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VOLUME 13-14: 1992-1994
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154. Summary of the Meeting between Prime Minister Rabin and U.S. Commerce Secretary Brown, 18 January 1994.
In the context of the meeting of the Joint U.S.-Israel Commission for Science and Technology, headed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Brown and Israeli Minister for Trade and Industry Micha Harish, Secretary Brown visited Israel. He met with the prime minister and reviewed progress in the work of the Commission created by President Clinton and Prime Minister Rabin in March 1993. Israel was keen to learn from the U.S. how to convert military industries into civilian uses. Summary of the meeting follows:
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin met this morning (Tuesday), 18.1.94, in his office with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and his entourage (including Ambassador Edward Djerejian and Martin Indyk). Also participating in the meeting were Trade and Industry Minister Micha Harish, Director-General Shimon Sheves of the Prime Minister's Office, Director-General Yossi Snir of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ilan Flatto, economic adviser to Prime Minister Rabin. During the meeting, [participants] discussed the trade and economic relations between the two countries, as well as American efforts to contribute to regional economic development in the Middle East. Rabin said that the visit of Secretary Brown represents a milestone in relations of economic cooperation between The United States and Israel. Rabin also expressed the hope that the visit will contribute to an expansion in the scope of trade between [the two countries]. He emphasized that trade with the United States is balanced. Rabin noted that Israel wants to learn from the experience of the United States in adapting knowledge-heavy defense industries to civilian use. He praised the unilateral declaration of Secretary Brown against the Arab boycott, as well as his call for the removal of all political restrictions [affecting] economic relations. The prime pinister said that the U.S.-Israel Commission for Science and Technology - whose creation was decided upon during his meeting with President Clinton - represents a very important contribution to economic and scientific relations between the two countries. Secretary Brown and Minister Harish head the commission.
Secretary Brown said that the peace process will bring about an improvement in the daily lives of area residents, encourage the development of the private sector and lead to large investments. [Brown] noted that the joint hi-tech commission will create many economic success stories. The privatization efforts of the Israeli government will, according to Brown, bring about a real increase in investments (in Israel) and this will contribute to the strengthening of the Israeli economy. Minister Harish stressed the potential of the hi-tech commission, and said that the commission is now beginning intensive work in an array of fields that are of interest to both countries. He noted that Israel has a positive view of the process of economic growth in the United States and hopes that this process will be accelerated. Harish emphasized the positive momentum which has begun in trade relations between the two countries.
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