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Mideast Negotiators End White House Meeting
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top Israeli and Palestinian negotiators vowed after a White House meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton Wednesday to keep trying to reach a Middle East peace deal but gave conflicting outlooks for progress.
"I don't want to raise anybody's expectations. We are having very, very serious discussions, but at the same time, we're facing major difficulties and serious differences," lead Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told reporters.
"These were very, very serious negotiations, with a spirit that may lead to the conclusion of an agreement if we maintain the same spirit throughout," said Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami.
Ben Ami and Erakat were expected to remain in Washington through Saturday and were poised to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, said White House national security spokesman P.J. Crowley.
"We're prepared ... to do whatever we can to support the peace process, move them closer to an agreement," said the spokesman, who emphasized: "This is not our peace process. This peace process belongs to the parties in the region."
"We're very realistic. This remains a very complex and very difficult process. That's why we've been at it for so long," he said.
"We've gone through 11 weeks of violence in the region that has clearly left scars on both sides," said Crowley.
Crowley said there were no plans for Clinton to either hold a summit or travel to the region before he leaves office January 20th, but emphasized that the U.S. role in the peace process would likely continue under President-elect George W. Bush.
"It is in the interest of the United States to see peace and stability in the Middle East," he emphasized.
"There is potential that we could have progress, there are positive signs, but it remains to be seen," an Israeli official said after the meeting, stressing: "Israel remains firmly committed to seek a full scale agreement."
"There is a basis there that maybe we can move the peace process back on track," said the official, who requested anonymity.
The official said there had been no talk at the meeting of a summit between Clinton, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
Senior negotiators from both sides, arriving in Washington on Tuesday, had said they were not optimistic about making progress given ongoing Israeli-Palestinian clashes in the West Bank and Gaza that has left nearly 350 people dead over the past 11 weeks.
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