Here is the official transcript of the joint press
conference in Ramallah yesterday. As you can all read for
yourselves, Bush has officially and publicly ripped up "the
UN deal" - the Palestinians' right of return, the demand
that Israel withdraw its annexation of Jerusalem, the
demands that it end the Occupation consistent with
international law, the demand that the apartheid annexation
wall be removed, etc. - and tossed it in the wastebasket,
claiming "it didn't work".
His empathy with the Palestinians' demand for a
state of their own does not extend to the matter of
Israel's vicious and fascist regime
of checkpoints in the West Bank. To him, they are the
source of a light "joke", also euphemistically labelled a
"gaffe" on al-Jazeera (listen to the YouTube item at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcHFsTBbDUY#). I have
flagged the key paragraphs with "####". The entire press
conference was transcribed without edits or obvious
censorship, and apparently also without shame as to the
horrendous diplomatic implications for the Palestinian
people's struggle to secure their rights.
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 10, 2008
Found Here
President Bush and
Palestinian Authority President Abbas
Participate in Joint Press Availability
Muqata
Ramallah
Video (Windows)
White House News
Photos
Middle East Trip
11:12 A.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT ABBAS: (As translated.) Your Excellency,
President George Bush, President of the United States of
America, I welcome you in Ramallah, as well as in
Bethlehem, on the land of Palestine, that welcomes you
today as a great guest, that goes with him, commitment
towards the peace process. It's a historic visit that gives
our people great hope in the fact that your great nation is
standing and supporting their dream and their yearning
towards freedom and independence and living in peace in
this area, alongside their neighbors.
Our people will not forget Your Excellency, your invitation
and your commitment towards the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state. You are the first American
President that confirms and reiterates this right.
(Translation earpiece not working.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: I haven't got it yet. You may have to start
over. (Laughter.) Not yet. You better stay awake.
(Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ABBAS: Our people, Your Excellency --
PRESIDENT BUSH: I agree completely. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ABBAS: Your commitment towards an establishment
of an independent Palestinian state -- you are the first
American President to reiterate this right. The conferences
of Annapolis and Paris were an historic step from you and
from the American people and the world as a whole to
perfect this commitment and push it forward.
Our Palestinian people, who committed to peace as a
strategic option, want to see, through your support and
your intervention, and end to its suffering and the
suffering of its people and their families, and wants to
move freely in their homeland, and develop their life and
their economy without any obstacles that hinder that
progress, and without a separation wall that fragments the
land, and without settlements that is governing its land
and future. We want to see a different future where prisons
are not crowded with thousands of prisoners, and where
hospitals are not crowded with tens of innocent victims
every day, without checkpoints and queues of ordinary
people who suffer from humiliation and siege.
I would like to point out here that we instructed our
government to continue the work towards enhancing security
and imposing public order, and establishing good governance
that is based on the rule of law, and to consolidate the
role of our democratic institutions and strengthen the work
of the civil society, as well as work on consolidating
development and administrative and financial reform and
transparency, so that we can lay the foundations for a
modern and democratic state.
And the government is taking intensive steps in that
direction, and I would like to express our appreciation for
the support of your administration in the economic sphere
in order to develop the infrastructure and provide new job
opportunities, and improve the level of services and all
other projects that contribute in improving the lives and
the conditions of living for our people.
We and our Israeli neighbors, and under your direct
sponsorship -- bilateral negotiations that address all
issues of final status are core issues -- that we would
like to end these negotiations during your term in office
and that we -- it will be ending by the -- ending of the
occupation that started in 1967, and that establishment of
an independent Palestinian state, and its capital,
Jerusalem, based on your vision and the international
resolutions, and that we find a fair solution for the
tragedy of refugees, according to the Arab initiative for
peace and according to the U.N. resolutions.
And on this occasion I would like to reiterate before you
our commitment to all our obligations that we agreed to.
And we call upon Israel, as well, to fulfill its
commitments according to the road map plan, because we
firmly believe that peace is made by a will and a shared
commitment among all parties.
