Military

DATE=5/5/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS-US (L)

NUMBER=2-302885

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S Middle East envoy William Burns is meeting today with new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the so-called roadmap, the latest international peace effort to end the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Mr. Burns is holding talks Monday with Mr. Abbas but not with the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

The Palestinian minister in charge of peace negotiations, Saeb Erekat, says that this is the result of scheduling difficulties.

Israel Radio reported that the decision is part of what it described as a U-S diplomatic freeze against Mr. Arafat. President Bush has said that the Palestinian president should be replaced. No U-S official has met with him since June.

Mr. Burns' meeting with Mr. Abbas comes one day after the U-S official met with key Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

At the start of his visit, Mr. Burns said that the U-S administration is encouraging both Palestinians and Israelis to take the necessary measures in order for the road-map to succeed.

/// BURNS ACT ///

That is going to require a restoration of Palestinian efforts against terror. It is going to require steps taken by all sides to make that possible. So we are going to do everything we can to move in that direction.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Burns is expected to tell Prime Minister Abbas that his government must move quickly to crack down on Palestinian militants and curb attacks against Israel.

The roadmap outlines a series of steps each side must take to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and usher in a Palestinian state by 2005.

The plan is supported by the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

Mr. Burns' talks on the roadmap are meant to pave the way for a visit to the area by U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell later this month. (Signed)

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