Military

DATE=6/2/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=(CQ) BUSH / MIDEAST OVERNIGHTER (L)

NUMBER=2-303918

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT

CONTENT=

///EDS: REISSUED TO CLARIFY IN INTRO PARTICIPANTS IN JORDAN SUMMIT///

VOICED AT:

///EDITORS: BUSH-MUBARAK MEETING BEGINS AT 3:30AM EDT, FOLLOWED BY MULTILATERAL MEETING///

INTRO: President Bush meets today (Tuesday) with Arab leaders in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports it will set the stage for a three-way summit Wednesday in Jordan with Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers.

TEXT: Once criticized for a lack of action to push the Middle East peace process forward, President Bush is now putting his prestige on the line.

He sits down first with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas will also take part in the meeting, marking his first face-to-face encounter with Mr. Bush.

The president will tell them they must play a role in the peace process, and the United States cannot do it alone. He is expected to press for more help for the Palestinian Authority as Mr. Abbas implements reforms, and strong action to crack down on the flow of money to extremist groups.

From Egypt, Mr. Bush will travel on to Jordan to what could be an historic summit with Prime Minister Abbas and Israeli leader Ariel Sharon. U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell called the two days of high level meetings "a window of opportunity" to build momentum for ending long months of bloodshed and promoting a new U-S-backed peace plan.

It is often referred to as "the road map." The plan outlines a series of steps designed to lead to a Palestinian State by 2005, along with security guarantees for Israel.

President Bush cut short his stay at the G-8 economic summit in France to come to the Middle East to build support for the "road map." Before heading to Egypt, he told reporters that he will put in as much time as necessary to achieve the vision of two sides living side-by-side in peace.

He acknowledged it will be a difficult process, and stressed many nations will have a role to play. The president said the message he is taking to the region is that he is willing to dedicate his time and energy to move the process forward. (signed)

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