Military

DATE=04/25/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH SAUDI PRINCE SECOND UPDATE (L)

NUMBER=2-289112

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=CRAWFORD, TEXAS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush met with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Thursday to discuss the Arab leader's Mideast peace plan. VOA's Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush again called on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories.

TEXT: President Bush says he and the Crown Prince both agree on the ultimate solution for Mideast peace two nations, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace.

/// BUSH ACT ///

I reiterated that all parties have responsibilities to help achieve that vision. The Palestinian Authority must do more to stop terror. Israel must finish its withdrawal including resolution of standoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem in a non-violent way.

/// END ACT ///

President Bush says they discussed the need for Arab states to do more to stop inciting Palestinian violence.

Saudi officials say the Crown Prince told the president that he needs to do more to pressure Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories and free Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from house arrest.

President Bush told Israel to withdraw from Palestinian areas three weeks ago. He repeated that call again Thursday, despite Israel's insistence that it is fighting a war against terrorism and will not stop until the job is done.

/// SECOND BUSH ACT ///

I made it clear to him that I expect Israel to withdraw. Just like I have made it clear to Israel. And we expect them to be finished.

/// END ACT ///

President Bush says the Saudi leader recognizes that America can not go it alone in the Middle East. He says he thanked the Crown Prince for coming up with a peace plan which has Israel withdrawing from territory it occupied in the 1967 war in exchange for Arab nations recognizing Israel's right to exist.

Mr. Bush wants to push ahead with that plan which was endorsed by Arab leaders last month in what the president calls a "breakthrough" moment in the Middle East.

The meeting at the president's "Prairie Chapel" ranch came at a low point in U-S / Saudi relations with some American legislators openly questioning Saudi Arabia's commitment to fighting terrorism.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the terrorist attacks September 11th were of Saudi decent. The Kingdom raised 100-million dollars in a telethon for Palestinian "martyrs" which the White House says Saudi officials told them was not raising money for the families of suicide bombers.

Then Secretary of State Colin Powell told Congress this week that some of that money may have gone to the Islamic militant group, Hamas.

President Bush says Crown Prince Abdullah assured him that Saudi Arabia is not supporting terrorism and is acting to cut-off finances that fund terrorist violence.

/// THIRD BUSH ACT ///

The Crown Prince has been very strong in condemning the murder of U-S citizens. He has been very strong about condemning those who committed those murders. And I appreciate that a lot.

/// END ACT ///

Saudi officials rejected a U-S newspaper report that the Crown Prince threatened to cut-off oil if the president does not get Israel to stop military action in Palestinian areas.

President Bush says the Crown Prince assured him that there will be no change in Saudi oil shipments to the United States.

/// FOURTH BUSH ACT ///

Well, Saudi Arabia made it clear, and has made it clear publicly that they will not use oil as a weapon. I appreciate that, respect that, and expect that to be the case.

/// END ACT ///

Senior Bush Administration officials say the leaders discussed trade issues including Saudi Arabia's desire to join the World Trade Organization.

They also spoke about the war on terrorism and what to do next chiefly the president's concern that Iraq could be helping terrorists acquire weapons of mass destruction.(SIGNED)

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