Israeli and American officials expressed optimism this week about the progress of the Middle East peace talks taking place here, saying that the new format involving only delegation heads is helping the process along.
Those statements, however, seemed to conflict with comments made earlier by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres about the scope of the negotiations.
“We feel that we have to widen the scope of the negotiations because, if I can say a nice thing about ministers, as contrary to the other people in the government, they have the unforgettable right to make mistakes. And without making mistakes, I am not sure we can achieve peace,” Peres said Wednesday in a speech at the Washington Institute for Near East Studies.
Syrian officials, in reports released Thursday, rejected Peres’ call to widen the peace talks.
The current round of negotiations, occurring in undisclosed locations here, has involved only the heads of delegations and not the full diplomatic teams present in previous rounds.
This round, in which the Israelis are negotiating on four tracks with the Jordanians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrians, has also been carried out without daily reports to the press.
In a Wednesday evening meeting with reporters from the Jewish media, Israeli officials said the smaller negotiating groups and the lack of news coverage have created a more intimate atmosphere suitable for serious negotiating.
“These negotiations don’t warrant media attention every day,” said Elyakim Rubenstein, chief Israeli negotiator with the Jordanians.
‘NO BIG THUNDERSTORMS’
“There are no big thunderstorms each day” that require media coverage, Rubenstein said.
Israeli Embassy spokeswoman Ruth Yaron said the present format has helped the Syrian and Lebanese tracks as well, letting negotiators discuss highly sensitive topics not previously raised because of the intense media attention.
State Department spokesman Mike McCurry also gave positive reviews. “The new format has been conducive to productive, interesting exchanges between the parties,” he said Thursday.
In the more informal format, negotiators with the Syrians discussed security arrangements, which were added to this round, Yaron said.
Rubenstein described the talks with the Jordanians as “positive” but “cautious.”
Earlier Wednesday, Peres announced that Israel and Jordan would host a joint economic conference in Jordan later this year and said joint economic development in the region would help Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians. No date for the conference had yet been set.
Peres said the delegations had been discussing energy and environmental concerns with an emphasis on water.
Peres and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat met last weekend in Switzerland to discuss implementation of the selfrule accord signed last fall.
They will meet again in Cairo, probably Sunday.
Yaron said the Washington talks between Israel and the Palestinians are focusing on elections to be held in the new Palestinian territory and on the council that will be responsible for implementing the accord.
When asked about the American involvement in this round of negotiations, Yaron said U.S. negotiators are acting behind the scenes, offering advice when needed.
The American role in the talks has been in question since the more informal format began last week.
“We respect the American role, and feel that it is important,” Yaron said.
The United States agreed Thursday to give $25 million to housing projects in the Gaza Strip.
The deal was signed by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Palestinian Housing Council.
The contribution is part of the Clinton administration’s commitment last year to donate $500 million over five years to develop the area to be controlled by the Palestinians, according to Howard Salter, press officer for the agency.
The current round of talks concluded Thursday. State Department spokesman McCurry said Thursday that the talks will resume in Washington on Feb. 15.
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