» Thursday, November 11, 2004

Arafat

Asked if the Prime Minister believed that the passing of a figurehead such as Arafat provided an opportunity, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said he would not use the exact words used in the question. While we had never hidden the disagreements between Chairman Arafat and the Government it was important to recognise that Yasser Arafat had helped establish the vision of a two-state solution. The important thing now was to move forward and implement that vision and to do so in a way that not only recognised the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, but also guaranteed the security of the Israelis. We have now entered a new era where there will be a new Palestinian leadership, and the important thing now would be to help the new leader fill the vacuum that would be left by the Israelis disengagement from Gaza. This would be done by helping with the policing, administration, economic and political development fronts. This would lead the way forward to final status negotiations. What was important, therefore, about the Washington trip was that a signal of intent was sent out to help drive the process forward. As the PMOS said earlier in the week, he did not see the trip ending with a detailed timetable or proposals, but he did think it would send a signal of very serious intent to the region and to the respective government machines, and it would also set up a work plan that would determine the strategy of both governments from now on.

Asked how the position of Abu Mazen would be consolidated during the traditional 40 day period of mourning and how the vacuum now left would be filled, the PMOS replied that who the Palestinians chose as their new leadership was a matter for them. He said that he had never found it helpful to speculate about what might happen, but that it was better to deal with the reality. He continued that what had been seen from all sides was the need for engagement that worked towards the sensible outcome, which was two states living side by side in security that recognised legitimate aspirations.

Asked what evidence there was to prove that all sides were engaged, the PMOS replied that what must be done was not only to wait for a new leader to be chosen, but also to continue to talk to the other people involved in the decisions. What was important was to recognise that it was time to recreate the momentum to drive the process forward, and then to drive it forward.

Asked who would be representing the British Government at Yasser Arafat’s funeral tomorrow, the PMOS answered that the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw would be attending.

Briefing took place at 11:15 | Search for related news

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