place, when, where will it begin, what is the fate of the border crossings, what is the fate of the Palestinian airport," Abbas told Reuters in an interview. "We're not getting any answers." President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinian National Authority is still waiting for Israeli answers on questions regarding the Israeli unilateral plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. He told reporters, in Ramallah, that the PNA asked the USA, during the visit of its Secretary of State on July 23, to intervene for providing the PNA with responses. Abbas denied any answers Rice carried during her visit to Palestine, two days ago, affirming that there are no positive responses despite the contacts with the Israelis. "We supposed receive answers in a week, I hope they would be not delayed," he added. Regarding the "failure" of the security meeting between Minister of Interior, Nasser Youssef, and Israeli Minister Shaul Mofaz, Abbas told reporters that the answers of Mofaz were "negative". Prime Minister Ahme Qurie said that the Palestinian National Authority has finished all administrative arrangements for dealing with the Israeli unilateral plan of withdrawal from Gaza and the northern parts of the West Bank. In his speech, presented by Mohammed Ishtayyeh, Minister of Public Works and Housing before festival of graduation for Al-Quds Open University, Qurie said that the PNA is interested that the Israeli withdrawal should be carried out quietly. He hoped that the said withdrawal would be a preface of Israeli withdrawals from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory. As for the Israeli plans of judaizing Jerusalem, PM said that the Holy City will still the permanent capital of the Palestinian state despite the Israeli seizure of its land. He mentioned that the Israelis expel Palestinian citizens "the legal and historical owners" from Jerusalem to make a room for other colonizers immigrated from over the world. Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie rejected that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip (GS) and parts of the West Bank (WB) to be an attempt to dominate the WB and to expand colonies. During the cabinet meeting in Ramallah city, Qurie said that Israel is continuing to violate the Road Map peace plan through annexing Jerusalem, constructing the Apartheid Wall and expanding colonies. He added that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) might raise the Israeli violations at the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly. Qurie revealed that the PNA called upon the American administration to immediately intervene to stop Israeli violations aimed at defeating the efforts exerted to revive the peace process. He also said that the PNA expressed to the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice on the necessity to put the Israeli withdrawal within the framework of the peace process and the Road Map and to maintain the legal status of the WB and GS as a political and geographical integrity. Qurie also clarified the PNA's readiness which aimed at making the Israeli withdrawal a success, saying that the PNA is still waiting for Israeli answers regarding the withdrawal. PM Ahmed Qurie rejected, the Israeli threats against the Palestinian people. "We rejects the threats of the Israeli PM to hit the Palestinians with unprecedented means," Qurie said during the cabinet meeting in Ramallah, headed by him. He added that if the Israelis believe in serious peace and trust in dialogue, they should have been not used such threats. Commenting on the Israeli "unprecedented" weapon, Qurie said that the Israelis all kinds of weapons including jetfighters and tanks. He stressed the dialogue is the credit language. PM mentioned that the visit of the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, for the 3rd time is a proof that the US is interested in the region, especially the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. Rice visited Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at his Sycamore Ranch in the Negev. The two discussed the need for coordination on the Gaza pullout. Upon her arrival in the region, Rice said that, "I look forward to talking with both the Israelis and the Palestinians about the need for tight coordination." Rice's agenda was interrupted by a surprise trip to Beirut, marking the highest-level U.S. visit since Syria ended its 29-year military presence there two months ago. She met with top officials just three days after a new government was formed and returned in time to meet Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Rice and Sharon discussed Israel's preparations for the disengagement and attempts to coordinate the move with the Palestinian Authority. The meeting, described by sources close to the prime minister, as "excellent," was followed by breakfast for the American delegation and their Israeli counterparts. Rice spent a day in Jerusalem, where she met with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. Rice told Shalom that coordinating the pullout plan with the PA was critical and must be continued. She said it was important to be able to use the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the northern West Bank to strengthen Abbas. Rice said she would like the disengagement to form the basis of a renewed diplomatic process and help boost Abbas' regime. The road map peace plan must be next on the agenda after the disengagement, Rice said. Shalom told Rice that Israel opposed the involvement of Hamas in Palestinian Legislative Council elections, and she responded that the Palestinians had committed at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in February to dismantle the military wings of the armed organizations, including Hamas. Shalom told Rice about the difficulties the government was facing in implementing the pullout and described the struggle with settlers and their supporters. "Forty thousand people tried to get to Gush Katif anyway they could, and we stopped them," he said. "We decided there would be `no weapons' in the field during the evacuation." Rice said she had read in an American magazine about the domestic struggle in Israel and rabbis who oppose the removal of interred