‘Jerusalem Has Its Special Status’

“The holy city of Jerusalem has its special status. It should be free, accessible and sacred for all followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. . . . The status of the holy city should be subject to negotiation.” --Egyptian Foreign Minister Amir Moussa.

‘Ceremonial Conference’

“If Israel does not withdraw from occupied Arab territories and if the settlements are not frozen, this will just have been a ceremonial conference . . . and we will withdraw from it.”

--Zohair Jannan, head of the foreign press department at the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

‘Prospects of Peace’

“I think on the whole this has been a very good day for the prospects of peace.”

--Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

‘All Began to Crawl’

“We have to crawl before we walk . . . and today I think we all began to crawl.”

--Secretary of State James A. Baker III.

‘Open Heart’

“We come here with an open heart and an open mind.”

--Jordanian Foreign Minister Kamel abu Jaber.

‘We Are Disappointed’

“Yes, you can say we are disappointed. It is less than our expections.”

--Radwan abu Ayash, a member of a largely pro-PLO “guidance committee” overseeing the talks.

‘First-Degree Criminal’

“No doubt the revolutionary Muslims at the earliest appropriate opportunity will carry out their religious duty against them under any circumstances. . . . President Bush, as the initiator of this big crime, is considered the top, the first-degree criminal, and is classed as the most hated individual.”

--Ali Akbar Mohtashemi, a leading Parliament member and Iran’s former interior minister, a powerful Iranian hard-liner influential with Lebanese terrorist groups, speaking to the 270-member Parliament.