01 April 2002
Bush Speaks Out Against Terror in Middle East
(Urges Israelis, Palestinians to accept Tenet, Mitchell plans) (2100)
President Bush has urged the Israelis and Palestinians to take
concrete steps to reduce violence in the Middle East.
"We urge the parties to accept the Tenet plan so that we can bring
some peaceful resolution to an issue that's affecting the lives of
Palestinians and Israelis alike. There's a lot of innocent people who
hurt in the region because of the senseless violence and senseless
murder," Bush said at the White House April 1.
The President again called on the world community to band together to
fight terror in order to promote peace in the Middle East. "There will
never be peace so long as there's terror," he said.
"I hope that the world community will continue to condemn terror, and
if they haven't condemned terror yet, start condemning terror. It's
essential for the peace of the region and the world," Bush said.
Bush said he would like to see Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat
denounce terrorist attacks. He said that it is very important for
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to keep a pathway to peace open.
The president said the Mitchell program offers a method for resolving
the political issues in the Middle East conflict and again praised
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah's recent call for the Arab world to
recognize Israel's right to exist.
Bush said "some positive things" were taking place in the region
"until terrorist suicide bombers started killing innocent people."
Following is a transcript of Bush's remarks:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 1, 2002
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH
NEW YORK GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI
AND NEW YORK MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG
The Oval Office
11:15 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: I have just informed the Governor and the Mayor, the
Governor of New York and the Mayor of New York City, that the federal
government will transfer Governor's Island to the people of New York.
I'll never forget choppering over Governor's Island with George and
Rudy Giuliani, Mike Bloomberg's predecessor, and the two leaders
talking about what good use Governor's Island could be put to.
Since that time, I've studied the statements of Mayor Bloomberg, who
extensively talked about Governor's Island and how to improve
Governor's Island and how to make it a center of educational
excellence, something dear to George Pataki's heart. I looked at the
law, looked at the circumstances and decided this morning that this
was the right thing for the U.S. government and it's the right thing
for the people of New York.
I appreciate so very much the vision of these two leaders and I
appreciate their heartfelt concern for the citizens of New York City
and the region. And so I want to welcome to the Oval Office with this
piece of news. George, why don't you say a few words?
GOVERNOR PATAKI: Mr. President, first, on behalf of the people of New
York, thank you. This is great news for New York. For decades, New
Yorkers have sought to have control over Governor's Island so we could
use it in an intelligent way to advance the interest of New Yorkers.
And now you are doing it.
And I remember very well that flight in the helicopter and that very
sad and emotional day, and how you took the interest in Governor's
Island. And, Mr. President, we have said to you that we're going to
bring back Lower Manhattan stronger than it was on September 11th,
with the resources you've provided, with having kept your word on what
you're going to do for New York, and now going beyond that to transfer
Governor's Island to the people of New York. I'll tell you, it's just
a tremendous thing.
Mike and I had the chance Friday afternoon to go over and tour
Governor's Island. And we have a vision as to a bold educational use
for that island that will be tremendous for the people of New York,
for the school children of New York. And, Mr. President, again, thank
you. You have done more for New York than I believe any President in
memory.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Mike?
MAYOR BLOOMBERG: Mr. President, thank you so much for this. I think
not only is it a commitment to New York, but it is a commitment to
education. You have the right to claim to be the education President
as much as anybody in modern memory. I think the Governor has been
phenomenally supportive of education throughout New York State and
been very helpful in New York City. It is my big concern.
We need more trained teachers and we need more classrooms. We need to
improve our university system. This will allow us to do all three by
putting part of City University, one of the flagships of New York,
over on Governor's Island. That will free up space so that we can
solve some of our space problems throughout the public school system,
where we have just too big class sizes for the children's good.
The Governor has for a long time tried to do something to reduce class
sizes. We've never had the space before. This will go to ameliorate
that problem to a great extent. It will let us focus on teacher
training. It will let us focus on smaller class sizes. It will improve
our City University and the public school system where we educate
America's future.
So on behalf of the governor and I, thank you. You could not make a
bigger impact, I don't think, on America going forward than you can by
this gesture. And we will use it wisely.
THE PRESIDENT: I know you will. Thanks.
I'll be glad to answer a few questions.
Q: Mr. President, what specifically would you like for Chairman Arafat
to do, what specific action you'd like him to take in the Middle East?
And, in light of the current situation in Israel, does the Bush
doctrine on terrorism not apply in this case?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, there will never be peace so long
as there's terror. And all of us must fight off -- fight terror. And
you asked about Chairman Arafat. I'd like to see Chairman Arafat
denounce the terrorist activities that are taking place, the constant
attacks.
