Dr Mamoun Fandy, Senior Fellow for Gulf Security of The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), spoke with Dr Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State on Sunday, 4 May 2008 to discuss pertinent international problems centering around Israel and Palestine. During their conversation, Dr Fandy and Dr Rice expanded this theme to discuss models for a possible state, the involvement of the Arab communities and the US, ideas from the Annapolis Summit and the additional complexities that Iran and Syria add to any potential peace settlements.
08 May 2008: IISS Press Advisory
Dr Mamoun Fandy, Senior Fellow for Gulf Security of The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), spoke with Dr Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State on Sunday, 4 May 2008 to discuss pertinent international problems centering around Israel and Palestine. During their conversation, Dr Fandy and Dr Rice expanded this theme to discuss models for a possible state, the involvement of the Arab communities and the US, ideas from the Annapolis Summit and the additional complexities that Iran and Syria add to any potential peace settlements.
Dr Fandy acutely drew attention to differences in opinion in the region for peace between Israel and Palestine as encouraged by the US, citing ‘…The Arab world today is divided, between optimists who think that American can deliver and pessimists and skeptics who say “do not believe them.” ‘ Dr Rice was optimistic but cautious in her response, ‘…I see a new commitment and energy, because I do think the parties, both the Israelis and the Palestinian, realise that the opportunity for a two state solution is not always going to be there.’ Earlier in her remarks, Secretary Rice said ‘I believe that the day is coming when Palestinian children will be raised in their own state and when there will be a child who is growing up and says “I want to be the president of Palestine.” ‘
As the discussion turned to Syria and Lebanon, Dr Fandy focused on ‘…the mediations on the sidelines between Syria and the Israelis through Turkey and other parties…’. Dr Rice was supportive of allies, but slightly skeptical of Syria’s interest in peace, citing other issues that must be resolved and included with Syrian involvement, ‘…there is a process for delineation or demarcation of the Shabaa farms, that the UN undertook under 1701, and I think it’s probably time to start seeing what that has produced…Syria has to make a choice.’
Dr Rice and Dr Fandy concluded by touching upon Iran and its centrifuges. In response to Dr Fandy’s question about what the US is doing about Iran in a big picture model, Dr Rice confirmed that in the region, ‘…Iran is the problem’ and indicated that the US would be prepared to challenge and counter negative Iranian involvement in Iraq, work with the international community regarding the nuclear program, and was optimistic that the Iranian public could be a valuable ally.
For a full transcript, please see: http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-in-the-press/may-2008/mamoun-fandy-speaks-with-condoleezza-rice/ .
