15 June 2003
Powell Pledges Commitment to Two States "Living Side-by-Side in Peace"
(Address to convention of American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee)
(920)
By G. Hishmeh
Washington File Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged to an
overflowing audience of Arab-Americans here on June 14 that the United
States remains committed -- "President Bush is totally committed" --
to the vision of a Palestinian state and an Israeli state "living
side-by-side in peace."
Secretary Powell, who will be traveling to the Middle East this week,
was speaking at the 20th annual convention of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the largest Arab-American
grass-roots organization, which has just elected a new president, Mary
Rose Oakar, a former American congresswoman.
"What is the alternative? What is the alternative?" the secretary
repeated. "We must take this opportunity for peace and push forward.
It will be difficult. Nobody knows how difficult it is than I. Nobody
knows more about the difficulties that lay ahead than I do. I have
been working on this now from the first day that I became Secretary of
State."
Acknowledging that there may be arguments on the next steps, he added,
"the reality is we must end terror and violence, we must move forward,
we must take this chance for peace."
He promised that the United States "will not get weary. We will not
waver. We will not stop. We will not step aside. The President is
committed. I am committed. His administration is committed. We will
succeed."
Others seated at the head table with the secretary of state included
outgoing ADC President Ziad Asali, former Senator James, Abourezk who
founded ADC in 1980, and Edward Said, the prominent educator and
writer.
Ralph Nader, the Arab-American peace activist who ran in the
presidential election two years ago, arrived late to the banquet,
missing Secretary Powell, who left soon after delivering his 20-minute
remarks without taking questions from the audience.
Nader was critical of U.S. foreign and domestic policies particularly
the new legislation passed after the September 2001 terrorist attacks
in New York and Washington which have subjected some in the Arab and
Muslim communities to governmental scrutiny. He nevertheless called on
the Bush administration to engage the Israeli peace movement in Israel
-- and its supporters within the American Jewish community -- in its
quest for support among Israelis for a settlement of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (In fact, an official of the Americans
for Peace Now was among other American Jews present at the banquet.)
Powell praised the ADC for its "dedication to erasing discrimination,
"pointing out that he too has suffered discrimination as an
African-American. "It's only in my generation have I seen the kinds of
improvements that would allow a black man to stand before you as
Secretary of State and as former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. So I know all about discrimination." His comment drew loud
applause.
He credited ADC for being a "vital bridge" for understanding between
Arabs and Americans and said the organization has "a special
responsibility to share your wisdom across cultural boundaries."
He added, "I salute you for doing just that -- for speaking out for
peace in the Middle East and against intolerance within our own
borders."
Since Saturday was U.S. Flag Day, Powell reminded his audience of the
roles of some Arab Americans, like Fawaz "Tony" Ismail, the largest
distributor of that "quintessential American symbol"; Fred Saidy for
bringing "joy to millions through his movies and his Broadway
productions"; and "our dear friend" George Mitchell, the former
senator and "peacemaker extraordinaire (and) one of today's most
distinguished Americans."
Aware of the concerns of the Arab and Muslim communities over U.S.
immigration policies, he underlined that a new system is now under
consideration. Under "U.S. VISIT," he maintained, America "will always
be seen as a welcoming place, a place that wants people to come and
visit, to get an education, to take advantage of our healthcare
system, our cultural attractions ... (that) will help ensure that all
visitors to this great country are received with dignity and with
humanity."
Turning to foreign policy issues, Secretary Powell declared that "our
enemies are terrorists and their supporters, not people of any single
faith or ethnicity." He stressed that "they must be stopped (and) they
will be stopped" by smashing their weapons, networks and freezing
their finances.
Regardless, Secretary Powell appeared upbeat, saying "the landscape is
shifting." In the Middle East, he continued, "We are seeing change in
Iraq ... (Iraqis) have been freed from the terror of an outlaw regime
that filled mass graves with the bodies of its victims."
Turning to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Powell argued that President
Bush, in going to Aqaba, Jordan, for the meeting with Palestinian and
Israeli prime ministers, Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon, has moved his
vision for peace in the region "a giant step."
He said, "We must not let this new momentum toward peace lag. The
parties must turn these courageous commitments into peace on the
ground. There is no time for parsing promises. The two sides must now
perform."
Secretary Powell concluded by saying:
"The liberation of Iraq and the rekindled hopes for Arab-Israeli peace
mark the crest of a new and welcome wave of freedom, openness, and
economic reform in the Middle East. From the Straits of Gibraltar to
the Strait of Hormuz, we are seeing stirrings of economic and
political reform."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
