Arlen Specter: “I compliment the Palestinian Council, the Palestinian Authority, and Chairman Arafat on their decision not to declare an…”

“I compliment the Palestinian Council, the Palestinian Authority, and Chairman Arafat on their decision not to declare an independent state which had been proposed for September 13. I had urged Chairman Arafat not to declare an independent state when that was proposed last year, and I said at that time that if they desisted, I would make a statement on the Senate floor complimenting them on moving forward. I say today that their decision is an important one, a good one, and one which will provide a better basis for further negotiations on the Mideast peace process.”