30 May 2003
Bush Says He is Committed to Work for Middle East Peace
(But tells Egypt's Nile TV that U.S. "cannot do this alone") (1190)
President Bush says he is determined to work towards a peaceful
two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Speaking to
Egypt's Nile TV May 29, just days before he was to travel to Egypt and
Jordan, Bush said "People have got to know when I say something, I
mean it ... we're serious about our intentions."
"Now, I understand it's going to be tough and difficult, but I believe
it can happen. And I want to work toward achieving two states, so that
the Palestinian suffering and humiliation ends," Bush said.
Bush said that the United States "cannot do this alone," and needs not
only the support of the parties, but also their neighbors in the
region to take action against groups advocating violence, and as a
Palestinian state emerges to give "not only advice but, when
necessary, development aid so an economy can start to grow in a
Palestinian state."
Bush said he intends to underscore his determination to pursue the
road map agenda not only in meetings with Israeli and Palestinian
leaders, but also with other key Arab leaders in the area. The
president told the Egyptian audience that the United States recognizes
the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
"[W]e have counted on Egypt and Egypt counts on America. It's a
mutually beneficial relationship. Throughout my government people deal
with the Egyptian authorities, and I think it's in our interests, our
national interest to keep a strong relationship with Egypt, and I
intend to do so," said Bush.
Following is a transcript of President Bush speaking with Egyptian
Nile TV:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
May 29, 2003
INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT BY NILE TV, EGYPT
The Library
2:48 P.M. EDT
QUESTION: Mr. President, thank you very much for talking to Egyptian
television. Mr. President, you're coming to Egypt next week and you
are meeting with President Mubarak and a number of other Arab leaders.
What are you going to tell them? What role do you see the Arab
countries playing in the coming stage?
THE PRESIDENT: First, I want to thank President Mubarak for his
hospitality. He has been telling me about the beauty of Sharm
el-Sheikh for a long time, and now I'm going to get to see it
firsthand.
Q: You will love it.
THE PRESIDENT: I am looking forward to it.
The first thing I want to do is to make it very clear to the leaders
in the neighborhood that I am intent upon working toward a two-state
solution in the Middle East -- two states, Israel and Palestine,
living side-by-side in peace. In other words, I want them to look me
in the eye so they can see that I am determined to work to make this
happen.
I'm also going to remind them the United States cannot do this alone.
We obviously need Israeli support. We obviously need the new Prime
Minister of the Palestinian Authority's work and help. And we need
countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Jordan and others to work
together to cut off funding for terrorist groups, to prevent the
killers from moving around, to help provide security; and as a
Palestinian state emerges, to support Prime Minister Abbas's regime
with not only advice but, when necessary, development aid so an
economy can start to grow in a Palestinian state.
Q: Mr. President, let me follow-up on that. You said you are
determined to bring peace, you are committed, personally committed to
the road map and you are personally involved in the road map. That has
sort of a different approach from the approach that the administration
had adopted at the beginning, which was a hands-off approach, the
peace process.
The question is, how long would that commitment and involvement,
personal involvement last and how deep is it?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I think it's not a fair
characterization to say we were hands-off -- quite the contrary. I
took an assessment of what was possible and realized that it was
impossible to achieve peace with Chairman Arafat. He's failed the
Palestinian people in the past. My predecessor tried hard, and I
watched very carefully what was tried at Camp David.
Now, having said that, I also was working with the parties to try to
set the conditions necessary for the emergence of a Palestinian
government with whom we could work, so we wouldn't waste time, so that
actually some progress could be made.
So the people have got to know when I say something, I mean it.
Hopefully by now people have learned that, that when George W. commits
America to a project, we mean that, we don't have idle chit-chat, that
we're serious about our intentions.
Q: So the Arabs, or the people in the region shouldn't really be
worrying about voices within your administration who are opposed to
serious efforts by the United States --
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, they don't have to worry about that, because I'm
going to put the effort forward.
Q: So you don't listen to them?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it sounds like they don't listen to me. Because
when I say something, I mean it. And I think President Mubarak knows
that. And I'm going to refresh their memories about the kind of
administration I try to run. When I say something, we actually go do
it. And when I say that I'm going to be involved in the peace process,
I mean I'm going to be involved in the peace process.
Now, I understand it's going to be tough and difficult, but I believe
it can happen. And I want to work toward achieving two states, so that
the Palestinian suffering and humiliation ends.
Q: And Mr. President, how do you see the future of the
Egyptian-American relations, the strategical relations that binded
those two countries over the past two decades?
THE PRESIDENT: Strong, I think a good future. Listen, we have counted
on Egypt and Egypt counts on America. It's a mutually beneficial
relationship. Throughout my government people deal with the Egyptian
authorities, and I think it's in our interests, our national interest
to keep a strong relationship with Egypt, and I intend to do so.
Q: Right. We are looking forward to seeing you, Mr. President, in
Sharm el-Sheikh. Thank you very much for your time.
THE PRESIDENT: It's going to be an exciting trip and I look forward to
the hospitality of the Egyptian people. And I want to assure the
people of Egypt that the relationship is an important relationship
between Egypt and the United States. And I want to assure your
listeners that when I come to the region, I come with peace in mind,
and the possibilities of peace between the Palestinians and the
Israelis is real in my mind and I'm going to work toward that
objective.
Q: Thank you again, Mr. President.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
