US President Bill Clinton announced Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had agreed to end 20 days of spiraling violence and resume the faltering peace process.
Spelling out the achievements of the make-or-break summit, he said, "Both sides have agreed to call for an end to violence with immediate concrete measures to ensure an end to violence, maintain calm, ensure security in the (Palestinian) territories," Clinton said.
"Both sides will act to return the situation to before the crisis, eliminating points of friction," ending closure and opening Gaza airport. Us will facilitate.
The United States and the United Nations would set up a fact-finding committee on the events of recent weeks, he added.
"There must be a pathway back to negotiations and a resumption of efforts" to achieve a permanent status accord, Clinton added.
Washington would consult with the parties concerned over the next two weeks on how to move forward, he said -- SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP)
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