30 May 2003
Bush Will Hold Mideast Leaders Accountable For Peace Commitments
(Tells Al Arabiyya TV that peace "is necessary and possible") (1530)
President Bush said he was going to hold Israeli and Palestinian
leaders accountable for their commitments to the Middle East road map,
which both parties have now agreed to.
Bush spoke May 29 in Washington with United Arab Emirates satellite
television station Al Arabiyya, prior to departing May 30 on a trip to
Europe and the Middle East that will include talks June 3 and 4 with
regional leaders in Egypt and Jordan.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has embraced the idea of "two
states living side-by-side in peace," Bush said. "I don't think
there's going to be any need for me to hold him to account, but he's
agreed to that vision," the president said.
Bush added that he would assure Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas that the fulfillment of Palestinian security commitments was
"essential" to achieving the goal of a Palestinian state.
"I believe peace is necessary and possible," said Bush. "I told a lot
of [Arab] leaders that after the Iraq situation, that I would work
toward peace in the Middle East. I'm the kind of person who does what
he says he's going to do, and now I'm working to achieve that."
He praised Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah, Egyptian President Mubarak,
Jordan's King Abdullah, and Gulf counties as being strong allies in
the war on terror.
"I know this not only from my conversations with these men, but also
because of the cooperation between our intelligence services," said
Bush.
He said he would urge those leaders in his upcoming meeting in Sharm
Al-Sheikh, Egypt to help "cut off funding to terrorist organizations
that can't stand the thought of peace."
Turning to Iraq, the president said large parts of the country were
now stable, although he recognized that security remains a serious
concern.
"I readily concede Baghdad is still a relatively dangerous place,"
said Bush. "And, therefore, first things first, which is to bring
security to Baghdad. But along with security, we're bringing better
electricity, more food, more medicine."
When asked about U.S. policy towards Iran, Bush said he was concerned
about reports of al Qaeda members being present in the country.
"We just want the Iranians to understand that if there are al Qaeda
loose in Iran we expect them to be detained. If there are al Qaeda in
Iran and they plot against the United States, that obviously we're
going to be displeased with that," he said.
Following is a transcript of President Bush speaking to Al Arabiyya
TV:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
May 29, 2003
INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT BY AL ARABIYYA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The Library
2:54 P.M. EDT
QUESTION: Thanks again. We really appreciate it, Mr. President. Sir,
you will be discussing with the Arab leaders in Egypt their
responsibilities toward the peace process. What are your expectations,
practically speaking, from leaders such as President Mubarak and Crown
Prince Abdallah?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, one, the willingness to join with
the United States and other nations to cut off funding to terrorist
organizations that can't stand the thought of peace. In other words,
we all have got to work together to make security real -- not only for
Israel, but for the Palestinian people. And that's my expectations
from them.
What I hope to achieve is to be able to look at these leaders in the
eye and say, I believe peace is possible, and I'm going to work to
peace. And this isn't just a visit in which you won't hear from me
again. I believe peace is necessary and possible.
I told a lot of the leaders that after the Iraq situation, that I
would work toward peace in the Middle East. I'm the kind of person who
does what he says he's going to do, and now I'm working to achieve
that. And I think it's possible.
Q: Sir, you are known for your straight talk -- some could even say,
blunt talk. (Laughter.) Are you going to use that approach in Aqaba
with Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon? Are you going to
hold them accountable for their commitments? And how far are you
willing to go in this regard?
THE PRESIDENT: I am going to hold people accountable for their
commitments. And the good news is, is that Prime Minister Sharon knows
that. I have had very straightforward conversations with him. I think
it's in Israel's best interests that there be two states living
side-by-side in peace. He, too, has embraced that idea. And I don't
think there's going to be any need for me to hold him to account, but
he's agreed to that vision.
I have not met Prime Minister Abbas yet. I look forward to it. And he
will -- I did meet his Finance Minister, a man who impressed me. And I
will assure him that we will work together. But I'll also assure him
that security is essential to achieve what we want, which is a viable
Palestinian state.
Q: Sir, you have held the removal of President Saddam Hussein's regime
from power as a harbinger for a new dawn in the Middle East. Yet, the
day after in Iraq has been marred, unfortunately, by chaos, some
bloodshed, uncertainty. What is that going to do to your vision of a
broader, different, more liberal political landscape in the Middle
East? You've talked about it several times.
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. Well, first of all, we're just starting in
Iraq. And a lot of Iraq is stable, and the life of the Iraqi people
are better now than it was prior to the war. I readily concede Baghdad
is still a relatively dangerous place. And, therefore, first things
first, which is to bring security to Baghdad. But along with security,
we're bringing better electricity, more food, more medicine. And it's
not just America, by the way, the world is now involved with the
reconstruction of Iraq.
I remind people that, for example, in the United States it took 13
years for us to finally settle on a constitution. And I guess some
expect us to do it in 13 days in Iraq, and it's going -- it's just
going to take longer. And I talked to Jerry Bremer, and again, will
see him when I go to the region and will remind him that we're patient
here in America, that we -- you know, it wasn't until March 19th that
we actually began operations. So there hasn't been much time yet.
I'm not surprised that there's still some pessimism and people are
unsettled. After all, they have lived under a brutal regime for a long
time. But I'm confident we'll achieve our objective, and I'm confident
the Iraqi people will be better off.
Q: Sir, you've used tough language vis-a-vis Iran and Syria in the
last few weeks. Is the United States on a collision course with
Tehran? And what is the state of play with Syria, following Secretary
Powell's visit to Damascus?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first, Secretary Powell had a good visit to
Damascus. And, yes, we used some tough rhetoric, because it looked
like Baathists were trying to escape into Syria and, obviously, we
didn't want that to happen. And the Syrian government pledged that
that wouldn't be the case. We take people for their word until proven
otherwise.
In Iran, obviously, we're nervous about the reporting now out that
there's some al Qaeda inside of Iran. We just want the Iranians to
understand that if there are al Qaeda loose in Iran we expect them to
be detained. If there are al Qaeda in Iran and they plot against the
United States, that obviously we're going to be displeased with that.
My hope, of course, is that the Iranians respond. And they've heard
our message loud and clear, and I suspect they will.
Q: I have one more question, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Sure.
Q: Who are your Arab allies in the war on terrorism? Sometimes we hear
conflicting reports, for instance, on Saudi Arabia --
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q: -- sometimes they cooperate we are told; sometimes they don't
cooperate. What is the state of play?
THE PRESIDENT: That's a good question. Crown Prince Abdallah is a
strong ally in the war on terror. There's no doubt in my mind that he
is moving within the Kingdom to bring the killers to justice and to
prevent other killing. King Abdullah is a strong ally in the war on
terror. President Mubarak is a strong ally in the war on terror. I
know this not only from my conversations with these men, but also
because of the cooperation between our intelligence services.
The Gulf Coast countries have been strong supporters in the war on
terror. And I'm grateful for that support.
Q: Mr. President, we really appreciate it. Thanks again. There are so
many questions, so little time. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm sorry.
Q: Thanks, we really appreciate it. 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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