*EPF106 01/07/2002
Text: Middle East Advisor Zinni's Security Meetings "Positive"
(Boucher says Mideast Envoy to Return Soon) (320)

Senior Advisor on the Middle East, retired General Anthony Zinni, has ended four days of discussions with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in the region, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement released in Washington January 6.

Zinni will brief Secretary of State Colin Powell then return to the Middle East in the near future, Boucher said.

Boucher said that Zinni's discussions had shown that "while serious challenges remain, there are real opportunities for progress."

Boucher indicated Zinni has asked Israeli and Palestinian security officials to continue meeting and working on practical steps to enhance security cooperation before his return.

"The United States remains committed to working with the parties to combat terrorism, end violence, implement the Mitchell Committee recommendations and resume a political process," Boucher said.

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman

January 6, 2002

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

SENIOR ADVISOR ANTHONY ZINNI TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES

Senior Advisor Anthony Zinni is returning to the United States to brief Secretary Powell on his recent trip.

After four days of intensive discussions with Israelis and Palestinians, it is clear that, while serious challenges remain, there are real opportunities for progress.

Working with General Zinni, Israeli and Palestinian security officials had a positive and constructive trilateral security committee meeting. The trilateral committee will continue to work on practical steps to enhance security cooperation as well as to begin planning together for the implementation of the Tenet Security Work Plan at the appropriate time.

General Zinni will return to the region in the near future to assess what the parties have been able to accomplish in the bilateral and trilateral meetings that General Zinni has asked them to convene. The United States remains committed to working with the parties to combat terrorism, end violence, implement the Mitchell Committee recommendations and resume a political process.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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