28 May 2003
Bush Hopes to Gain Arab Support for Roadmap at Sharm al-Sheikh
(Powell says trip shows U.S. commitment to peace process) (630)
Secretary of State Colin Powell said President Bush hopes Arab leaders
will express support for the roadmap for Middle East peace and will
condemn organizations that support terrorism at a meeting in Sharm
al-Sheikh, Egypt June 3.
Powell, speaking May 28 with Marshall Islands President Kessai H. Note
at the State Department in Washington, said Bush also expects the
"commitment of the Arab leaders to help the Palestinian Authority as
they restore their security capacity, their security organizations."
The Arab leaders planning to attend the Sharm al-Sheikh meeting are
Egyptian President hosni Mubarak, Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah, King
Abdullah of Jordan, King Hamad of Bahrain, and the Palestinian Prime
Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
On June 4, President Bush will travel to Aqaba, Jordan for bilateral
talks with Jordan's King Abdullah, and, "conditions permitting," he
may hold separate meetings with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as well as a trilateral
meeting of the U.S., Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the White House
says. Powell said President Bush's intent is to demonstrate the U.S.
commitment to the Middle East peace process.
"I think it would give some hope and inspiration to the people of the
region that we are now moving forward on the roadmap toward the vision
that the President had," said Powell.
Bush plans to travel to Egypt, Jordan and Qatar June 2-5 following the
G-8 Summit in France.
Following is a transcript of Secretary Powell speaking after his
meeting with President Kessai H. Note of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
May 28, 2003
Remarks by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
After His Meeting with President Kessai H. Note
of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
May 28, 2003
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.
(10:15 a.m. EDT)
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, could we ask you what you would like to see
come out of the meeting of Arab leaders with the President? What would
help the process?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, the President is very much looking forward to
meeting the Arab leaders at Sharm al-Sheikh. We want to review the
situation with respect to the roadmap and how to move forward. I think
the President is expecting a solemn expression of support not only for
the roadmap, but commitment of the Arab leaders to help the
Palestinian Authority as they restore their security capacity, their
security organizations, and statements from them that continue to
condemn terrorism and to increasingly isolate those organizations that
support terrorist activity. I hope that we'll be able to get good
statements coming out of that meeting that will demonstrate all of
that.
QUESTION: What does he hope for out of the three-way, if there is
ultimately one with other meetings with Prime Minister Abbas and Prime
Minister Sharon?
SECRETARY POWELL: I think such a meeting would certainly demonstrate
the U.S. commitment to moving forward with the peace process; and I
think it would give both leaders, Prime Minister Sharon and Prime
Minister Abbas, an opportunity to express their views directly to the
President. I think it would give some hope and inspiration to the
people of the region that we are now moving forward on the roadmap
toward the vision that the President had -- I've got to go -- you
can't hear me.
(Jet flying overhead.)
QUESTION: The Saudis made some arrests last night --
SECRETARY POWELL: Yes.
QUESTION: Did you get any information from them?
SECRETARY POWELL: No. I don't have anything to tell about the -- I
know they made the arrests this morning.
QUESTION: Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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