Your historic visit today to the Palestinian Territories is
highly appreciated by our people, and it's a new expression
of your deep commitment towards establishing peace on the
land of peace. We appreciate the complete seriousness that
characterizes your visit and your efforts today to continue
and build and capitalize on this important opportunity that
is available to us and to the Israelis.
We start with you a new year, hoping that this will be the
year for the creation of peace. You will hear today in
Bethlehem the call for prayers from the mosques, and the
heralding of bells at the Church of Nativity, that confirms
our common message, the message of human tolerance and real
peace that is deeply rooted in our conscience and in our
heritage. Your presence today amongst us, Your Excellency,
is a reiteration for the call for comprehensive and just
peace that you called for and you committed yourself to.
And the echo of this call reaches all the people and the
countries in our region, because the voice that is now
going out of Palestine is the closest and the deepest in
reaching the hearts of all the people in the region.
Please, Your Excellency, trust that peace in the world
starts from here, from the Holy Land. We welcome you again,
our dear guest and our dear friend, here in Palestine.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, thank you for your
hospitality. We have met a lot in the past and I'm glad to
finally have a chance to sit down in your office to discuss
important issues.
(Interruption in the translation audio.) Is it working?
(Laughter.) Listen, they say I have enough problems
speaking English as it is. (Laughter.)
I have had numerous opportunities to visit with the
President. And the fundamental question I have is whether
or not he is committed to peace. It's the same question I
had for the Prime Minister of Israel. And I've come to the
conclusion that both men understand the importance to
democratic states living side by side in peace.
President Abbas was elected on a platform of peace. In
other words, he just wasn't somebody who starts talking
about it lately, he campaigned on it. He also said that if
you give me a chance, I'll work to improve the lives of the
average Palestinians, and that's what he has done. It's
certainly not easy work. The conditions on the ground are
very difficult and, nevertheless, this man and his
government not only works for a vision, but also works to
improve the lives of the average citizens, which is
essential for the emergence of a Palestinian democracy.
I talked to him today about how -- what we can do to help
and, as he mentioned, the United States has been an active
financial giver, we helped at the Paris Conference. I
firmly believe that the Palestinians are entrepreneurial
people who, if just given a chance, will be able to grow
their businesses and provide jobs.
We talked about the need to fight off the extremists. The
world in which we live is a dangerous world because there
are people who murder innocent people to achieve political
objectives, not just here in this immediate part of the
world, but around the world. That's what we're dealing with
in Iraq and Afghanistan and Lebanon. And the fundamental
question is, will nations stand up and help those who
understand the ideological struggle we're in. And the
President understands the ideological struggle. He knows
that a handful of people want to dash the aspirations of
the Palestinian people by creating chaos and violence.
And I appreciate that, Mr. President. And I appreciate your
understanding that, ultimately, the way to achieve peace is
to offer an alternative vision, and that's a vision based
upon liberty.
Now, look, there are some in the world who don't believe in
the universality of freedom. I understand that. They say,
like, freedom is okay for some of us, but maybe not all of
us. I understand it, but I reject it. I believe in the
universality of freedom. I believe, deep in the soul of
every man, woman, and child on the face of this Earth is
the desire to live in a free society. And I also believe
free societies yield peace. And, therefore, this notion of
two states living side by side in peace is based upon the
universality of freedom, and if given a chance, the
Palestinian people will work for freedom.
And that's a challenge ahead of us -- is, is it possible
for the Israelis and the Palestinians to work out their
differences on core issues so that a vision can emerge? And
my answer is, absolutely, it's possible. Not only is it
possible, it's necessary. And I'm looking forward to
helping.
You know, there's a great anticipation that all the
American President has got to do is step in, and just say,
okay, this is the way it's going to be. That's not how the
system works. In order for there to be lasting peace,
President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert have to come
together and make tough choices. And I'm convinced they
will. And I believe it's possible -- not only possible, I
believe it's going to happen, that there will be a signed
peace treaty by the time I leave office. That's what I
believe. And the reason I believe that is because I hear
the urgency in the voice of both the Prime Minister of
Israel and the President of the Palestinian Authority.
