GERMANY: ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER ARIEL SHARON SAYS HIS COUNTRY WANTS THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD BUT WARNS PALESTINIAN PLANS TO PROCLAIM AN INDEPENDENT STATE COULD DISRUPT THE PROCESS

Record ID: 399147

  • Title: GERMANY: ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER ARIEL SHARON SAYS HIS COUNTRY WANTS THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD BUT WARNS PALESTINIAN PLANS TO PROCLAIM AN INDEPENDENT STATE COULD DISRUPT THE PROCESS
  • Date: 6th January 1999
  • Summary: BONN, GERMANY (JANUARY 6, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. LV EXTERIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY 0.07 2. PAN ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER ARIEL SHARON AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE 0.14 3. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 0.21 4. SV (SOUNDBITE) (German) JOSCHKA FISCHER, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: "We have always supported the Midea
  • Embargoed: 21st January 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BONN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA3TY12UPLN2HNRQ3F8I8O5PQA8
  • Story Text: Israel's Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon says his
    country wants the Middle East peace process to move forward,
    but has warned that Palestinian plans to proclaim an
    independent state could disrupt the process.He was speaking
    after a meeting with his German counterpart, Joschka Fischer.

    During a visit to Bonn on Wednesday (January 6),
    Sharon warned Yasser Arafat not to take any unilateral action.

    Arafat has said he wants to announce the creation of a
    Palestinian state on May 4, the day the 1993 Oslo accord which
    launched the peace process expires.

    "My friendly advice would be: Don't take any unilateral
    decisions, because Israel would have to react immediately,"
    Sharon said after a meeting in Bonn with German Foreign
    Minister Joschka Fischer.

    Some Palestinians fear a unilateral declaration by Arafat
    would allow Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to exploit
    Israeli fears of a Palestinian state in his bid to win
    re-election at a general election on May 17.

    Sharon was snubbed this week when he visited the U.S.by
    Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who had grown impatient
    over Israeli footdragging in the implementation of the Wye
    River land-for-security agreement.

    Germany, which has taken over the rotating presidency of
    the European Union, did not repeat the gesture, and Fischer
    said he backed all efforts to make progress in the peace
    process.

    Sharon said further implementation of the Wye River
    land-for-security deal would depend on both sides sticking to
    their commitments.

    "The government is committed to implementing this
    agreement, but of course it should be based...on mutual
    reciprocity," he said.

    Sharon said he hoped to hold talks with Syria on the peace
    process, and also said was ready to negotiate with Lebanon.

    The 70-year-old former army general also played down any
    prospects he might mount a bid to challenge Netanyahu to lead
    Israeli nationalists into the May election.

    "What I am doing now -- together with Prime Minister
    Netanyahu -- is an effort to get more unity in the Likud party
    and the national bloc," he said.


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