This is historical material, "frozen in time." The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 29, 1997

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Ross Trip Announcement

President Clinton and Secretary Albright have decided to send Special Middle East Coordinator Dennis Ross to the region tomorrow to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat. Ambassador Ross will brief the President and Secretary of State on these meetings upon his return this weekend.

In recent weeks, the United States, in close cooperation with Egypt, has been working with Israelis and Palestinians on ways to move the peace process forward. Recent resumption of discussions between Israelis and Palestinians on issues related to the interim agreement is a step in the right direction. For its part, the United States is prepared to do everything it can to ensure that the peace process continues on a sound and durable basis. In that spirit, Ambassador Ross will be conveying some U.S. ideas.

# # #