Is it going to be hard work? You bet. And we can help
support these negotiations, and will. I was asked yesterday
at a press conference, you know, what do you intend to do;
if you're not going to write the agreement, what do you
intend to do? I said, nudge the process forward -- like,
pressure; be a pain if I need to be a pain -- which in some
people's mind isn't all that hard. And they said, well,
like -- yesterday, somebody said, well, are you
disappointed? I arrived and it nudged the process forward.
In other words, we can help influence the process, and
will. But the only lasting peace will be achieved when the
duly elected leaders of the respective peoples do the hard
work.
And so I want to help. And I want to help in the region, as
well, Mr. President. The rest of my trip will be talking
about, obviously, security threats, but also the
opportunity to achieve peace. And the Arab world has got an
opportunity and obligation, in my judgment, to help both
parties in these negotiations move the process forward.
I explained yesterday, and I just want to explain again
today, there are three tracks to this process, as far as
we're concerned. One is the negotiations to define a vision
that will be subject to the road map.
Secondly is to resolve -- help resolve road map issues. And
today I introduced the President to the General --
three-star Air Force General who will be running this
process. We have agreed to a trilateral process and want to
help the Israelis and the Palestinians resolve their
differences over road map issues.
And thirdly is to help the Palestinians develop the
infrastructure necessary for a democracy -- an economy --
and security forces that are capable of doing what the
President and the Prime Minister want to have done. And
we're very much engaged. I'm looking forward to seeing Tony
Blair tomorrow, who is the Quartet's representative, and to
find out what he has been doing and what progress is being
made.
I am confident that with proper help, the state of
Palestine will emerge. And I'm confident that when it
emerges it will be a major step towards peace. I am
confident that the status quo is unacceptable, Mr.
President, and we want to help you. And I appreciate your
vision, and I appreciate your courage, and I appreciate
your hospitality. And I appreciate you giving me a chance
to talk to the press, of course. (Laughter.)
A couple of questions, I understand.
Q Mr. President Abu Mazen, what are the results of this
visit? Mr. President Bush, you said more than once that the
Palestinian side must fulfill its obligations. And Mr.
Fayyad has had a security plan to help the peace. And when
Mr. Fayyad went to Annapolis he commended that security
plan, and then Israel destroyed all those efforts in
Annapolis. How can the Palestinian Authority do security
efforts that are successful, and while Israel destroys and
undermines all their efforts in the occupied territories?
The other side of the question: Are you willing to give
guarantees for the Palestinian side to declaring a freezing
on settlements immediately? Thank you.
PRESIDENT ABBAS: (As translated.) We are fully satisfied
with the outcome that we reached through this visit of Mr.
President George Bush. We spoke about all topics that might
occur to your mind and that might not occur to your mind,
as well. All the issues are in agreement. We are agreed on
all topics. All topics are clear.
In the near future, in the coming few days, we are going to
meet in bilateral negotiations with the Israelis in order
to discuss the final status negotiations, final status
issues. And as Mr. President said, there are three themes
-- the other theme is implementing the road map through the
committee, the trilateral committee. And the third point is
the economic and security conditions in Palestinian
Territories. We have great hopes that during 2008 we will
reach the final status and a peace treaty with Israel.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Each side has got obligations under the
road map. Settlements are clearly stated in the road map
obligations for Israel. We have made our concerns about
expansion of settlements known, and we expect both parties
to honor their obligations under the road map.
Secondly, we're spending -- General Dayton is spending a
lot of time trying to help the President and the Prime
Minister develop security forces that are effective.
There's no question in my mind the commitment to provide
security for the average citizen is strong. The question is
the capabilities. And the truth of the matter is there
needs to be a fair amount of work done to make sure that
the security forces are modernized, well-trained and
prepared, with a proper chain of command to respond. And I
will tell you I firmly believe the security forces are
improving.
I remember our visit in New York, and we discussed this
during the U.N. General Assembly. And by any objective
measurement, the Palestinian security forces in the West
Bank are improving.
And so my message to the Israelis is that they ought to
help, not hinder, the modernization of the Palestinian
security force. It's in their interests that a government
dedicated to peace and understanding the need for two
states to live side by side in peace have a modern force.
