06 April 2002
Bush, Blair Pledge Quest for Lasting Middle East Peace
(Agree on need to deal with Iraq's weapons of mass destruction) (3850)
President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, meeting in
Crawford, Texas, on April 6, pledged both countries to seeking a just
and lasting peace settlement in the Middle East.
"We share a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by
side in peace and in security," said President Bush.
Prime Minister Blair said: "There will be and can be a viable and
lasting peace there: that is a state of Israel, secure in its own
borders, recognized by the entirety of the Arab world, and also a
viable Palestinian state where people can live side by side with each
other."
They agreed that the Palestinian leadership must institute an
effective ceasefire and end terror attacks, and that Israel must begin
withdrawing from Palestinian-controlled areas without delay.
Both leaders said that Iraq's development of weapons of mass
destruction constituted a clear and present danger that the world
community could not ignore.
President Bush pointed to the threat posed by a leader who used
chemical weapons against his own people, resists international
inspections, and is developing weapons of mass destruction that could
be targeted almost anywhere in the world.
The President said, "I can't imagine people not seeing the threat, and
not holding Saddam Hussein accountable for what he said he would do,
and we're going to do that."
Prime Minister Blair said, "We know that those weapons constitute a
threat. Three days after the 11th of September when I made my first
statement to the House of Commons in Britain, I specifically said then
this issue of weapons of mass destruction has got to be dealt with."
President Bush also paid tribute to Britain's leadership in the war
against terrorism: "No nation has been stronger in fighting global
terrorism than Great Britain. I'm extremely grateful for the Prime
Minister's courageous leadership since September the 11th. And the
world is grateful for all that Great Britain has contributed in the
war against terror -- everything from special forces to ground forces
to naval forces to peacekeepers."
Following is the transcript of the joint press availability of
President Bush and Prime Minister Blair in Crawford, Texas, April 6,
2002:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
April 6, 2002
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY
Crawford High School
Crawford, Texas
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Laura and I are very honored to have our
friends, Tony and Cherie Blair and their family, visit us here in
Crawford. We appreciate the rain that the Prime Minister brought with
him. (Laughter.) And so do the other farmers and ranchers in the area.
Mr. Prime Minister, thanks for bringing it.
THE PRIME MINISTER: My pleasure, George. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: It is always a pleasure for any American President to
welcome the Prime Minister of Great Britain, because ours is a special
and unique relationship. And our relationship is strong because of my
respect for the Prime Minister. I appreciate his advice, I appreciate
his counsel and I appreciate his friendship.
This morning I conveyed to the Prime Minister the condolences of the
American people for the recent passing of Her Majesty, Queen
Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This remarkable woman is warmly
remembered on both sides of the Atlantic for her grace and her
strength; and particularly for her inspiration she provided during the
darkest days of World War II.
Today, the bond between our peoples that she symbolized is stronger
than ever. Our nations share more than just a common language and a
common history. We also share common interests and a common
perspective on the important challenges of our times.
No nation has been stronger in fighting global terrorism than Great
Britain. I'm extremely grateful for the Prime Minister's courageous
leadership since September the 11th. And the world is grateful for all
that Great Britain has contributed in the war against terror --
everything from special forces to ground forces to naval forces to
peacekeepers.
The Prime Minister and I both understand that defeating global terror
requires a broad based, long-term strategy. We understand the
importance of denying terrorists weapons of mass destruction. And we
understand the importance of adapting NATO to meet new threats, even
as NATO prepares to take on new members and forges a new relationship
with Russia.
The Prime Minister and I also agree that, even as we work to make the
world safer, we must also work to make the world better. Our countries
will continue to work closely to bring greater hope and opportunity to
developing nations.
We also had extensive conversations about the situation in the Middle
East. Both our nations are strongly committed to finding a just
settlement. Both of us agree on the fundamental elements that a just
settlement must include. We share a vision of two states, Israel and
Palestine, living side by side in peace and in security.
We agree that this vision will never be realized through terrorism,
and that it can only be realized through a political process. We agree
that the Palestinian leadership must order an immediate and effective
cease-fire and crackdown on terrorist networks. And we agree that
Israel should halt incursions in the Palestinian controlled areas and
begin to withdraw without delay from those cities it has recently
occupied.
