Bush Urges Arab Leaders to Reject Restrictive Policies of Iran, Syria
By VOA News
18 May 2008
U.S. President George Bush is on his way home from a five-day visit to the Middle East, where Sunday he urged Arab leaders to reject the policies of countries such as Iran and Syria.
In a speech at the World Economic Forum in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Mr. Bush said Iran and Syria restrict political and economic freedom.
He urged Arab nations to oppose what he called Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions.
The U.S. president also called on regional leaders to confront the Palestinian militant group Hamas. He reasserted his commitment to both Palestinians and Israelis as the two sides pursue a peace deal.
He also met with Iraqi officials including Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Vice President Adil Abd al-Mahdi, and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih. Mr. Bush said he told them he is impressed by progress in Iraq, but more work needs to be done. He said there are still problems in Iraq but said the three leaders recognize those problems.
Mr. Abd al-Mahdi told reporters the three had a very good meeting with President Bush.
Before the forum, Mr. Bush met briefly with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.
As he arrived in Egypt Saturday, local media slammed Mr. Bush for his perceived bias towards Israel. Egyptian editorials accused the U.S. president of trying to "appease" the Jewish state after he began his Middle East tour by attending Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations.
During the May 14 events, Mr. Bush said the U.S. is Israel's "best friend in the world," and he hardly mentioned the Palestinian people's plight.
Later on the trip, President Bush said he is determined to help the Palestinians achieve what he called "the dream" of an independent state to ease the suffering there. He said he is committed to helping Israeli and Palestinian leaders reach a peace accord by the end of the year
While in Egypt Saturday, Mr. Bush met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
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