It's got -- very important for the government to be able to
assure people that if there is a need, there will be an
effective force to provide security. That's just step one
of having credibility with the people. And to the extent
that Israeli actions have undermined the effectiveness of
the Palestinian force, or the authority of the state
relative to the average citizen, is something that we don't
agree with and have made our position clear.
She just called on you.
Q -- (inaudible) --
PRESIDENT BUSH: No, that's the road map obligation I was
talking about.
Q -- (inaudible) --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. He's asking me about the checkpoints I
drove through and my impression about what it was like to
drive through checkpoints. I can understand why the
Palestinians are frustrated driving through checkpoints. I
can also understand that until confidence is gained on both
sides, why the Israelis would want there to be a sense of
security. In other words, they don't want a state on their
border from which attacks would be launched. I can
understand that. Any reasonable person can understand that.
Why would you work to have a state on your border if you
weren't confident they'd be a partner in peace?
And so checkpoints create frustrations for people. They
create a sense of security for Israel; they create massive
frustrations for the Palestinians. You'll be happy to hear
that my motorcade of a mere 45 cars was able to make it
through without being stopped. (Laughter.) But I'm not so
exactly sure that's what happens to the average person. And
so the whole object is to create a state that is capable of
defending itself internally, and giving confidence to its
neighbor that checkpoints won't be needed.
Now, the vision of the Palestinian state is one of
contiguous territory. In other words, as I said earlier in
my administration, I said, Swiss cheese isn't going to work
when it comes to the outline of a state. And I mean that.
There is no way that this good man can assure the
Palestinians of a hopeful future if there's not contiguous
territory. And we -- that position is abundantly clear to
both sides. Therefore, the ultimate vision, of course, is
there be no checkpoints throughout the Palestinian
state-to-be.
And, you know, this is the issue. We're working through how
to gain enough confidence on both sides so that checkpoints
won't be necessary, and a state can emerge. My judgment is,
I can understand frustrations. I mean, I hear it a lot. I
heard it -- you know, the chief negotiator spent two hours
at a checkpoint. All he was trying to do was go negotiate.
And I can see that -- I can see the frustrations. Look, I
also understand that people in Israel -- and the truth of
the matter is, in the Palestinian Territories -- the
average citizen wants to know whether or not there's going
to be protection from the violent few who murder.
The security of a state is essential, particularly in a day
and age when people simply disregard the value of human
life, and kill. And so these checkpoints reflect the
reality. And what we're trying to do is alter the reality
by laying out a vision that is much more hopeful than the
status quo.
Q Mr. President George Bush -- you launched war against
Iraq after the Iraqi leadership refused to implement the
United Nations resolutions. My question now is, what is the
problem to ask Israel just to accept and to respect the
United Nations resolutions relating to the Palestinian
problem, which -- facilitating the achievement of ending
the Israeli occupation to the Arab territories and
facilitating also the solution between Palestinians and the
Israelis?
And for Mahmoud Abbas, did you ask President George Bush to
ask Israel to freeze settlements fully in order to enable
negotiations from success?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, but tell me the part about the U.N.
thing again? What were you -- I couldn't understand you
very well.
Q I just asked why you ask Israel to accept the United
Nations resolutions related to the Palestinian problem,
just to facilitate the solution, and to end the occupation.
#### PRESIDENT BUSH: Actually, I'm asking Israel to
negotiate in good faith with an elected leader of the
Palestinian Territory to come up with a permanent solution
that -- look, the U.N. deal didn't work in the past. And so
now we're going to have an opportunity to redefine the
future by having a state negotiated between an elected
leader of the Palestinian people, as well as the Prime
Minister of Israel. This is an opportunity to move forward.
And the only way for -- the only way to defeat the
terrorists in the long run is to offer an alternative
vision that is more hopeful. And that's what we're
attempting to do, sir.
We can stay stuck in the past, which will yield nothing
good for the Palestinians, in my judgment. We can chart a
hopeful future, and that's exactly what this process is
intending to do; to redefine the future for the Palestinian
citizens and the Israelis.
