Exerpts: October 31 Press Briefing

Question: Well, what Atherton worked so hard on, peace in the Middle East, is still not there. I wondered if the State Department had any observations about the political problems Israel is now undergoing and whether that would impinge on the Quartet efforts.

And also, you know, if you could bring -- I don't know if -- I've lost track of the wandering Mr. Burns. He may be done by now and back. But any readout you can give.

Mr. Boucher: As far as the Israeli political developments, I think we're just observers on that. We're not going to get involved one way or the other in somebody else's internal politics or try to make judgments about it. It's obviously a democratic system and one in which they have politics and form their own governments.

The question of sort of where we are more broadly on the process, Ambassador Burns is now back from his trip. He was sighted in the corridors of the State Department this morning. And he has been out in the region as well, starting with the Quartet meeting in Paris, closely engaged with the parties to advance the strategy that the President put forward on June 24th.

He will be briefing the Secretary on his trip and where we stand, but basically what he's been doing is working with the Quartet and the people in the region on the elements of a roadmap that would realize the President's vision of a settlement involving two states that can live side, and how to get there, we would hope, in three years.

The ideas are based on the President's speech, on UN Security Council resolutions, on the Saudi and Arab League summit initiative, incorporate the Madrid terms of reference and previous agreements between the parties.

So, on that basis, we've been trying to put together a roadmap that everybody can agree how to go forward.

The goal of security, of ending the violence and terror in the region, giving people in the region the safety and security they need to move forward, remains paramount. We want to end the occupation that began in 1967 by resuming security cooperation, reforming Palestinian institutions in preparation for statehood, and then achieving a negotiated final settlement within three years.

It's an approach that would clearly lay out obligations and responsibilities on all sides, and it's aimed at the comprehensive peace with security for all states in the region that was called for in the Beirut summit declaration.

So we'll remain closely in touch with the parties, the international community and regional leaders, on how to achieve that approach.

Question: On Israel's political situation, of course, I didn't mean what do you make of it. I meant, does it impact, does it slow down, do you think -- and if you don't want to get into it, that's all right --

Mr. Boucher: I --

Question: -- if it complicates your task --

Mr. Boucher: I'm not going to say one way or the other whether it complicates or speeds it up. I think certainly our goals have not changed; the President's goals, the President's vision has not changed; our belief in what needs to be done has not changed. And we find that, as government goes, as democratic governments go through these things, we're able to continue to work for them. So I just don't have any predictions at this point.

Question: A very fast one. Is there a vision speech due now? Will the Secretary find a way or find an occasion to bring everybody up to date on where things stand, do you think?

Mr. Boucher: There's nothing particular planned in terms of speeches by the Secretary on the Middle East at this point.

Jonathan.

Question: Richard, can you fill us in on the Secretary's latest contacts on the Iraq resolution?

Question: No, wait. Can we stay with the Middle East for a second? I just want to know, there's a report out there -- the Palestinians seem to be under the impression that Assistant Secretary Satterfield is going to be following up on Burns's mission in the very near future. Do you know anything about that?

Mr. Boucher: Don't have anything on that for you. We'll have to see. Assistant Secretary Burns is just back today. He came in last night. He and, I think, Deputy AID Administrator came back from Jordan with the body of our slain employee from there.

Question: Wasn't Satterfield out there? And isn't Lebanon his --

Mr. Boucher: Satterfield was out there a couple months ago. Right.

Question: Oh, months ago. I thought he was with Burns.

Mr. Boucher: I mean, I can't remember the last time. But anyway, Burns is just back. We'll be looking at the results of his discussions. We'll be in touch with the other Quartet members. How we follow up in the region, we'll talk about at some future point, but not -- he's just back. He's got to talk to the Secretary and work this out.

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Question: Israeli Prime Minister Sharon told some Italian newspaper that he will never again meet with Yasser Arafat. How can there be peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians if their leaders will not meet and talk face-to-face?

Mr. Boucher: We have always supported the idea that the parties should talk face-to-face, but I think you remember the President's speech on June 24th said that the Palestinians needed new leadership. And we've been quite clear on that. That remains the case. We look for a new dynamic, for new leadership, for new institutions, for the transformation of the Palestinian Authority into a new set of institutions and leaders who can actually take the responsibility for security in these areas, who can actually take the responsibility for setting up a state.

Yasser Arafat has proven that he can't do that, so we do need new leadership. That's our view, as well. Has been.