THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Camp David, Maryland)
For
Immediate Release July 24, 2000
PRESS BRIEFING
BY
JOE LOCKHART
Thurmont Elementary School
Thurmont, Maryland
11:53 A.M. EDT
MR. LOCKHART: Good afternoon, everyone. Let me give you a recap of
the President's activities since we returned here to Camp David last
evening.
Around 7:00 p.m. last night the President had a meeting with his team,
who brought him up to date on the weekend's activities, since he was
Okinawa at the G-8 summit. Following that meeting, the President had a
bilateral with Prime Minister Barak. Following that was a bilateral with
Chairman Arafat.
After that meeting, the delegations and the leaders had dinner
together. It was probably about 30 or so people in one room at the cabin
where they've been eating for the last two weeks. The President sat
between the two leaders and engaged in discussion over the dinner.
The dinner broke; by agreement that he had worked through during his
bilaterals, the President then proceeded to begin a meeting with a small
group of negotiators from each side to work through the issues that are
before them. That meeting lasted, with the President hosting it, until
just after 5:00 a.m. this morning. Those meetings were intensive and
substantive and, as the time indicates, went quite long into the night.
The President got up this morning just after 10:00 a.m., met with his
team. And I think it was about 10:30 a.m. or so began another meeting
along the same lines with a small group of negotiators, and I expect that
to go for some time.
Q Are the principals in that meeting?
MR. LOCKHART: No, this is the President -- he has negotiators from
each side, and then someone from the U.S. team trying to work through the
issues.
That's the schedule for the day. I don't have an absolute sense of
how long this will go on, but I expect the meeting to go on for several
hours.
Q Joe, when the President came back, we were told that he was going
to make an assessment of where the talks were. What was that -- what is
that assessment?
MR. LOCKHART: I think in the most general sense, the President, in
his mind, is working on what I'll call a rolling assessment of whether the
substance and atmosphere at these talks are one that potentially could lead
to an agreement. While that is the case, and while the President believes
that discussions are substantive and have the potential of leading to an
agreement, he will remain here, and he will keep the parties here, to keep
working.
Should he come to the conclusion that the substance of the discussions
and the atmosphere of the discussions do not have the potential to lead to
an agreement, then he will act accordingly and bring these discussions to
an end. I think the fact that he was up until 5:00 a.m., working through
the issues in a very personal, hands on way, and that he was back at it
again early this morning should lead you to believe that he thinks staying
here for the time being is worthwhile.
Q Joe -- that was the same group of negotiators that he met with
until 5:00 a.m.?
MR. LOCKHART: I think there may be some variation, but certainly --
obviously, the President will continue to host it, but I think there's some
changes on our side, and within the teams.
Q -- tell us one of the specific working groups?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I think there have been various permutations of
who is working on what and how. So I wouldn't -- it has moved around over
the last six or seven days, so I wouldn't try to tie it to the groups that
were established, what, seven or eight days ago.
Q Is there a specific topic?
MR. LOCKHART: They are discussing specific topics, yes.
Q Where, Joe. Where?
MR. LOCKHART: In the President's cabin.
Q Is it fair to say that they are now in the process of putting
down understandings that have been reached on various issues on paper?
MR. LOCKHART: I think that would get to the substance of what they're
discussing so I will refrain from commenting on that.
Q Joe, have the groups divided up into committees, like they did at
Sheppardstown? And, also, what was the sense of urgency that caused the
President to be working until 5:00 a.m.? Is there a deadline now or some
--
MR. LOCKHART: Well, the deadline is as I described it. Based on the
President's assessment of the realistic chance that we can reach an
agreement here. It is not a calendar-driven deadline. But, having said
that, I think that all the parties know that there is a balance here
between taking the time to work through the issues and taking too much time
that will never lead to an agreement. So I cannot give you a precise
formula, except to say that the President has got this very issue foremost
in his mind and he will remain here as long as he believes we have some
prospect of success.
Q Has the President cleared his schedule for this week, to stay up
here?
MR. LOCKHART: I think we're taking this day by day. Today we have
nothing else on the schedule. I think those of you who cover the White
House know that the President has a personal event tomorrow that he would
like to attend in Arkansas; but we're taking this day by day.
Q Joe, when the President left on Wednesday, as you know better
than most, he literally went from one hour to the next where you thought
the summit was ending in failure. You got both leaders to agree to stay.