I'm confident that two democratic states living side by
side in peace is in the interests not only of the
Palestinians and the Israelis, but of the world. The
question is whether or not the hard issues can be resolved
and the vision emerges, so that the choice is clear amongst
the Palestinians -- the choice being, do you want this
state, or do you want the status quo? Do you want a future
based upon a democratic state, or do you want the same old
stuff? And that's a choice that I'm confident that if the
Palestinian people are given, they will choose peace.
And so that's what we're trying to do, sir.
PRESIDENT ABBAS: (As translated.) The settlement for us is
considered an obstacle for negotiations, and we have spoke
more than once with Mr. Prime Minister Olmert, very
frankly. And we also spoke in this meeting with President
George Bush, and consequently, the President understood
this issue. And we have heard the statements given by the
Secretary of State, Dr. Rice, and she has -- her point of
view regarding settlements was very positive.
Q President Bush, Prime Minister Olmert said that peace is
not alive here as long as Gaza militants continue their
threats on Israel. How do you see, President, about --
(inaudible) -- from Gaza?
And for you, President Abbas, how do you intend, actually,
to get control of Gaza, and do you think this is possible
by the end of the year and by the end of Mr. Bush's
presidency?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First of all, Gaza is a tough situation. I
don't know whether you can solve it in a year, or not. But
I know this: It can't be solved unless the Prime Minister
-- the President has a vision that he can lay out to the
people of Gaza that says, here's your choice: Do you want
those who have created chaos to run your country, or do you
want those of us who negotiated a settlement with the
Israelis that will lead to lasting peace?
There is a competing vision taking place in Gaza. And in my
judgment, Hamas, which I felt ran on a campaign of, we're
going to improve your lives through better education and
better health, have delivered nothing but misery. And I'm
convinced his government will yield a hopeful future. And
the best way to make that abundantly clear is for there to
be a vision that's understandable.
See, the past has just been empty words, you know. We --
actually it hasn't been that much -- I'm the only President
that's really articulated a two-state solution so far --
but saying two states really doesn't have much bearing
until borders are defined, right of return issues resolved,
Jerusalem is understood, security measures -- the common
security measures will be in place. That's what I'm talking
about. I'm talking about a clear, defined state around
which people can rally.
#### And there's going to be -- there will be no better
difference, a clear difference, than the vision of Hamas
in Gaza and the vision of the President and the Prime
Minister and his team based here in Ramallah. And to me,
that's how you solve the issue in the long-term. And the
definition of long-term, I don't know what it means. I'm
not a timetable person -- actually, I am on a timetable --
got 12 months. (Laughter.) But I'm impressed by the
President's understanding about how a vision and a hopeful
future will help clearly define the stakes amongst the
Palestinian people.
PRESIDENT ABBAS: (As translated.) Gaza it is considered a
coup by us, we consider it a coup d'etat what happened in
Gaza. Now -- we consider it a coup d'etat. (Laughter.) And
we deal with Gaza at two levels. The first is that we deal
with the people as part of us and we take full
responsibility that is necessary towards our people. We
spend in Gaza 58 percent of our budget. This is not to --
it is our duty towards our people that we provide them with
all the need.
As for the issue of Hamas, we said that this is a coup and
they have to retreat from this coup and they have to
recognize international legitimacy, all international
legitimacy, and to recognize the Arab Initiative, as well.
In this case we will have another talk.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, all.
END 11:45 A.M. (Local)
=============
. "Don't stick a knife in me ten inches, pull it out six, and tell me we've
made progress." - Malcolm X
. "Our land, our nation will not come back to us
except with steadfastness and resistance."
- Ismail Haniyeh 24 Jun 2007 [9 days after Hamas ousted
Dahlan gangs from Gaza]
. "If the U.S. empire succeeds in establishing its
dominance, there will be no future for humanity.
Therefore, we should save humanity and end the
American empire." - Hugo Chávez,
at U of Tehran, 30 July 2006
. "Our people are connected to the earth,
not to the dollar; and it is time
the Crown realized that as well." - Hazel Hill,
Six Nations clan mother, 19
Jul 2006
. "We are simple people who choose principles over fear." -
Statement of the
Iraqi Resistance 10 December 2004
Blog: http://noidrocca.tripod.com/blog
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