The Prime Minister and I agree to work closely in the weeks and months
ahead on these difficult issues. We have a common reading of history.
We understand that each of our nations stands taller when we stand
together. And that's why our nations will continue to stand together
against freedom's enemies. And that's why we'll continue to work
together, for not only the good of our own people, but for good of
peace in the world.
Mr. Prime Minister.
THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, if I could
begin by thanking you and the First Lady for their very kind and
gracious welcome that you have given to myself and my family, and also
thank the people of Crawford and McClellan, County, for their kind
welcome, too. And it's a real pleasure to be with you here.
And as you might expect, we've had very detailed discussions covering
all the issues from the topics of the moment through to issues like
trade and bilateral issues between us. Of course, much of our
discussion has focused on the situation in the Middle East. And I
agree entirely with what the President said just a moment or two ago,
not just in relation to what must happen in the immediate term, but
also as to the only basis upon which there will be and can be a viable
and lasting peace there: that is a state of Israel, secure in its own
borders, recognized by the entirety of the Arab world, and also a
viable Palestinian state where people can live side by side with each
other.
We discussed, of course, the issues of international terrorism and
weapons of mass destruction. I would like to pay a particular tribute
to the President for his courage and for his leadership in the
aftermath of the 11th of September. And I think that it is worth
reflecting that over these past few months, although very much still
remains to be done, we have accomplished, nonetheless, a very great
deal in Afghanistan and in the pursuit of those responsible for that
terrible event on the 11th of September. And we will continue to work
in any way we can in order to make sure that this scourge of
international terrorism is defeated.
We also agreed and made it very clear, as well, that the issue of
weapons of mass destruction cannot be ducked, it is a threat, it is a
danger to our world and we must heed that threat and act to prevent it
being realized.
In addition, I was grateful for the President's kind words about the
contribution Britain has made in Afghanistan. We made that willingly,
because we believe it is important not just that we root out the last
remnants of the al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan, but also
that we help that country to go from being a failed state, failing its
region and its people, to a state that offers some hope of stability
and prosperity for the future.
And, finally, I would like to say a special thank you to the President
for his words on Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, that will be
deeply appreciated by people of Britain. And as you may know, there
have been many Americans, as well as British people paying their
respects to the Queen Mother as she lies in state. Ours is, indeed, a
very special and unique relationship between Britain and the United
States of America. And I have no doubt at all that under the
leadership of President Bush, that relationship will strengthen still
further. And, for that, Britain is glad -- I know that the United
States is -- but I believe it is good for the wider world, too.
THE PRESIDENT: We have now agreed to take three questions apiece.
We'll start with Ron Fournier, a fine man who works for AP -- got a
couple of kids, cares deeply about the future. (Laughter.)
THE PRIME MINISTER: I'm just thinking of how I introduce mine, now.
(Laughter.)
Q: Flattery will get you nowhere, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: I've noticed. (Laughter.)
Q: Israel is moving deeper into Palestinian territories, and there are
reports today that she has launched attacks on southern Lebanon. Have
you failed, Mr. President, to convince Prime Minister Sharon to pull
back his troops? And why did you wait so long to demand the withdrawal
and only today adding the caveat, without delay?
THE PRESIDENT: My administration's -- my words to Israel are the same
today as they were a couple of days ago: withdraw without delay. I
made the decision to give the speech when I did because I was
concerned about the ability for those of us who were interested in a
long-term solution to take hold. I was worried about the balance being
tipped to the point where we weren't able to achieve a long-lasting
peace.
I gave the speech at the right time. And I expect Israel to heed my
advice, and I expect for the Palestinians to reject terror in the Arab
world. As Israel steps back, we expect the Arab world to step up and
lead -- to lead against terror, to get into an immediate cease-fire,
begin the implementation of U.N. resolution 1042.
Q: Can I follow up, please?
THE PRESIDENT: No, nice try.
THE PRIME MINISTER: Andy Meyer, who works for the BBC, and really
nothing else need be said. (Laughter.) He's got three children.
Q: Can I just follow up from that, and ask the President and the Prime
Minister, what happens now if the Israelis continue to ignore what
you've been asking them to do?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't expect them to ignore. I expect them to head
the call: heed the call from their friends, the United States, and
heed the call from their friends, the people of Great Britain, and the
leadership of Great Britain.
