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CNN Saturday Morning News
Arafat Proposes Adopting Mitchell Recommendations
Aired June 02, 2001 - 07:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: For the Palestinian side of the story that we've been talking about all morning, we're joined now on the phone by Saeb Erakat, who is the chief Palestinian negotiator. Mr. Erakat, thank you for being with us.
SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN SPOKESMAN: My pleasure.
O'BRIEN: All right. The statement from Mr. Arafat is a fairly strong statement. If you could help us elaborate on that a little bit, there's this one passage here I'd like you to help explain. Mr. Arafat is quoted as saying, "We're ready to make all possible efforts to stop the bloodshed of our people." What does he mean by "all possible efforts"?
ERAKAT: Well, I believe the statement of Mr. Arafat was very, very clear. We are willing immediately to engage in putting into order the implementation of the Mitchell recommendations, which call for an end to violence, a lifting of the siege that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) settlement activities, and the resumption of negotiation.
I believe now it's time for the Ambassador Burns, the assistant secretary, who was here a few days ago, to come back immediately in order to provide the parties with a precise timeline so that we can be able to engage immediately in the implementation of our mutual obligations emanating from all the recommendations of the Mitchell report, the end of violence, the need of the crisis, the lifting of the siege, the cessation of settlement activities, and the resumption of the negotiations.
I think the president -- President Arafat's statement, was a clear-cut statement. We condemn the act in Tel Aviv, we don't -- we never condoned the killing, actually, of civilians, from -- whether Palestinians or Israelis. But really now, time is precious commodity, and we need to engage immediately in order to provide mechanisms for implementation in accordance with a specified timeline, precise timeline of when, how to move ahead with the implementation of all these elements.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Erakat, do you feel that the Arafat statement goes far enough in condemning the terrorism, which is something that is very important from the Israeli perspective?
ERAKAT: I think it's very clear-cut statement. The statement of President Arafat condemns the act this morning, and he said very strongly, the terrible act that took the lives of many Israeli civilians, which we condemn, and that's a very clear-cut statement. That has been the position of the Palestinian Authority ever since the Israelis are mixing between the Palestinian Authority and other Palestinian elements.
But now it's really not time to point fingers or sore points. Now it's time for action. I believe the only course of action we can take is for Mr. Burns, the American envoy, to come back immediately and provide the parties with a timeline, with a specific detail on how to move with implementation immediately.
O'BRIEN: Is it time for the U.S. to be more actively engaged, in your opinion, sir?
ERAKAT: Yes, absolutely. I think this is the only venue available for Israelis and Palestinians now is the return, the immediate return of Mr. Burns. And I think in his last meetings with us and with the Israelis, both sides said that they accepted the recommendations of the Mitchell report, that is, to end violence, to have a freeze on settlement activities, to resume the negotiations.
But what needed -- what we need now is not only saying yes or no, what we need now is mechanisms of implementation with a precise timeline, and we need Mr. Burns to return to the area immediately to begin this process.
O'BRIEN: The concern, however, on the U.S. side, which I know you're familiar with, is that the cycle of violence is so vicious, and the hole so deep, that any U.S. political and diplomatic capital that might be expended might be wasted at this juncture. Do you disagree?
ERAKAT: Yes, I disagree. Miles, I think that time is a precious commodity. I think what's needed to be done now is to take high risks politically. I think it's much cheaper to talk four or five days with frustration and pain than to continue the current situation for five minutes. I believe it's urgent for the American administration to dispatch Mr. Burns back to the area immediately in order to begin the process of providing the Mitchell report with mechanisms for implementation with precise timeline.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Erakat, is it easy for you to conjure up a nonviolent way to break this cycle of violence right now?
ERAKAT: Well, I believe that neither the Israelis nor us, the Palestinians, have a magic stick to deal with the situation. We need to begin a process of implementation. We need to start changing things on the ground. Now after this President Arafat's statement today, which is a clear-cut statement condemning the violence, committing to the implementation of the end of violence, and the resumption of the negotiations. And I believe the only venue available now is the return of Mr. Burns in order to provide the mechanism and the mandate and the timeline, above anything else.
O'BRIEN: Saeb Erakat is the chief Palestinian negotiator. Thank you very much for being with us on the line from Jericho this morning.
ERAKAT: Thank you, Miles.
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