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VOLUME 13-14: 1992-1994
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4. Statement by Prime Minister Rabin and Secretary of State Baker, 19 July 1992.
In an effort to move the Arab-Israel negotiations forward, effectively stalled since the spring of 1992 because of the Knesset elections in Israel, Secretary of State Baker travelled to the Middle East to assess the situation in view of the political change in Israel. On the agenda were the resumption of the negotiations, the granting to Israel of American loan guarantees for absorption of new immigrants, U.S. military aid to Israel and other bilateral issues that had to do with the Israel-U.S. strategic cooperation agreements. Mr. Rabin was invited to visit the United States for an early meeting with President Bush. Text of the opening statements which followed the first Rabin-Baker meeting follow:
Prime Minister Rabin: Very good evening. I welcome the visit of Secretary of State Baker to Israel and the region. We had the time to discuss the basic issues today in the region and in the framework of the bilateral relationships between Israel and the United States. We touched on the possibilities to move ahead with the peace process within the framework of the Madrid conference. We discussed the issue of the guarantees for the absorption of newcomers, and we discussed bilateral issues. I believe the discussions were frank and to the point and will continue during the visit of the secretary in another meeting to try to find out what has been achieved, in what ways we'll go, and what has to be left to be decided later on. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for coming, [and] thank you for your readiness to take part in the continuation and the acceleration of the peace process and the improvement in the relationships between our two countries.
Secretary Baker: Prime Minister, thank you. I think that's a full and complete summary of our discussions. Let me express to you my appreciation and that of President Bush for your willingness to receive us here so soon after your taking office. Let me say that I share what I believe is your optimism with respect to the opportunities for moving forward in a positive way with respect to the peace process. I am looking forward to our continuing discussions during the course of my visit here, particularly with reference to how we can move forward with the question of U.S. assistance for the absorption of immigrants to Israel, and I look forward, as well, to having further discussions with you about other bilateral issues as well as other issues affecting the peace process. Thank you for welcoming us here. |
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