Bouteflika meets with Israeli Prime Minister
Regional-Israel, Politics, 7/26/1999

US President Bill Clinton said that he "regretted" having failed in investing the funeral ceremony of the Moroccan King Hassan II to achieve what he had considered a "breakthrough" in the peace process through making a meeting between Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

The US president was annoyed because of the absence of the Syrian presence from the funeral but he tried to "compensate" for al-Assad's absence by holding meetings with Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Meanwhile, Israeli media quoted diplomatic sources in Cairo as saying that al-Assad decided not to go to Rabat in order to refute rumors in Israel which expected a meeting to be convened between al-Assad and Barak under the auspices of President Clinton.

While waiting for the start of the funeral at the royal palace in Rabat ,Barak met with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for seven minutes.

Bouteflika told Barak after they shook hands, "We are pinning great hopes on your plan concerning the peace process in the Middle East." Bouteflika added, "We are ready to take part (in your efforts) whenever we are requested. We are with peace and for the sake of peace."

Bouteflika told former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, who was accompanying Barak, "This is the first time in my life in which I meet with an Israeli figure."

Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy worked as a translator between Barak and Bouteflika, who spoke in Arabic.

Barak replied to Bouteflika's statement by saying, "Mr. President, we do not have illusions. We know we will meet difficulties, yet we are determined to achieve our objectives and change the face of the Middle East and its future."

Bouteflika replied, "If you are in need of any help, we are all ready to help."

Barak answered, "I assure you we will be in need of your help."

Israeli television indicated that Bouteflika asked Barak to preserve the rights of the Arab peoples in the region, and Barak replied that Israel is seeking, first of all, to ensure its security and then to reach peace with countries of the region.

In statements to Israeli TV Barak said he had met in Rabat with officials from Arab Gulf states, whom he did not identify, as well as with King Abdullah of Jordan.

Previous Stories:
  Report: Settlement lines on the Syrian - Israeli track   (7/21/1999)
  Clinton - Barak full joint statement on the peace issue   (7/20/1999)
  Israeli television: Barak and Clinton agree on November 2000 to reach comprehensive peace   (7/17/1999)
  Algeria, Jordan assert Madrid terms of reference   (6/2/1999)

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