JERUSALEM: VISITING U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TELLS ISRAELI PARLIAMENT THAT SYRIA IS READY TO TALK PEACE

Record ID: 399699

  • Title: JERUSALEM: VISITING U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TELLS ISRAELI PARLIAMENT THAT SYRIA IS READY TO TALK PEACE
  • Date: 27th October 1994
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (OCTOBER 27, 1994) (POOL - AVAILABLE ALL) 1. HAS,GV/PAN INT.KNESSET 0.21 2. HAS,LV ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN APPROACHING PODIUM 0.26 3. SV RABIN ADDRESSING THE KNESSET (HEBREW) 0.42 4. SV UNITED STATES OF SECRETARY STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IN AUDIENCE 0.48 5. SV/PAN UNITED S
  • Embargoed: 11th November 1994 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVAAG4KQCH4RE0I7OWUDAALNMM7S
  • Story Text: United States (U.S.) President Bill Clinton told Israel's parliament on Thursday (October 27) that attitudes are changing in Syria and its leaders understood it was time to make peace.

    After meeting Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Damascus earlier in the day, Clinton told the 120-seat Knesset: "We have been urging President Assad to speak to you in a language of peace that you can understand. Today he began to do so.

    Of course it will take more than words, much more than words.

    "Yet I believe that something is changing in Syria. Its leaders understand that it is time to make peace. There will still be a good deal of hard bargaining before a breakthrough but they are serious about proceeding." Clinton is the first U.S. president to address Israel's parliament since Jimmy Carter in 1979.

    He recognised in the audience the parents of 19-year-old soldier Nachshon Waxman, a dual Israeli and U.S. citizen, kidnapped by Islamic militant guerrillas and killed earlier this month.

    Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, speaking before Clinton, spoke of the need to fight terror and said Israel was ready to make compromises for peace.

    "We face radical Islamic terror -- an enemy of peace, the state of Israel and Jews -- which threatens not only our country but also moderate Arab governments (and) your country, as well as the world." On peace efforts with Syria, Rabin said: "Behind us: the peace treaty with Jordan. Ahead: the continuation of negotiations with Syria in order to give validity to two words we have spoken thousands of times from every pulpit and in every political plan in the last two generations -- comprehensive peace. Peace for all, peace with all the Arab countries, peace with the Moslem world."
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