Q: But if they don't?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's -- as I told you, I think they will heed
the call.
THE PRIME MINISTER: I think that most people in Israel will realize
that they don't have two greater friends in the world than the United
States of America or Britain. And we both understand, as well, the
appalling nature of the acts of terrorism that they have been subject
to. We understand that. But we are also trying to help secure a way
out of the present impasse, so that we can get into a political
process where some of these underlying issues can be resolved
satisfactory for the long-term, because the bloodshed and the carnage
and innocent people dying, in the end, is not a solution to this
issue. So I believe that Israel will heed the words of President Bush,
and will do so knowing that he speaks as a friend to Israel.
Q: Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know you well enough, Adam, to be able to sing
your praises. (Laughter.)
Q: Thank you. Mr. President, you have yet to build an international
coalition for military action against Iraq. Has the violence in the
Middle East thwarted your efforts? And Prime Minister Blair, has Bush
convinced you on the need for a military action against Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: Adam, the Prime Minister and I, of course, talked about
Iraq. We both recognize the danger of a man who's willing to kill his
own people harboring and developing weapons of mass destruction. This
guy, Saddam Hussein, is a leader who gasses his own people, goes after
people in his own neighborhood with chemical weapons. He's a man who
obviously has something to hide.
He told the world that he would show us that he would not develop
weapons of mass destruction and yet, over the past decade, he has
refused to do so. And the Prime Minister and I both agree that he
needs to prove that he isn't developing weapons of mass destruction.
I explained to the Prime Minister that the policy of my government is
the removal of Saddam and that all options are on the table.
THE PRIME MINISTER: I can say that any sensible person looking at the
position of Saddam Hussein and asking the question, would the region,
the world, and not least the ordinary Iraqi people be better off
without the regime of Saddam Hussein? The only answer anyone could
give to that question would be, yes.
Now, how we approach this, this is a matter for discussion. This is a
matter for considering all the options. But a situation where he
continues to be in breach of all the United Nations resolutions,
refusing to allow us to assess, as the international community have
demanded, whether and how he is developing these weapons of mass
destruction. Doing nothing in those circumstances is not an option, so
we consider all the options available.
But the President is right to draw attention to the threat of weapons
of mass destruction. That threat is real. How we deal with it, that's
a matter we discuss. But that the threat exists and we have to deal
with it, that seems to me a matter of plain common sense.
Q: Prime Minister, we've heard the President say what his policy is
directly about Saddam Hussein, which is to remove him. That is the
policy of the American administration. Can I ask you whether that is
now the policy of the British government? And can I ask you both if it
is now your policy to target Saddam Hussein, what has happened to the
doctrine of not targeting heads of states and leaving countries to
decide who their leaders should be, which is one of the principles
which applied during the Gulf War?
THE PRIME MINISTER: Well, John, you know it has always been our policy
that Iraq would be a better place without Saddam Hussein. I don't
think anyone can be in any doubt about that, for all the reasons I
gave earlier. And you know reasons to do with weapons of mass
destruction also deal with the appalling brutality and repression of
his own people. But how we now proceed in this situation, how we make
sure that this threat that is posed by weapons of mass destruction is
dealt with, that is a matter that is open. And when the time comes for
taking those decisions, we will tell people about those decisions.
But you cannot have a situation in which he carries on being in breach
of the U.N. resolutions, and refusing to allow us the capability of
assessing how that weapons of mass destruction capability is being
advanced, even though the international community has made it
absolutely clear that he should do so.
Now, as I say, how we then proceed from there, that is a matter that
is open for us.
THE PRESIDENT: Maybe I should be a little less direct and be a little
more nuanced, and say we support regime change.
Q: That's a change though, isn't it, a change in policy?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it's really not. Regime change was the policy of my
predecessor, as well.
Q: And your father?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I can't remember that far back. (Laughter.)
It's certainly the policy of my administration. I think regime change
sounds a lot more civil, doesn't it? The world would be better off
without him. Let me put it that way, though. And so will the future.
