On the tripartite meeting in Shepherdstown
Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 1/11/2000

US President Bill Clinton concluded a lengthy meeting in a working dinner late Sunday with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to discuss means of settling disputes which obstruct the realization of progress in the peace negotiations that started in the US town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia on January 3.

US State Department spokesman James Rubin as said that Clinton late on Sunday night held a tripartite dinner meeting followed by separate meetings with each of Barak and al-Sharaa. "I think the President felt that it was a very good and serious exchange of views," Rubin said.

Meantwhile, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said that Clinton held a 45-minute meeting with Barak before the three men started a dinner work meeting, attended by a limited number of members the three teams taking part in the meeting.

Sources close to the meeting said that no tangible progress was attained in the committee meetings which have been held so far because Israel has not yet decided on the issue of borders and withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 borders. The sources added that the water committee which had not yet held any official meeting started its talks on Sunday.

US sources said that members of the committee will stay in Shepherdstown to continue their deliberations until an agreement formula is crystallized, and al-Sharaa and Barak will return to continue the negotiations.

Syrian sources said they have considered the draft work document proposed by the US president for Syria and Israel as an advanced step in the negotiation process in order to crystallize an agreement on topics under dispute concerning the realization of peace.

The Syrian source indicated that the document, which includes all points to be agreed upon, will prevent any side in the future from retreating or denying any agreement to be reached during the negotiations.

One official in the Syrian delegation said that this document is considered an advanced step in the negotiation process in order to crystallize an agreement concerning points of dispute through bridging the rift in the two sides' stances.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian Israeli four committees meet   (1/10/2000)
  Clinton intervenes for third time in fourth day of Syrian-Israeli negotiations   (1/7/2000)
  Rubin denies talks on disarming Hizbullah party   (1/7/2000)

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