Clinton, Barak to discuss status of peace talks

NEW YORK - President Clinton met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak Saturday as the United States signaled determination to salvage Middle East peace talks despite a grim outlook.

Neither side made much of the significance of their midmorning get-together, at Barak's Central Park hotel in deference to his observance of the Jewish Sabbath.

Before the meeting, an Israeli official said he expected no new ideas from Clinton on how to revitalize talks with the Palestinians. After the session, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright characterized it as ''just kind of a friendly meeting.''

Nevertheless, White House spokesman P.J. Crowley, in New York with Clinton for the United Nations' Millennium Summit, said despite the lack of progress, the peace process continues.

''Coming out of New York I think we have a good understanding of where both parties are. Both parties remain committed to the process, and we're committed to help,'' Crowley said.

He said Clinton's separate meetings last week with Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat ''gave us a better understanding of where both sides are, and we'll continue to formulate ideas designed to help the parties close the gaps.''

As Clinton emerged later from lunch at a midtown delicatessen, he gave reporters a thumbs-up sign but did not respond as they shouted questions about the meeting, which lasted about an hour.

Barak was unavailable for comment Saturday, but on Friday, he summed up peace efforts as ''No good.''

Barak told The Associated Press he made a last-ditch approach to Arafat before the Palestinian leader left for Gaza, urging him to reach an agreement in the little time remaining before Wednesday's self-imposed negotiating deadline.

Arafat, headed home for a meeting of the Central Committee of his Palestine Liberation Organization, was not responsive, Barak said. The committee was to decide whether to postpone a unilateral declaration of statehood, which Arafat has said he would do without a Sept. 13 agreement.

He has been under intense international pressure to delay. Israel has threatened to annex parts of West Bank and the Gaza Strip if he goes ahead, and he was expected to back off. In Gaza, as 250 demonstrators outside held signs saying ''Yes for independence now,'' Arafat told Palestinians to prepare themselves for the worst - possible confrontation with Israel - if the committee should decide to make the declaration.

Negotiations are hung up mostly over Jerusalem. Arafat is unyielding in his demand for sovereignty over the eastern part of the city and has resisted compromises offered by Clinton and pleadings by Barak that the Palestinian was missing an opportunity to gain statehood.

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EDITOR'S NOTE - Associated Press Writer Ibrahim Barzak contributed to this report from Gaza Strip.