President Bush Meets with Egyptian President Mubarak
Remarks by President Bush and President Mubarak in Press Availability
Camp David, Maryland
10:32 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, thank you. Welcome to Camp David.
It is a joy for me and Laura to have you here at this beautiful part of
our country, a place where we like to come and relax, and a place where
we like to welcome our friends.
We had a -- the President and I had a good dinner last night. We
talked a lot about our mutual concerns, opportunities to make the world
a more peaceful place. And we got up and had a good private visit, and
then met with our delegations.
First, I want to thank the President of Egypt for his country's
strong support in our war against terror. I know there's been a lot of
focus on obviously the Middle East, and I'll mention that in a second,
but we're still in a war against people who want to harm America and
people who want to harm Egypt. And we've had -- we've got a good
friend, Americans have a good friend, when it comes to this war on
terror, in Egypt.
The President understands that we've got a long way to go in order
to be successful. He's now been told again by me that my most
important job is to secure our homeland, and this country is plenty
tough and plenty patient and plenty determined to achieve that
objective.
Obviously, we spent time talking about the Middle East, and we
share a common vision of two states living side by side in peace. And
I appreciated so very much his -- listening to his ideas as to how to
achieve that objective, that grand goal. The world -- the
Palestinians hurt, and I know that. And my concern is for the
Palestinian people. And my view is, is that if the Palestinian people
have a government that is transparent and open and willing to serve the
people, Israel will be better off, Egypt will be better off, America
will be better off, and we're more likely to achieve peace. And we
discussed how to achieve those objectives.
The President of Egypt has had a lot of experience, and I
appreciate his experience, and I appreciate his advice. Anytime he is
willing to give it, I'm willing to listen. And so, Mr. President, I
want to thank you for your time, and I appreciate your friendship, and
welcome you to Camp David.
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: Thank you very much for that. I will deliver
my speech in Arabic language.
PRESIDENT BUSH: He's going to speak in Arabic. That's good, the
American press --
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: I would like to thank President Bush for his
welcoming remarks, which reflects the deep friendship between us.
During our stay at Camp David here, I conducted extensive discussions
with President Bush on a range of issues of mutual concern, most
important of which was the deteriorating situation in the Middle East,
and especially the Palestinian-Israeli track and its negative impact on
regional and international security in general.
There is no doubt that the peace process in the Middle East is
passing through a critical junction which requires us to exert all
possible efforts on the political and security tracks, to rebuild the
confidence between the parties, on one hand, and to relaunch a serious
political negotiations aimed at final settlement on the other.
While Egypt's leading quest for peace in the Middle East has
achieved its objectives here at Camp David 24 years ago, we have come
back together today fully committed to exert our maximum efforts once
again, so that peace and security may prevail in the Middle East
region.
And I must affirm here that your personal role, Mr. President, and
the role of the United States today remains as important as was
America's contribution towards reaching the peace treaty between Egypt
and Israel more than two decades ago. And we look forward to the
continuation of the effective role.
The entire international community, ladies and gentlemen, has
supported the courageous vision of peace in the Middle East put forward
by President Bush in his speech before the United Nations last fall.
This vision was adopted by the Security Council in its Resolution 1397,
which affirmed that peace in the Middle East must be based on two
states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side. We in Egypt, and
the entire Arab world, support this vision, and strongly believe that
it represents the only way to achieve progress towards the settlement
of the conflict.
Now it is time to move to implement our common vision, in an
effective and systematic way. And we have a strong foundation to
implement that vision, and that is represented in the principles
adopted by the Madrid peace conference, and supported by the initiative
adopted by the Arab League summit conference in Beirut, which affirmed
Arab rights, while responding to all Israeli concerns. These are the
terms of references that should govern all future efforts.
For us to be able to achieve this vision, the confidence that was
lost between the two parties during the previous period must be
rebuilt. as we embark on serious political negotiations that will
contribute to the realization of our objectives. In this context,
Israel must end the siege imposed on the Palestinian people, and
withdraw its forces to positions occupied on September 28, 2000; and
halt assassinations and the repeated incursions in the territories
under the control of the Palestinian Authority; and immediately halt
all settlement activities in the occupied territories, including the
illegal confiscation of land and expansion of settlements under the
pretext of natural growth or any other consideration.
At the same time, the Palestinian Authority must continue to
intensify its efforts towards restructuring in a way that facilitates
the better performance of its functions based on the principles of
transparency and trust, in preparation for the establishment of its
sovereign independent state. The Palestinian Authority must continue
in its firm implementation of President Arafat's decisive commitment to
halt the violence and intensify the security cooperation and
coordination under the supervision of the United States.
