14 March 2003
Transcript: Bush Set to Present Peace "Road Map" to Israel, Palestinians
(Tied to confirmation of Palestinian Prime Minister) (790)
President Bush March 14 outlined his vision for peace in the Middle
East and said that as soon as a Palestinian prime minister "with real
authority" is confirmed, the "road map" for peace will be presented to
the Palestinians and Israelis.
"This moment" offers a hopeful opportunity for progress towards peace,
Bush said, since Israel has a new government following recent
elections and the Palestinian Authority has created the new position
of prime minister.
"This road map will set forth a sequence of steps toward the goals I
set out on June 24th, 2002, goals shared by all the parties," the
president said.
"Once this road map is delivered, we will expect and welcome
contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document that
will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the road map
with one another. The time has come to move beyond entrenched
positions and to take concrete actions to achieve peace," said Bush.
The president, accompanied by Secretary of State Colin Powell,
addressed reporters from a podium in the White House Rose Garden but
took no questions.
The plan is a result of the cooperative efforts of the United States,
Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, a partnership which
has been called "the Quartet." Bush said the plan was developed over
the last several months.
Following is the White House transcript of President Bush's remarks:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 14, 2003
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE MIDDLE EAST
The Rose Garden
10:00 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. We have reached a hopeful moment for
progress toward the vision of Middle Eastern peace that I outlined
last June. I spoke of a day when two states, Israel and Palestine,
will live side by side in peace and security. I called upon all
parties in the Middle East to abandon old hatreds and to meet their
responsibilities for peace. The Palestinian state must be a reformed
and peaceful and democratic state that abandons forever the use of
terror. The government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and
security improves, must take concrete steps to support the emergence
of a viable and credible Palestinian state, and to work as quickly as
possible toward a final status agreement. As progress is made toward
peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories must end. And
the Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the emergence of a
peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly that they will
live in peace with Israel.
This moment offers a new opportunity to meet these objectives. After
its recent elections, the nation of Israel has a new government. And
the Palestinian Authority has created the new position of Prime
Minister. Israeli and Palestinian leaders and other governments in the
region now have a chance to move forward with determination and with
good faith.
To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian Prime
Minister must hold a position of real authority. We expect that such a
Palestinian Prime Minister will be confirmed soon. Immediately upon
confirmation, the road map for peace will be given to the Palestinians
and the Israelis. This road map will set forth a sequence of steps
toward the goals I set out on June 24th, 2002, goals shared by all the
parties. The United States has developed this plan over the last
several months in close cooperation with Russia, the European Union,
and the United Nations. Once this road map is delivered, we will
expect and welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to
this document that will advance true peace. We will urge them to
discuss the road map with one another. The time has come to move
beyond entrenched positions and to take concrete actions to achieve
peace.
America is committed, and I am personally committed, to implementing
our road map toward peace. Our efforts are guided by clear principles:
We believe that all people in the Middle East -- Arab and Israeli
alike -- deserve to live in dignity, under free and honest
governments. We believe that people who live in freedom are more
likely to reject bitterness, blind hatred and terror; and are far more
likely to turn their energy toward reconciliation, reform and
development.
There can be no peace for either side in the Middle East unless there
is freedom for both. Reaching that destination will not be easy, but
we can see the way forward. Now the parties must take that way, step
by step, and America will be the active partner of every party that
seeks true peace.
Thank you very much.
END 10:06 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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