03 June 2003
Powell Says Elements are Aligned for Change in the Middle East
(Underscores Bush Administration's Commitment to Roadmap Effort) (800)
Secretary of State Colin Powell told ABC news June 2 in Egypt that
circumstances were ripe for renewing efforts to end the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
"We have a new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. The
Palestinian people have decided that they needed new leadership.
Saddam Hussein is gone, a threat to Israel. As you know, Prime
Minister Sharon won his elections a couple of months ago, so he's got
a new government in place now," Powell said.
He added that President Bush is determined to take advantage this
opportunity to pursue negotiations leading to a Palestinian state void
of terror.
Questioned about the issue of Jewish settlements, Powell said he
believed Israeli Prime Minister Sharon "knows that sooner or later a
Palestinian state will have to be created to take into its borders, to
take into its heart, the Palestinian people, and I am absolutely
convinced of his sincerity to move in this direction."
Secretary Powell was speaking from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he is
accompanying President Bush for discussions with regional leaders on
the Middle East peace Roadmap, drawn up by the United States, the
United Nations, the European Union and Russia.
Following is the complete text of Secretary Powell's June 2, ABC
interview.
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 2, 2003
AS AIRED INTERVIEW
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
On ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings
June 2, 2003
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
(6:35 p.m. EDT)
QUESTION: How much real leverage do you think you have? Not just
influence but real leverage -- with the Palestinians, with the
Israelis, with the other Arab leaders -- to do things your way?
SECRETARY POWELL: It's not a matter of doing things our way. It's a
matter of using the roadmap that's been put before the parties to get
started toward that vision of two states living side by side in peace.
We have a new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. The
Palestinian people have decided that they needed new leadership.
Saddam Hussein is gone, a threat to Israel. As you know, Prime
Minister Sharon won his elections a couple of months ago, so he's got
a new government in place now.
And everybody knows we can't stay where we are. The Palestinian
economy has been destroyed. The Israeli economy is in difficulty.
Israel doesn't want to keep its troops deployed forever in these
cities and towns. So I think all the pieces have come together, and we
are here at Sharm el-Sheikh to take advantage of the new elements that
are in the equation and this window of opportunity that's opened.
QUESTION: You know from experience in this region there's a huge
amount of skepticism, not least about whether or not Prime Minister
Sharon actually means what he says when he says it is time for the
occupation to end and the settlements to be dismantled.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think Prime Minister Sharon is anxious to
move forward toward peace. He knows that sooner or later a Palestinian
state will have to be created to take into its borders, to take into
its heart, the Palestinian people, and I am absolutely convinced of
his sincerity to move in this direction.
At the same time, he is the Prime Minister of Israel and he has to
make sure that the Israeli people are secure, and therefore terror and
violence have to end.
QUESTION: You know there is skepticism in the region, and some at home
as well, about President Bush's staying power on this issue. What do
you think?
SECRETARY POWELL: His guidance to me was very, very clear. We've dealt
with Saddam Hussein. We have what we were asking for: new leadership
from the Palestinian people in the form of Prime Minister Abbas. Let's
help him and let's take this moment of opportunity. And I am
committed.
QUESTION: On the subject of your credibility and his, you're getting
hammered on this question of weapons of mass destruction both at home
and in the region. Do you think it hurts your credibility as you begin
this extraordinary challenge?
SECRETARY POWELL: No, our credibility is intact. Everybody knows that
Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
QUESTION: You and the British were both accused today of using faulty
intelligence, at best.
SECRETARY POWELL: In due course, as the inspections continue, with our
new exploitation teams that have been brought in, people will find
that we presented a solid case, a case that is there and was there and
will remain there. And all the skepticism that's being demonstrated
now, all the charges that are being levied now, in due course will be
found to be incorrect.
(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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