We've got a plan that will lead to peace, the security plan called
Tenet, there's a political plan called Mitchell. Both sides have
agreed to this plan. And we urge the parties to accept the Tenet plan
so that we can bring some -- a peaceful resolution to an issue that's
affecting the lives of Palestinians and Israelis alike. There's a lot
of innocent people who hurt in the region because of the senseless
violence and senseless murder.
Q: Mr. President, I'd like to follow up on Sonya's question. Under
your doctrine, a terrorist or someone who aids a terrorist is the
equivalent of a terrorist. So what's keeping Chairman Arafat -- what's
keeping you from labeling Chairman Arafat a terrorist?
THE PRESIDENT: Chairman Arafat has agreed to a peace process. He's
agreed to the Tenet plan. He's agreed to the Mitchell plan. He has
negotiated with parties as to how to achieve peace. And, of course,
our hope is that he accepts the Tenet plan. That's what General Zinni
is in the Middle East doing, working to get this Tenet agreement in
place, which is a series of concrete steps to reduce the violence in
the Middle East.
Q: There were various calls on the Sunday talk shows for you to become
more actively involved in this process, sir. Is there any way you
would do that?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, they must have not been with me in Crawford
when I was on the phone all morning long talking to world leaders.
We've just come from a National Security Council meeting where Colin
Powell was recounting his phone conversations. We've got General Zinni
in the region. We've got a Tenet plan, a Mitchell plan, a road map to
what will be a peaceful resolution to this issue.
I hope that the world community will continue to condemn terror. And
if they haven't condemned terror yet, start condemning terror. It's
essential for the peace of the region and the world that we rout out
terrorist activities, that we condemn those activities. Suicide
bombers in the name of religion is simple terror. And the free world,
the civilized world must band together to stop this kind of activity
if we expect there to be peace and resolution in the Middle East.
Q: You've made clear, sir, that you believe that Chairman Arafat needs
to do much more. Do you believe that Prime Minister Sharon is doing
all he can to foster peace in the region?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it's very important for the Prime Minister to
keep a pathway to peace open, to understand that on the one hand,
Israel should protect herself, and on the other hand, there ought to
be a pathway, the capacity to achieve a peaceful resolution to this
issue. It's important for Israel to understand that. They've signed on
to the Tenet agreement, and they signed on to the Mitchell plan. And
that is the pathway to peace. And I believe Prime Minister Sharon
still accepts Tenet, and still accepts Mitchell as the way to achieve
a peaceful resolution.
I was very heartened a couple of weeks ago by the Saudi Arabia Crown
Prince, when he talked about the need for the Arab world to recognize
Israel's right to exist. It was a positive development. There were
some positive things that were taking place in the region, until the
terrorist suicide bombers start killing innocent people.
Q: Mr. President, why give the island now? Can you tell us what --
THE PRESIDENT: Why now, right this second?
Q: Well, why did you make the announcement today, and what persuaded
you to transfer the island to the city? And also, was this in any way
to help Governor Pataki in his reelection?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, listen, he doesn't need my help to get
re-elected, for starters. He's got a great record. The people of New
York are discerning voters. Well, most of the time they're discerning
voters. (Laughter.) If you know what I mean. (Laughter.)
Q: No, what do you mean? (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you're a smart guy. Read between the lines. No,
George Pataki has been a great Governor for New York. I made the
announcement today, because I had finished the necessary study of the
issue, to make sure that we could transfer this property without
congressional action. And I believe I can do that. It took a while to
take a look at it.
It also requires -- I wanted to make sure that the Governor and Mayor
would be using this property for education purposes. That's what the
Mayor said he would do, the Governor said he wanted to do that. They
took a look at it and decided this is what they wanted to do. And it
makes a lot of sense to me. And using it for education purposes will
make it easier for me to facilitate the transfer, by the way.
Q: Mr. President, the previous administration didn't want -- I was
just wondering, what specifically persuaded you?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I took a look at it. I mean, it's a good
question. I took a look at it. I listened to what George said; he's my
friend. I trust his judgment. I've known him for a long time, and Rudy
Giuliani as well, both of them were passionate in their appeal for us
to consider transferring Governor's Island.
And I knew Mike was very interested in enhancing the quality of
education in New York City. And I took a look at it. I came back --
obviously, things didn't happen quickly after September the 15th trip,
because we had a lot on our mind. But it took a while to work it
through the White House staff.
And it arrived on my desk sometime last week. And the recommendation
was that we could transfer this property, if that's what I wanted to
do. And it's something I want to do, because I think it's going to
make the life of a city that has been tragically affected by killers
and murderers better. And I think it will enhance the quality of
education for the people of New York. And to me, that is a worthwhile
and noble cause.
11:25 A.M. EST
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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