Clinton, optimistic on peace process

US President Bill Clinton said today at a joint press conference with French President Jacques Chirac that reports of a broad-based coalition government in Israel are encouraging for the Middle East peace process, saying, "It's fair to say that France and all of Europe, the United States, hope that we can play a constructive role in what we hope will be a productive next step."

Clinton reiterated that Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak needs time to assemble his government, saying, "We have to give the Prime Minister-elect the opportunity to put his government together and get off to a good start." However, Clinton expressed his belief that the new Israeli government would go to work on the peace process. "I don't believe that I will have to take any steps to revive the peace process. I believe when the new government takes office, if what we see in the press reports is right about the composition of this broad-based coalition government, I believe that there will be a vigorous pursuit of all channels of the peace process," he said.

"I expect there to be a revival of the peace process generated by the parties themselves. And then I expect to support it very strongly, and I would expect that President Chirac and the European Union will do the same," he said.

Chirac added that France and Europe as a whole "are absolutely determined in this new context to give maximum support to the efforts made by the parties concerned and, obviously by the United States."

On Iraq, Clinton acknowledged differences between the US and French views, saying, "The United States supports the efforts of the British and the Dutch and the Security Council because we believe that without the strongest possible inspection mechanism, Saddam Hussein will attempt to rebuild weapons of mass destruction stocks -- particularly in the chemical and biological areas, and perhaps missile technology, as well."

The British - Dutch proposal would allow the suspension of sanctions on Iraqi oil exports, but would continue measures limiting Iraqi imports.

Chirac said, "I think that the most important is today to once again reestablish inspections on Iraq's weapons, international verification. And to do so, what we need, at the very least, is to reexamine the conditions of the embargo -- what is necessary, in any case, it seems to me, for reasons that have to do with the very serious degradation of living conditions of the Iraqi people, who are the victims of the situation. So we shall discuss a way of synthesizing, bring together these concerns."

He added, "If we are not convinced that we're going to reach a result and the present state of affairs... that in any case Iraq will refuse the resolution which is, at present being drafted, and, therefore, it would be a somewhat pointless gesture which would not lead to any concrete results, but might strain the solidarity of the Security Council."