22 April 2003
Prospect of New Palestinian Government Presents A Significant Opportunity
(Boucher says U.S. supports Abu Mazen, chosen by Palestinian
Legislative Council) (260)
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher repeated U.S. support for
the Palestinian cabinet proposed by Abu Mazen, saying the formation of
a new Palestinian government is a "significant opportunity" that
"shouldn't be missed."
Speaking at the April 22 State Department briefing in Washington,
Boucher said that while the United States played no role in Abu
Mazen's selection as prime minister by the Palestinian Legislative
Council (PLC), the Bush administration believes he and his proposed
cabinet would be confirmed and supported by that body and is "capable
of taking the steps that are needed to benefit the Palestinian
people."
"We're not choosing the individual. What we do note is an individual
has emerged, an individual has been chosen who is picking a Cabinet.
And I think it's quite clear to all the observers that that's a
Cabinet that could do the job and a Cabinet that could be endorsed by
the Palestinian Legislative Council," said Boucher.
The spokesman commented on the continuing struggle between Abu Mazen
and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat over the composition of the
cabinet, and said the Palestinians could not truly have an empowered
prime minister "capable of establishing the institutions of a state,
unless the leaders get to choose the members of their Cabinet."
"[A]ny delay, any obstruction to that process, is really just hurting
the Palestinian people and keeping them from achieving their
aspirations," he said.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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