Jerusalem, 21 July 1999
Trade Minister Cohen Meets Palestinian Counterpart
(Communicated by the Industry and Trade Ministry Spokesman)
Industry and Trade Minister Ran Cohen met on (Tuesday) 20.7.99, with Palestinian Authority Economics and Trade Minister Maher al-Masri, at the Industry and Trade Ministry in Jerusalem.
Cohen said that an irrecoverable opportunity now exists to renew relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and that he is personally interested in turning a new leaf, particularly in ties between the Israeli Industry and Trade Ministry and its Palestinian counterpart. "The wheels of the peace process must be set in motion through substantive agreements on commerce, the opening of markets and joint exports to the European Union," Cohen said.
After congratulating Cohen on his new appointment, Maher al-Masri said that he would like to see a "real change, after a three-year freeze in relations." According to the Palestinian official, "things must be put on the table; there have only been a few meetings in recent years with no genuine results."
Cohen asked his Palestinian counterpart to investigate the possibility of facilitating the transfer of goods from Israel to the Palestinian Authority, which has proven problematic since April. In response, Al-Masri offered that only necessary examinations will be conducted, and that he will take action to facilitate the marketing of Israeli goods in the Palestinian Authority. Al-Masri also said that the Palestinian Authority is eager to devise a practical solution to problems involving the rules of origin, adding that this might include a joint approach to the European Union.
During the meeting, Cohen and Al-Masri agreed that they and Israeli and Palestinian Authority teams would continue to meet for the sake of examining possible ways to implement the economic measures detailed in the Wye River Memorandum. It was also agreed that, after a three-year hiatus, the joint Israeli- Palestinian Taba Forum would re-convene, and that possible cooperation in exports and taxation would be examined.
Cohen concluded: "Much work remains before us. We must work toward good neighborly relations and for peace for the future of our peoples and children."