bodies from Gush Katif. After the pullout is implemented, the United States and Russia plan to hold a regional conference, said Rice. The conference is meant to advance relations between Israel and Arab states in the Gulf and North Africa, as well encourage regional projects related to finance, agriculture and health. Israeli sources said that Rice did not mention the expansion of settlements in the West Bank or demands to evacuate outposts. After her talk with Shalom, Rice spoke to Sharon advisor Dov Weissglas to prepare for her meeting with Sharon. The three-hour meeting at Sharon's ranch in the southern Negev desert saw the pair discuss efforts to make the withdrawal of troops and settlers proceed free of violence from Palestinian militants as well as funding, sources said. A statement from the prime minister's office said the meeting had taken place in "good atmosphere" with discussion focusing on coordination efforts with the Palestinians and plans to create a "safe passage" for them to travel between the West Bank and Gaza after the withdrawal. "The discussions were essentially centered around the measures which should be taken to ensure everything goes smoothly, with a minimum amount of friction" (with the Palestinians), a source close to Sharon said. "The secretary of state and the prime minister also discussed the economic aid to the Palestinians which will be supervised by James Wolfensohn," he said in reference to the former World Bank chief who has been appointed as the Middle East quartet (Russia, the EU, US and UN) envoy for the disengagement. Rice and Sharon also held talks on an Israeli request for a $2.2 billion aid package to help fund the pullout, the aide added. A senior Israeli official who met with Rice described the US diplomat's mission as a "maintenance visit" designed to head off criticism that American involvement in the pullout was less than wholehearted. Rice made a surprise visit to Lebanon under heavy security to show U.S. support for the new government, the first to be formed since Syrian forces withdrew in April. "You'll not find a more supportive partner than the United States for what Lebanon is trying to achieve because this is a wonderful breakthrough for the Lebanese people to have control of their own future," Rice told a news conference after talks with Prime Minister Fouad al-Siniora during the six-hour trip. She reiterated Washington's demand that Hezbollah guerrillas be disarmed in line with United Nations resolution 1559 despite it joining the new government and called on Syria to end a border blockade of Lebanon. "The United States has a long standing policy towards Hezbollah that has a history to it, that has a history of blood to it and that has not changed," Rice said. "Ultimately the resolution is speaking only to the fact that there can be only one authority in a country and in a democracy there can be only one authority and one authority that is armed." Lebanese troops and police patrolled the streets as Rice was driven first to the Beirut house of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, where she met his son Saad al-Hariri, parliament's majority coalition leader. She then visited the grave of Hariri, assassinated in Beirut in February, where she laid a wreath of white flowers and, head bowed, paid her respects with Saad at her side. Rice later held talks with President Emile Lahoud. The two smiled and shook hands before the meeting but did not speak to reporters. Rice, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Lebanon since her predecessor Colin Powell in May 2003, met Siniora three days after he formed a new cabinet following last month's parliamentary elections. A senior State Department official is reported by various news agencies and Israeli radio to have said that Dr Rice has floated the idea of convening an international peace conference on the Middle East immediately after disengagement is completed. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday criticized Syria for closing its border to Lebanese trucks, saying it created a "very serious situation" that was strangling cross-frontier trade. At the news conference with Lebanese prime minister designate Fuad Siniora on an unannounced trip to this Arab country, Rice called for the establishment of good neighbourly relations after the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April. "But good neighbours don't close their borders to their neighbours," she said. "It is a very serious situation on the Lebanese border where the Lebanese trade is being strangled." She called for a free flow of commerce and said: "We would hope that it would be restored very, very soon." The US chief diplomat reacted prudently to the inclusion of a member of the Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah, regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington, in the new Lebanese cabinet. "There is a process of political reconciliation under way and it's important." But she pledged Washington's strong cooperation with the Beirut government and said: "I believe that we can support, both through international organizations and through direct support, the economic and political reforms that will be undertaken there." The Americans have hailed the formation of the first government since Syria's troop withdrawal as a triumph of democracy and has treated delicately the nomination of Hezbollah member Mohammed Fneish as energy minister. A senior official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the Americans would have nothing to do with Fneish on Rice's lightning trip to Beirut, the first by a US secretary of state in two years. "We'll see how it goes in the future but I don't expect to be having any relations with the Hizbullah (as said) minister." For his part, Siniora pledged to undertake a "strong and serious discussion" among Lebanese about implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah and other militias. He expressed gratitude for the support of the international community but said Lebanon "will require understanding and patience" as it constructs its new political order. After meeting with Seniora, Rice told reporters she travelled to Lebanon "to support the new Lebanon, and the new Lebanon is one that