Military

DATE=1/6/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=POWELL / MIDEAST (L only)

NUMBER=2-299328

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell told U-S lawmakers that President Bush is prepared to take on a more active role to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Mr. Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the president remains committed to a Middle East peace plan, or 'roadmap' that aims to establish a Palestinian state by the year 2005.

Mr. Powell says he expects the plan to be published in the near future, at a time to be determined by the President.

/// POWELL ACTUALITY ///

Now that the Israeli election is over, I expect in the near future we will be moving forward on the road map. I know the president intends to take a more active role in finding a way forward with the Middle East peace process.

/// END ACT ///

The administration had refused to release the document before last month's Israeli election.

The roadmap envisions a three state process that would create Palestinian institutions, establish provisional borders for a state by the end of the year, and reach a final agreement with defined borders in 2005.

Mr. Bush has made reform in the Palestinian Authority a condition for Palestinian statehood, but Secretary Powell said he has not seen much progress toward that end. (signed)

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