Military

DATE=4/03/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSHMIDEAST TALKS (L only)

NUMBER=2-288300

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///EDITORS: WATCH FOR POSSIBLE UPDATES AND SHORT CR AFTER 12:45 WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING///

INTRO: The White House says U-S efforts in the Middle East will continue to focus on stopping the violence. But as V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports there are hints of some flexibility.

TEXT: President Bush has long said that the initial focus should be on ending the bloodshed, with talks on political issues to follow.

But the efforts of Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni to help implement a cease-fire were derailed last Wednesday at a moment of promise by a series of suicide bombings. And while he remains in the region and in touch with all parties, the Zinni mission is stalled.

Meanwhile, pressure on the White House to get more deeply involved is growing, with criticism of the administration's approach from abroad getting louder by the day. Some say that unless there is talk of borders and other issues, the Palestinians will see no point in further security discussions.

When asked about a possible merger of political and security talks, White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer reaffirmed the president's belief that it is much more difficult to discuss peace when there is so much violence. But he went on to note that the Bush administration has never said a cease-fire is an essential pre-requisite for discussions of political issues.

In some quarters his words were seen as a sign of a slight policy shift at a time when tensions are high and every bit of nuance is watched carefully.

The White House has talked for some time about a step-by-step approach to the peace process starting with discussion of the Tenet security plan, and moving on to the blueprint for political negotiations drafted by a commission led by former U-S Senator George Mitchell.

But at a time when all efforts to get the process moving are proving fruitless, the Bush administration is indicating any formula for discussion that brings the two sides together would be acceptable. Ari Fleischer said the important thing is for the parties to begin to make progress.

At the same time, the White House is making clear it does not plan any new initiatives in the region. During a speech Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, President Bush said only that the biggest threat to peace in the Middle East is posed by the terrorists who kill innocent civilians. Mr. Bush spoke of the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis and said he still dreams of the day when Israel and a Palestinian state can exist side-by-side in peace. (Signed)

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