See, the worst thing that can happen is to allow this man to abrogate
his promise, and hook up with a terrorist network. And then all of a
sudden you've got one of these shadowy terrorist networks that have
got an arsenal at their disposal, which could create a situation in
which nations down the road get blackmailed. We can't let it happen,
we just can't let it happen. And, obviously, the Prime Minister is
somebody who understands this clearly. And that's why I appreciate
dealing with him on the issue. And we've got close consultations going
on, and we talk about it all the time. And he's got very good advice
on the subject, and I appreciate that.
Q: Thank you, Mr. President. You say that in the war against terrorism
people are either with us or against us. Whose side is Chairman Arafat
on, and do you think the world would be a better place without him?
THE PRESIDENT: I think Chairman Arafat -- I was asked on British TV
the other day, have I lost trust in Chairman Arafat? And I said, well,
he never earned my trust, because he hasn't performed.
Somebody told me there's a story floating around that somehow I am
blaming the Clinton administration for what's going on in the Middle
East right now. Let's make this very clear, that in my speech I said
that Mr. Arafat has not lived up to the promises he made at Oslo and
elsewhere to fight off terror. He hasn't performed. I appreciate what
President Clinton tried to do. He tried to bring peace to the Middle
East. I am going to try to bring peace to the Middle East.
But in order to earn my trust, somebody must keep their word. And
Chairman Arafat has not kept his word. He said he would fight off
terror. He hasn't. He needs to speak clearly, in Arabic, to the people
of that region and condemn terrorist activities. At the very minimum,
he ought to at least say something.
And, you know, there's all kinds of excuses. But in order to achieve
lasting peace, both sides must make constructive steps, and we're
prepared to help, and will help. That's why the Secretary of State is
going to the region. But Chairman Arafat has failed in his leadership
and he has let the people down. He had opportunity after opportunity
to be a leader and he hasn't led. And I'm disappointed.
Q: Present company doubtless excepted, one could think of quite a lot
of world leaders the world might be better off without.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for the exception.
Q: And I'm not sure necessarily whether the Prime Minister would agree
with you on Yasser Arafat. But can I ask you, I think what Europeans
have a problem with about expanding any war on terror to Iraq is
linkage. They can see a linkage between al Qaeda and Afghanistan. They
can't see a direct linkage to Saddam Hussein.
Would you accept that there isn't a direct linkage and how, therefore
--
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I wouldn't accept that. But can't they
see linkage between somebody who's willing to murder his own people
and the danger of him possessing weapons of mass destruction, which he
said he would not develop? I see the linkage between somebody who is
willing to go into his own neighborhood and use chemical weapons in
order to keep himself in power, and at the same time develop a weapon
that could be aimed at Europe, aimed at Israel, aimed anywhere, in
order to affect foreign policy. You know, I can't imagine people not
seeing the threat and not holding Saddam Hussein accountable for what
he said he would do, and we're going to do that.
History has called us into action. The thing I admire about this Prime
Minister is he doesn't need a poll or a focus group to convince him
the difference between right and wrong. And it's refreshing to see
leaders speak with moral clarity when it comes to the defense of
freedom.
I intend to speak with clarity when it comes to freedom, and I know
Prime Minister Tony Blair does, as well. And we will hold Saddam
Hussein accountable for broken promises. And that's what a lot of our
discussion over there on Prairie Chapel Ranch has been about. And,
other than eating lunch, which we're fixing to go do, we're going to
continue our discussions.
THE PRIME MINISTER: You talked about no linkage there. There is a
reason why United Nations resolutions were passed, nine of them,
calling upon him to stop developing weapons of mass destruction. I
mean, there is a reason why weapons inspectors went in there, and that
is because we know he has been developing these weapons.
We know that those weapons constitute a threat. Three days after the
11th of September when I made my first statement to the House of
Commons in Britain, I specifically said then this issue of weapons of
mass destruction has got to be dealt with. And the reason for that is
that what happened on the 11th of September was a call to us to make
sure that we didn't repeat the mistake of allowing groups to develop
destructive capability and hope that, at some point in time, they
weren't going to use it. They develop that destructive capability for
a reason.
Now, we've made it very clear to you how we then proceed and how we
deal with this. All the options are open. And I think after the 11th
of September, this President showed that he proceeds in a calm and a
measured and a sensible, but in a firm way. Now, that is precisely
what we need in this situation, too.
And, as I say to you, never forget he knows perfectly well what the
international community has demanded of him over these past years, and
he's never done it.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.
THE PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.
(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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