Pottsville Republican · 20 September 1991

CP-1991-057

Baker, Palestinian meet in Jordan

By Donald M. Rothberg / Associated Press

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Transcribed from the clipping

AMMAN, Jordan — Secretary of State James A. Baker III held a surprise meeting today with a Palestinian representative who came to the Jordanian capital with the approval of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Hanan Ashrawi, a professor of languages who lives in the West Bank, is one of three Palestinians who has met six times with Baker in Jerusalem and Washington.

After meeting with Ashrawi, Baker returned to Syria for a five-hour meeting with President Hafez Assad to discuss a draft letter outlining U.S. positions on issues of concern to the Syrians. Baker then departed for Washington. “We made some progress,” a State Department official said after today’s meeting with the Ashrawi.

But he also indicated the United States was unwilling to yield on any of the major demands by the Palestinians. The official said the message from the United States was, “Look, we’re prepared to try to respond to some of your concerns, but understand ... we’re not going to make any assurances inconsistent with what our policy positions are.”

The Palestinians want the United States to support their demand for an independent state, a position at odds with U.S. thinking on that issue. The United Stated does support autonomy for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, a solution that would give the Palestinians control over most activities involving their people. Mrs.

Ashrawi said she wanted to discuss three issues: self-determination for Palestinians, the status of Jerusalem, and the Israeli policy of building settlements in occupied territories. “Some of the points we required were met,” she said of the earlier talks.

“But some others need more clarification ... that’s why President (Yasser) Arafat approved the meeting.” Baker had invited the Palestinians to come to Jordan for discussions, but his invitation initially was turned down. Mrs.

Ashrawi said the decision on whether the Palestinians would attend a peace conference as part of the Jordanian delegation “will be taken by the Palestinian leadership at the Palestine National Conference.” The conference is scheduled to meet starting Monday in Algiers.

U.S. officials traveling with Baker got word after midnight Jordanian time of the decision to authorize Mrs. Ashrawi to meet with the secretary of state. Baker has often said that a key signal of Palestinian willingness to join the peace process would be the presence of Palestinians in Jordan to discuss the make-up of a joint delegation.

However, Baker spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said no Jordanian officials were participating in today’s meeting. The meeting came after Baker joined with Jordan’s King Hussein to send a strong signal to the Palestinians to attend the conference or risk having it go on without them.

Hussein cautioned the Palestinians that “time is short” to join the peace process and added that “this opportunity may not come again, ever.”

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