They've been talking now for the last several days. Do you feel any more
hopeful that perhaps they did make some progress over the weekend? Are you
able to kind of characterize what happened over the weekend and where you
think things stand for the next day or so?
MR. LOCKHART: I hesitate to use a phrase like "hopeful," because
these issues are so difficult and I don't know that I'd be able to back
that up with any substance. I think the fact -- obviously, the last time I
stood here it was an hour or so removed from the collapse of these
discussions. The fact that these discussions are continuing is a positive
thing. The fact that the President is using his time to sit down and work
through each and every issue is a decision that he and his team do not take
lightly, as far as devoting the time to this.
And as long as we're here and discussing things, there is a prospect
for reaching agreement, but it's impossible to predict the likelihood of
that.
Q What do you think -- he had his fingers crossed and is now --
MR. LOCKHART: I think he was -- you know, it was a long flight back,
he had a lot of time to mull over the issues. He was anxious once we got
on the plane to get back here and get back to work. And that's exactly
what he did. This morning he only got a few hours of sleep, but he was
anxious to go. In fact, we were sitting around the table in his cabin in
the briefing and he cut us off and said, you know, let's get going. Let's
get the groups in here. Let's get back to work. So I think that's some
indication of where he is.
Q Two questions. Can you give us a sense of what Prime Minster
Barak and Chairman Arafat are doing today? Will they be meeting with the
President? And can you give us maybe a little clearer sense when the
President -- do you expect him to make this decision about whether or not
to go forward?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I think that decision is -- the best word I can
use for it is, it's kind of a rolling decision. There is no time frame on
it. It's just a judgment that the President will have to make.
As far as the leaders -- I will let you know if they schedule a
meeting today. There is nothing at this point. But they are working very
intensively within their teams and with their negotiators, as far as
working through the issues. I mean, obviously, the negotiators are working
with the President, but also have a good deal of contact with their leaders
on the specific issues that are on the table.
Q Is it several hours until the President decides, or is it going
to take days or even weeks?
MR. LOCKHART: I think it is impossible to speculate at this point on
a judgment that hasn't been made.
Q Can you tell me if Arafat was on the phone with either President
Mubarak or -- in the last few hours?
MR. LOCKHART: I don't know the answer to that.
Q Can you tell us, Joe, about the input of the rest of the world?
How is it that -- I mean, does Arafat have to check things out at periodic
junctures with the Saudis, who control the money and with the Egyptians,
who control the prestige?
MR. LOCKHART: I don't know to what extent the consultations are going
on, between the leaders of either delegations, with the rest of the Arab
world. As far as -- I mean, we had a good sense of the international
community's focus on this, with the President's meetings in G-8. They were
all very interested in the process, in any progress we made.
It was a brief discussion, which never got into the numbers or how it
would all work, but on the international community's responsibility to
help, at the Friday night session, among the G-8 leaders. And I think, you
know, it's not just the Arab world, it's the rest of the international
community that's watching this very closely.
Q Joe, we understand the President made several phone calls to
regional leaders last week. Can you tell us the purpose of those phone
calls? Is he trying to rally support?
MR. LOCKHART: You know, in the most general sense, the President has
said all along that it's important for everyone involved here, whether
they're here at the talks, whether they're outside the talks, whether they
are regional leaders, whether they are international leaders, to try to
work toward creating an atmosphere that's conducive to reaching an
agreement here.
For his part, he has done some work on that, with both calls to the
regions, with his discussions in Okinawa with the G-8 leaders, and that
will continue.
Q European diplomatic sources say that --
MR. LOCKHART: I think I know what your question is. Go ahead.
(Laughter.)
Q -- the European Union proposed to the United States a solution
regarding Jerusalem that could be close in substance, or close to the
Pope's statement yesterday. How do you comment on this?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I know that there -- a lot of people have made a
lot of statements, but as far as what's being discussed within the confines
of Camp David, on this and some other difficult issues, I'm not going to
comment on that.
Q Joe, can you -- now I think you already know what my question is
-- comment on the fact that CIA officials have confirmed that George Tenet
has been here and visited the talks a few times? Can you explain what role
the American intelligence agency may play in both these talks and any --
MR. LOCKHART: Sure. I think those of you followed the previous talks
understand the role that Mr. Tenet has played. I would describe it as
similar to the last talks. He was here for a day or two. He is now gone.
