(21 Apr 2000) English/Nat
U-S President Bill Clinton greeted Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to the White House on Thursday, stating he would do everything possible to help Israel and the Palestinians to achieve peace.
But Clinton stressed that there were many risks and difficulties involved for all sides in achieving the September deadline for a final agreement.
U-S President Bill Clinton made it clear on Thursday he will not be seen to be taking sides in the current round of talks concerning the Middle East peace process.
Clinton welcomed Yasser Arafat to the White House on Thursday in a similar way he received Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak last week.
The two leaders met at the White House's South Portico and strolled together across the Rose Garden to the
Oval Office.
Arafat was presented to the gathered press, but said nothing.
Clinton however stressed to reporters his hope that the issues between the Israelis and the Palestinians can finally be resolved.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have reached a very serious time in the peace process. He (Arafat) and Prime Minister Barak have set for themselves an ambitious timetable to reach a framework agreement as soon as they can and a final agreement by the middle of September. So we are working hard on it and I think we will get some things done today."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
A White House spokesman stated that Clinton wanted the face to face sessions with Arafat and Prime Minister Barak so he could keep the negotiations on track.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think you all know what the issues are between the Israelis and the Palestinians. They are difficult but I think they can be bridged and if the parties want to do this we will do everything we can to help them and to minimise the difficulties and the risks involved. There are risks and difficulties involved for Chairman Arafat. There are risks and difficulties involved for Prime Minister Barak, for the Palestinian people and for the Israeli people. I believe they are not nearly as great as the risks and difficulties of not making a peace agreement so I hope they will do it and I will do everything I can to help them."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
The talks on a treaty framework will begin after the Jewish Passover holiday, which ends on the 26th of April, with negotiators meeting in Israel and the Palestinian areas.
The two sides face a May deadline for a treaty framework, and a September target for a full accord.
On Sunday Barak said he would turn over West Bank land that would give the Palestinians the territorial contiguity they need for statehood.
He assured his hard-line Israeli critics that Jerusalem would remain united under Israeli sovereignty but that Palestinian suburbs just outside the city, which have been claimed by both sides as their capital, would be handed over.
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