It also falls upon all of us, as partners in peace, to work towards
alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, through economic
and humanitarian assistance, so as to remove the feeling of despair
that stands in the way of reaching the desired settlement.
Mr. President, Egypt and the Arab states have affirmed their
condemnation and rejection of the use of force and violence against
civilians. Egypt has also affirmed its commitment to continue its
major role in the search for peace. At the same time, the United
States has affirmed, by putting forward this clear vision for peace,
its commitment to effectively play its role in its capacity as the main
sponsor of the peace process.
We look forward to a strong American engagement in the coming phase
to implement this vision, in the context of an agreed time frame and
through negotiations on a permanent settlement that should lead to the
establishment of a Palestinian state on the entire West Bank and Gaza
and East Jerusalem. For the settlement to be just and comprehensive,
Israel must withdraw from all the Arab territories occupied during
1967, including Syrian and Lebanese territories.
While pursuing our efforts, it must be kept in mind that there are
forces that lack the conviction of our joint vision, and will continue
to obstruct our efforts to move towards a final and a comprehensive
settlement. The way to confront the enemies of peace is to move
forward with courage and determination to renew hope to the
Palestinians and Israeli peoples in the future, in which prosperity and
stability prevail, and away from the menace of violence and
confrontation.
My meeting here today with President Bush has reaffirmed our joint
determination to revive the hopes of peace through the longstanding
partnership between our two countries and through which we have and
will continue together to reach historic achievements on the path of
peace between Arabs and Israelis for the benefit of the peoples of the
region, and also for the benefit of regional and international
stability.
The depth of Egyptian-American relations represents one of the
essential cornerstones in our joint pursuit of peace and stability in
the Middle East. In this context, we discussed today means to
strengthen our bilateral ties, including our trade and economic
relations, so as to reinforce Egypt's ability to implement its plans
for economic reform and to guide us toward a more balanced trade
relationship between us.
Our meeting today coincides with a visit by the United States Trade
Representative, Mr. Robert Zoellick, to Egypt, to meet with his
counterparts on the Egyptian side, which I hope that it will result in
tangible progress in furthering our relationships to new heights.
Mr. President, I look forward to working with you in the weeks and
months ahead, to chart the correct path on the road to peace, so that
we can complete together the implementation of the mission that we have
started together here at Camp David, more than 20 years ago to achieve
just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. I am
confident that our joint efforts, supported by a solid determination,
will lead us to achieve this goal in the near future. Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you very much. I appreciate it, thank you.
Q President Bush --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Hold on a second, please. We'll answer two
questions apiece, two from the American side, two from the Egyptian
side. I'm going to call on the American first. If you don't mind,
contain your questions to one of us, if that's possible. And we'll
start with Mr. Fournier, who I know -- I know will adhere to that
rule. (Laughter.)
Ron Fournier.
Q Mr. President --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.
Q Do you agree with President Mubarak that there needs to be
a deadline for a Palestinian state to give the Palestinian people
hope? And on the other hand, I want to know if President Mubarak --
the reforms of the Palestinian Authority that you say -- that
President Bush says will give the Israelis hope, can they be done with
Arafat still in charge?
PRESIDENT BUSH: See, it's hard to reform the press. (Laughter.)
It may be harder to reform the press than to implement the needed
reforms in the Palestinian territories. Your first question was?
Q Do you agree with President Mubarak that there needs to be
a deadline --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. Here's the timetable I have in mind. We
need to start immediately in building the institutions necessary for
the emergence of a Palestinian state which, on the one hand, will give
hope to the Palestinian people and, on the other hand, say to the
world, including the neighborhood, that there is a chance to defeat
-- to live in peace, to defeat terror. And that's important.
I also agree with the President of Egypt that, as we discussed the
development of institutions necessary to provide hope and security in
the region, that we've got to be talking about a political -- have a
political dialogue. Part of the consultation process that we are
having is to determine what's feasible in terms of that political
dialogue, what's feasible in terms of the timetable that a lot of
people are anxious to talk about. We're not ready to lay down a
specific calendar, except for the fact we need to get started quickly,
soon, so that we can seize the moment.
And one of the things I'm most appreciative about, about the --
about the progress made to date, is people now understand they have
responsibilities. As I said in my April 4th speech, I talked about the
responsibilities necessary to achieve a vision of peace. And President
Mubarak has shown that he is accepting responsibility. He's very much
involved in this process, and he's very much anxious that we work
together to achieve that which is necessary and, to put it in his
words, to come up with an effective and systematic way to get to the
vision that we've -- that I've outlined.
