SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF CAMP DAVID SUMMIT BETWEEN ISR"LI PRIME MINISTER AND CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT

Press Release
SG/SM/7480

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF CAMP DAVID SUMMIT BETWEEN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER AND CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT

The following statement was issued by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes United States President William Clinton’s decision to invite Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority to a summit meeting at Camp David next week. The Secretary-General attaches great importance to this meeting, and wishes to express his full support for the Camp David process. A “Peace of the Brave” between Israel and the Palestinians would not only end more than 50 years of hostilities but would pave the way for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on relevant resolutions of the United Nations, including Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and the principle of land for peace.

The Secretary-General is aware that a successful outcome will require decisions and compromises which would be painful for both sides. But the prize is great, and the Secretary-General wishes to take this opportunity to encourage both sides to demonstrate the courage of true statesmanship.

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