is democratic, the new Lebanon is one that should be free of foreign influence." She stressed that Resolution 1559 calls for the removal of all Syrian forces, including intelligence forces. She also urged Syria to open its borders for trade. Rice said that the United States is prepared to support the new Lebanese government as it undertakes economic and political reforms and that the international community will welcome the changes taking place in Lebanon. "I think that Lebanon is going to find an international system that is very strongly committed to a Lebanon that is free of violence, that is free of terrorism, that is unified and the Lebanon where all people of Lebanon feel represented and safe," she said. Rice called the political process under way in Lebanon "a wonderful breakthrough for the Lebanese people." Following is the transcript of Prime Minister Seniora and Secretary Rice's remarks: Prime Minister Seniora: I would like first of all to welcome the Secretary, Her Excellency Condoleezza Rice, on her visit to Lebanon. This is the first time she ever comes to Lebanon. We are glad that she could make it during this very short program in the Middle East and she already visited the President and she already visited here, myself, and then she is going to meet with the Speaker. So I am really very glad to welcome Secretary Rice, and I will give you the podium. Secretary Rice: Thank you very much Prime Minister. I am delighted to be here in Lebanon. This is an exciting time for the people of Lebanon as well as for the people of the Middle East. I think that the whole world was inspired by what took place here and I came to offer the support and the best wishes of the United States to the new government that you will head. I am certain that the friendship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States will only grow from here on out. Lebanon is embarked on, what we know will be a difficult course, but is an exciting course. I was deeply moved to go to the gravesite of the late, former Prime Minister Mr. Hariri. Earlier, I had a meeting with President Lahoud. I will see the Speaker, and I look forward to discussing with all, Lebanon's future. But this is the process that Lebanese are conducting for Lebanese. And that is what is really very exciting about this time - -- so good luck to you Prime Minister, and we will stay in touch. Question: (Inaudible.) Secretary Rice: First of all, yes, I think it is everyone that has demanded that there be full adherence to Resolution 1559 by Syria. That means not just the removal of its forces, but the removal of its intelligence forces, and we would like to see the day when there are good, neighbourly relations between Syria and Lebanon based on mutual respect and equality. But good neighbours don't close their borders to their neighbours and it is a very serious situation on the Lebanese border where Lebanese trade is being strangled. The best outcome would be for there to be free flow of commerce between Syria and Lebanon and we would hope that that would be restored very, very soon. There are obligations under 1559 that Syria undertook, that Lebanon is undertaking and we look forward to the fulfilment of those obligations. Prime Minister Seniora: I just want to say here that throughout its history, Lebanon has been always respectful of international legitimacy, and of national resolutions, and Lebanon will continue to do so. But, as you know in the 1559, some parts of its have been already implemented, and the other parts we have to - we have to understand that we have to build within Lebanon the unity among the Lebanese, and by this to create the necessary dialogue and discussion among the Lebanese so that we can really create the necessary consensus among the Lebanese. So, I mean, as far as the 1559, Lebanon, in this respect, will carry on a strong, as well as serious discussion and dialogue among the Lebanese for that process. As far as the support that can be extended by the United States and our friends everywhere is to really express the appreciation for what the Lebanese Government is doing in terms of its program for reform and in terms of how it is approaching the 1559 Resolution. This will require understanding and patience and this is in line of what the Lebanese are doing in this respect --- and the Lebanese Government is doing as well. As far as the relationship with Syria, Syria and Lebanon are neighbourly and brotherly countries and we are very serious about building a very good, respectful, and friendly relations and to enhance all the relations including economic relations between the two countries. This is for the interest of Syria and Lebanon and we will continue to make every possible effort in order to have an early release so that goods and passengers and people can really flow within the two countries very easily and smoothly. Question: (Inaudible.) Secretary Rice: First of all, we have always said that the process of politics in Lebanon should be for Lebanese. That was the whole purpose of Resolution 1559, so that Lebanese could control Lebanon's future, and the United States holds firmly to that principle. Our views of Hizbullah have not changed and our policy towards Hizbullah has not changed. But we have very good cooperation with the Lebanese Government. I've just heard, in some detail, some of the reform measures that the government plans to take. I believe that we can support, both through international organizations and through direct support, the economic and political reforms that will be undertaken here. I met my counterpart the Foreign Minister for the first time today and I look forward to meeting him again and to one day welcoming him to Washington. And so there is plenty of room for cooperation with this government and I think you will not find a more supportive partner than the United States for what Lebanon is trying to achieve - because this is a wonderful breakthrough for the Lebanese people to have control of their own future. The United States does not want to somehow dictate Lebanon's future. That is for the Lebanese to decide just as America's future has been for the United States to decide. And so we look forward to working with Lebanon towards its international obligations