And beyond that, I'm going to leave it to the CIA to say, no comment.
Q What about the Jonathan Pollard issue, which has been raised by
several media -- George Tenet -- Jonathan Pollard the last time around.
Did that come up again, and has he changed his view?
MR. LOCKHART: There is no change in the President's view, or the U.S.
government's position. It has not come up that I know of, but I know that
it frequently comes up when the President talks to the Prime Minister of
Israel, and the Prime Minister of Israel raises it on a regular basis.
We're certainly aware of what the government of Israel's view on this
subject is.
Q Joe, could we just stay on this for just a minute and get some
clarification in terms of, were the two leaders looking for some
assurances, in terms of what American intelligence agency could offer in
the event of a settlement? Is he meeting with both sides? Tell us a
little bit more, because the CIA is going to refer it back to you.
MR. LOCKHART: Well, then -- let me make a joint White House/State
Department, with Richard's blessing and CIA's, statement, which is: I'm
not going there. (Laughter.)
Q Let me follow up with a different question which is: The
Palestinians made it clear over the weekend that there can be no final
agreement without an agreement on Jerusalem. But have there been
agreements reached on the other core issues so that they can get closer to
that once they resolve Jerusalem?
MR. LOCKHART: Again, I'm not going to get into the substance of the
discussions. I think that goes to the core. There are -- I think the
issues are well known. And I think, obviously, to reach an agreement
they've got to work through each of these issues.
Q Would you at least say that they're making progress?
MR. LOCKHART: I would say that the conversations continue in a
substantive and constructive way.
Q The Israelis are saying that they did discuss Jerusalem over the
weekend -- the Palestinians are saying that they did and the Israelis are
saying that did. Was Jerusalem discussed over the weekend? And in 1991
the United States sent a letter to the Palestinians saying they do not
recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem. Has there been anything
in this summit that will cause the United States to change that position?
MR. LOCKHART: I think the substance of your question goes directly to
the substance of the talks. And we've managed to get through 13 days, or
14 days now without discussing that. And we're going to continue that.
Q Jerusalem is obviously coming up in these talks. We're not
asking as to whether or not there has been progress. We're just asking as
to whether or not when President Clinton left it came up in conversation?
MR. LOCKHART: No, you're asking was there a specific discussion of a
specific issue. And I'm not going to answer the question.
Q Joe, the 5:00 am.m. meeting, when did it start? Can you give us
any sense of who was there, who was the U.S. aide to the President who was
participating?
MR. LOCKHART: I'm not going to go into who represented each side.
The conversation began, I think, just around midnight, went through about
5:00 a.m., and included a break of 45 minutes to an hour.
Q And no substance was -- can you tell us anything about the moods
of both Barak and Arafat?
MR. LOCKHART: You know, they're both still here and they're both
still working and the delegation is working. And I think that dwarfs any
questions about how they're feeling. I mean, I know that it's -- in the
21st century how you feel is often more important than what you do, but not
here.
Q When was the last time the President or anyone from the U.S. team
talked to the Vatican concerning Jerusalem?
MR. LOCKHART: I don't know the answer to that.
Q -- to keep Middle Eastern leaders updated on what is taking place
here? There have been calls both by American leadership and by Palestinian
leadership for the leaders in that region. And a lot of them have voiced
their support for the Palestinian stand on Jerusalem. Do you think their
opinions should be considered when reaching an agreement?
MR. LOCKHART: Listen, I think there is a lot of people in the
international community that have a view. Those views are weighed as
appropriate by the delegations and by the U.S.. But, ultimately, it's
going to be up to the parties, with the assistance of the United States, to
reach an agreement that both parties believe is in their best interests.
Q A question about the position of the United States, the official
position of the United States on East Jerusalem. Has that changed?
MR. LOCKHART: The United States believes that Jerusalem is a final
status issue, to be worked through by the parties -- and guess what, it's
happening right now, and that's why we're here, and that's why we've spent
14 days together in very close quarters.
Q Joe, I'm not going to ask about Barak or Arafat, but I would like
to ask, what is President Clinton's reaction to that spiritual quote, to
the spiritual leader of all Christian world, about Jerusalem becoming an
international city. Can you tell me what his reaction -- and it's not the
talk, really.
