VZCZCXYZ0042
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #3770 2521914
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 091857Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 5192
INFO RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 9311
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 5634
UNCLAS STATE 093770
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KWBG PGOV PREL OPDC IS
SUBJECT: MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY CLINTON TO AUSTRALIAN FM
SMITH
REF: STATE 80039
1. This is an action request. Post is requested to
deliver the letter in para 2 from Secretary Clinton to
Foreign Minister Smith in response to his August 26
correspondence.
2. Begin text of letter:
Dear Mr. Minister:
Thank you for your letter of August 26 and for taking new
action to further our shared goal of a two-state solution
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a comprehensive
peace between Israel and its neighbors. President Obama
and I are committed to achieving this goal, and Senator
Mitchell is working intensively for the prompt
resumption of negotiations and the early conclusion of a
peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian
state alongside Israel and comprehensive peace in the
Middle East.
Ensuring the continued viability of a Palestinian
Authority (PA) that can effectively respond to the needs
of the Palestinian people and act as a genuine partner for
peace is central to this effort. Your contribution of an
additional $10 million in budget support in 2009, in
addition to your other support for the Palestinian people,
will help the PA meet its immediate budget needs. Despite
your support and that of other international donors,
including the United States, the PA still may face a
year-end deficit of as much as $250 million. I encourage
you to assess if additional budgetary assistance can be
made available to ensure that the PA avoids fiscal default
and collapse. In addition, your government's help in
reaching out to other countries in your region, such as
Japan, Indonesia and China, to explain the importance of
budget support for the PA would constitute one practical
way that Australia can help to create the conditions for
peace.
We are encouraging Israel, the Palestinians, and Arab
states to take meaningful steps that create the context
for peace and the resumption of successful negotiations.
For the Israelis, this means stopping settlement activity
and taking other measures to improve the daily lives of
Palestinians and live up to Roadmap obligations. For the
Palestinians, this means taking action to prevent terror
and incitement and redoubling efforts to reform
Palestinian institutions. For the Arab states, this means
taking concrete steps toward peace and a thaw in relations
with Israel in the spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative.
Australia's help in reinforcing this message with all of
the stakeholders, including Indonesia, would be of
valuable help to our efforts.
The U.S. Embassy in Canberra as well as the Department of
State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs are available to
provide your ministry with any information that may be
useful for your efforts in helping achieve a comprehensive
Middle East peace.
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
End text of letter.
CLINTON