and toward its reforms. Question: (Inaudible.) Secretary Rice: As I said, I know that Lebanon believes strongly in living up to its international obligations. This is what the Prime Minister has just said. There is a political process that is underway here in Lebanon. It is a process, not only of building a new political system, dealing with long delayed economic reforms, but also the world understands that there is a process of political reconciliation that is underway in Lebanon and that that is important. Ultimately, the resolution is speaking only to the fact that there can be only one authority in a country, and in a democracy there can be only one authority and one authority that is armed. But we understand that there is a process that is underway and as I said, we started 1559 so that Lebanese could have control of Lebanon's future. Lebanon recognizes that it has international obligations. I've been reassured of exactly that by the Prime Minister although I would have expected no less, and the international community is going to be supportive of Lebanon as it moves forward. Question: (Inaudible.) Secretary of State Rice: Saul, you've known me for a long time and I do not speak in hypotheticals. I think that it does not help for me to speak in hypotheticals. The fact is that the U.S. has a long-standing policy toward Hizbullah that has a history to it, that has a history of blood to it, and that has not changed. But what I am here to do is to support the new Lebanon, and the new Lebanon is one that is democratic, the new Lebanon is one that should be free of foreign influence. It is a Lebanon in which Lebanese should make decisions for the Lebanese, and it is one that does have international obligations that we fully expect to be carried out. This is a hopeful time, and as Lebanon moves forward through this hopeful time, I think that it is going to find an international system that is very strongly committed to a Lebanon that is free of violence, that is free of terrorism, that is unified and the Lebanon where all people of Lebanon feel represented and safe. This is a country that has been through a great deal. It's been through a period of foreign influence and effective occupation. It is going to take some time to work through these things, but the Lebanese Government understands that the world will expect them to live up to their international obligations. Lebanon is, though, in a very important political process right now and we intend to support that political process. Thank You U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid a visit to the leaders of both the majority and opposition blocs in Parliament to compliment them on the ongoing political process Rice's first stop was at Qoreitem to see Future Movement leader Saad Hariri. Rice also met with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, to ensure the former general also plays his part in solving the country's pressing political and economic issues. Rice made the rounds to pay a visit to Emile Lahoud, Speaker Nabih Berri. Throughout the day, Rice reminded officials and representatives that the international community - through UN resolutions and the promise of European and American aid - is supporting Lebanon's sovereignty and freedom, which she praised the Lebanese people for having fought hard to achieve. Rice repeatedly reaffirmed - during and after each of her meetings in Beirut - Washington's unchanged stance regarding Hizbullah, and urged Lebanon "to disarm the militant group in accordance with Resolution 1559." During their talks with Rice, party leaders expressed uniformity in answering that the armament of Hizbullah is an internal affair to be handled through internal dialogue between the Lebanese factions. Lahoud stressed the need for stability; Siniora prioritized political reforms and economic growth; and Berri focused his comments on the legitimate nature of the resistance. Rice said: "We are glad to see a political process in Lebanon developing towards solving its internal and external problems. The Lebanese would have to build their country as they want it to be." Using the opportunity to further pressure Syria to comply with the demands of the international community that Lebanon be granted true sovereignty, Rice condemned the clampdown along the Syrian-Lebanese border. With Siniora's insistence that solving the Syrian-Lebanese conflict is within his government's capabilities, Rice supported Lebanon and criticized Syria's lockdown of the Lebanese-Syrian border, hoping "to see the day when there are good neighbourly relations between Syria and Lebanon based on mutual respect and equality." She added: "good neighbours don't close their borders to their neighbours." On the other hand the Palestinian Ministry of Interior (MOI) said that the meeting between Minister of Interior Nassir Yossef and Israeli Minister Shaul Mufaz on Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank was fruitless. In a press release, the MOI said it was clear that Israeli side showed no seriousness during the meeting as it did not provide clarifications on some issues the Palestinian national Authority inquired about. The MOI added that Israeli procrastination and negative answers will not help achieve the needed goals for these meetings and translating the results on the ground. At the United Nations Israel came under fire in the UN Security Council over its West Bank separation barrier, but many countries voiced hope the upcoming Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would pave the way for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The council wrapped up a day-long debate on rising tensions in the Middle East as Israel said its Gaza pullout, due to begin in mid-August, could be moved forward in a bid to avoid further protests by opponents. The council heard a briefing from UN special coordinator for the Middle East Alvaro de Soto at the start of a debate which had initially been scheduled to center on "the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question." But the session was overshadowed by a clash over Israel's July 10 decision to approve a revised route for the West Bank separation barrier around East Jerusalem that is to be completed by September 1.