MR. LOCKHART: Obviously, if the President had a reaction, and I were
to report it to you, it would give something away about the discussions
that are ongoing, and I don't intend to do that.
Q Can you confirm that Mr. Reisner, the legal advisor who helped
draft the Wye agreement is coming to be at Camp David?
MR. LOCKHART: Who, please?
Q Daniel Reisner, the military advisor, Daniel Reisner.
MR. LOCKHART: I don't know that.
Q Joe, is the purpose of today's session to decide if it's worth
going on or not?
MR. LOCKHART: No, I think the purpose of last night and today is to
work through the issues, and then having worked through the issues, one by
one, make a judgement of whether it makes sense to continue on, or it makes
sense to call a break for this.
Q Joe, can you characterize, or just give us a little bit more
about the dinner and the conversation last night between the President and
the two leaders?
MR. LOCKHART: I don't have too much on it.
Q What were they talking about? Were they talking about this, were
they talking about the G-8? Did they talk about the weather? What did
they --
MR. LOCKHART: You know, I think it was some combination. I didn't
talk to the President in particular about the dinner, but what was reported
to me was some combination of kind of all of the above. And it was the --
it was sort of an intermittent conversation with -- I think Arafat was on
the President's right, and Barak was on his left. And on Barak's left was
Chelsea. So there was a sort of rolling conversation, that involved both
substance and non-substance.
Q Joe, was it the first group dinner in how many days now, because
--
MR. LOCKHART: It was the first group dinner involving the President
-- with the exception of the one that the Secretary had -- probably in four
or five days.
Q Has Chelsea always been going to the dinners?
MR. LOCKHART: Yes, she's been at the dinners.
Q Is Albright still here and did she participate in the five day
absence?
MR. LOCKHART: She is still here. She's been involved at a number of
levels with the leaders, with the negotiators and within our team. But as
far as the overnight discussion, she was not in the room for the actual
discussions, but talked to the President, I believe, during the break and
then afterwards.
Q -- those talks?
MR. LOCKHART: I will leave it as a very small group.
Q Joe, on Sunday the Pope weighed in reviewing his suggestion that
Jerusalem be --
Q They did it yesterday.
MR. LOCKHART: We did it today, that's right.
Q Do you know if the President placed any telephone calls to
leaders in the region the last day or two?
MR. LOCKHART: No, not that I know of.
Q Joe, -- question. Senator Hollings -- in a conversation of the
spending bill, which would effectively prohibit the FTC from considering
proposed acquisitions like Georgia Telecom's $50 billion bid for
Voicestream Wireless in the next fiscal year. Does the administration see
this as one that would force the President to veto the bill?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I don't know that we've actually seen the bill
yet. I think our position on these sort of acquisitions is pretty clear.
We favor acquisitions that provide consumers with more choice and more
products, and oppose those mergers or acquisitions that stifle competition.
There's obviously a regulatory process here, which we need to honor,
but I don't even know that we've seen the actual legislation, so I don't
know if we've made up our mind on what we will do when we see it, if we
ever see it.
Q -- concessions, and no bilateral meeting yet? I want to confirm
this.
MR. LOCKHART: Except for the dinner last night, that is correct.
Q My second questions is, has the President made any comments or
reactions to that plan -- statement issued at the weekend by -- calling for
-- in East Jerusalem was part of the package? Was he enthusiastic --
MR. LOCKHART: Not in my presence, no.
Q Does the President have anything to say about the rumors that
Dick Cheney is the Vice-Presidential choice for George Bush? Does he think
that will make it a more difficult race for Vice President Gore?
MR. LOCKHART: I think the President has been focused on other things,
but he thought Mr. Podesta's wisdom on a Sunday morning talk show had a lot
of merit to it.
Q Does the President think he could be Al Gore's Vice President?
(Laughter.) Come on Joe, it's late. Come on Joe. (Laughter.)
MR. LOCKHART: I'm still on Tokyo time, Bill. I'm afraid of what will
happen if I answer that. (Laughter.)
Q Joe -- and you said, not in your presence. But the fact that the
truce was actually mentioned, did the President say that even if you
weren't in there -- react to it, in any way?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, if I wasn't there, no one reported it to me.
Like the tree falling in the proverbial forest, I don't know. (Laughter.)
Q Thank you, Joe.
END 12:15 P.M. EDT
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