James Rubin Secret Quotations

The secretary is always hopeful but thinks significant gaps remain between the Israeli and Palestinian positions. She will work to overcome those gaps but at this time has no reason to believe we're in a position to bridge those gaps. She is nether optimistic nor pessimistic but believes the process cannot go on indefinitely.

Secretary Albright will do what she always does and that is tell it like it is on the subject of human rights. There has been an unfortunate deplorable pattern of crackdowns on political dissent.

Secretary Albright just got off the phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu and they agreed to meet here in Washington on Wednesday to discuss ways in which we can overcome remaining differences

Secretary Albright had asked Ambassador Ross to travel to the region this week. Of course, she will be following the situation closely.

Secretary Albright asked the State Department's senior human rights officer to undertake the mission to further develop the administration's understanding of the dimensions of the conflict in Kosovo and to emphasize U.S. support for proponents of democracy as well as victims of human rights abuse in the region.

As far as we're concerned, there still are very significant and difficult roadblocks to restarting the peace process. Hopefully we'll be able to clear away some of those roadblocks in Secretary Albright's meetings in London.

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We have no reason to think this is any way related to Deputy Secretary Talbott's visit.

asked him to tell Secretary (of State Madeleine) Albright that they have approved the agreement as negotiated at Rambouillet and that they have authorized its signature.