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: What's your second question, please?
Q I just want to know whether those Palestinian reforms that
President Bush says have to happen first, can they be done, sir, in
your opinion, by Yasser Arafat?
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: Look, we should give this man a chance. We are
working very hard in cooperation with the United States for the reform
in the Palestinian Authority. Such a chance will prove that he is
going to deliver or not. If he's going to deliver, I think everybody
will support him. If he's not going to deliver, his people will tell
him that.
Q President Bush --
PRESIDENT BUSH: The President gets to decide what member from the
Egyptian press corps --
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: Yes.
Q President Bush --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good going. He selected you. (Laughter.)
Q Right. Nihal Saad, from Egyptian Television. Thank you
for giving me the floor. It has been the stand of successive American
administrations that the settlements, the Israeli settlements is an
obstacle to peace. But ever since Prime Minister Sharon came to
office, there has been a steep increase in the settlements, by almost
40 percent. Now, what is the stand of your administration concerning
the settlement building, and what message would you tell the Israeli
government concerning that issue?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, on April 4th I delivered the speech that I'm
talking about, that I would hope you'd review what I said. I said, all
parties have got responsibilities to achieve peace, including the
Israelis. And Israel must work to create the conditions necessary to
achieve peace. And my position hasn't changed since that speech.
Adam.
Q Thank you. Mr. President -- President Bush, are you
confident you will get support from Arab leaders for reaching beyond
Yasser Arafat to other Palestinian representatives?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Look, Adam, here's what I'm confident about. I'm
confident about the Arab leaders understand the need for us to develop
the institutions necessary for a peaceful and hopeful state to emerge.
Chairman Arafat, as far as I'm concerned, is not the issue. The
issue is whether or not the Palestinian people can have a hopeful
future. I have constantly said I am disappointed in his leadership. I
think he's let the Palestinian people down. And so, therefore, my
focus is on the reforms necessary to help the Palestinians.
The President believes that the Chairman -- if you notice, he
didn't say he's going to deliver -- should be given a chance to
deliver. And that's an interesting point of view. I also happen to
believe that there is plenty of talent in -- amongst the
Palestinians, and that if we develop the institutions necessary for the
development of a state, that talent will emerge.
The issue is bigger than one person. The issue is an issue that
really deals with people who suffer and people who have no hope. And I
believe -- I believe it is in the Palestinians' interest to have an
independent state, at peace with its neighbor, and I believe it's in
Israel's interest. Otherwise I would not have taken this position.
Last question.
Q President Mubarak -- my question is addressed for
President Mubarak. And I want to have a comment from Mr. President
Bush, if you please. My name is Hanaa Simery, from the Egyptian
Television, and my question is, is it realistic to ask for a complete
halt of violence between the Palestinians and Israelis as a
precondition for resuming any political negotiations?
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: Me or you?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I don't care. Who would you like to answer it?
Q Both of you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Both of us, okay.
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: Both of us, on the same question. All right
--
PRESIDENT BUSH: Maybe we'll give the same answer. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: I think we have the experience since the Prime
Minister took office that he will never start the negotiation unless
violence could come to an end. Even that before Prime Minister
Sharon. Till now violence didn't stop, and I don't think the violence
will come to an end unless the people feel that there is hope for peace
and there is something to show that peace is coming. If they didn't
feel that, they will not stop violence. It will continue forever.
PRESIDENT BUSH: My attitude about violence is this: People have
responsibilities to do everything they can to stop violence. Chairman
Arafat must do everything in his power to stop the violence, to stop
the attacks on Israel. I mean everything. And that includes reforming
the security forces so that they are -- their primary function is to
deal with violence.
The Arab world must work hard to defeat terror and violence. My
opening comments were sincere about the President of Egypt; he's
working hard to defeat violence and terror. And so the one thing I'm
certain of is that we've all got to focus a lot of energy and attention
on stopping violence -- not only in the Middle East, but all around
the world.
See, there are terrorists who would love to destroy any peace
process, and we have the responsibility to prevent them from doing so.
And that means working all the time to stop it from happening. There
are people who hate freedom, and they'll use terror to destroy innocent
lives to achieve evil objectives. And all of us -- that's what I'm
certain about -- all of us must work -- I'm certain if we don't
work together and assume our responsibilities, it's going to be hard to
win the war on terror. I'm certain if we stay focused and tough and
resolute, we can win the war on terror.
And as we remain tough, we're going to be able to achieve peace in
parts of the world where people have kind of said there's no chance for
peace. And it's not just in the Middle East. Not just in the Middle
East.