(13 May 1998) English/Nat
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says she's hoping to make progress at her meeting on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But in a speech to the National Press Club, Albright called this year the most disappointing for the peace process since the Oslo Accords were signed five years ago.
She also warned that while she is optimistic, some differences remain on an American proposal to revive the peace process.
In a speech at the National Press Club, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright insisted an American proposal for a 13 percent Israeli withdrawal on the West Bank was the only way to re-open peace talks.
Albright said she was hopeful Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would reverse his decision and accept the proposal.
But she called the past year the most disappointing since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993.
And she reiterated that time is of the essence.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"For too long, too many children in too many parts of the Middle East have grown up amidst violence, deprivation and fear. Too many lives have been cut short by the terrorist's bomb, the enemy's shell, and the assassin's bullet. Too many opportunities have been lost to heal old wounds, narrow differences, and transform destructive conflict into constructive co-operation."
SUPER CAPTION: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Albright also tried to provide reassurance to Israel, calling the U-S commitment to Israel unshakable.
She insisted that would remain true even if the two nations differ on the peace process.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Our commitment to Israel's security does not come with a time limit. There is no expiration date. It will continue today, tomorrow, and for long as the sun shall rise. I said that in Israel last year, and I meant it. And that's true whether there is progress in the Middle East peace process or not, or whether we have differences with Israel at a particular moment or not."
SUPER CAPTION: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Netanyahu has rejected the 13 percent withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank saying it would threaten Jewish settlements that would be isolated.
As a result, the summit talks President Clinton had conditionally set for Monday were cancelled.
But Albright called the U-S proposals suggestions and not an ultimatum.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As I said, it's not a take-it-or-leave-it deal. We have put forward what we think are good ideas; we think that they help to bridge the gaps. And we're not going to water down our ideas. We are going to talk with Prime Minister Netanyahu I hope at some length tomorrow to see if there is some way to work with some of the ideas that he has".
SUPER CAPTION: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Albright will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington on Wednesday.
Describing herself as an eternal optimist, she says she's hopeful there will be progress.
But she gave no hint of how that might be accomplished.
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