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CNN Live Event/Special

Secretary of State Powell Holds a News Conference

Aired September 16, 2001 - 10:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We broke into a conversation that the Mayor of the City of New York, Rudy Giuliani, was holding with the Mayor of Jerusalem, Ahood Omar. And we had to go away from that because Donald Rumsfeld held his news briefing. But we thought it was important enough for you to hear to get back to. So let's re-listen to part of that conversation that was taped earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUDY GIULIANI, MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: All of the people of New York City appreciate greatly the support that we have in our sister city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a city that's even older by a lot than New York is -- a city that we feel tremendous affection for and attachment to. It's the -- it's the site of the three great religions of the world, the three great religions that have effected western civilization. And we feel tremendous bond with the people of Jerusalem.

And I particularly feel a very close personal bond with Ahood -- with Mayor Omar. Having been to Jerusalem during the period of time where you went through and are still going through things like we're experiencing today. And I remember riding the bus with you, Ahood, when the people of New York City were shocked and frightened and upset and overcame it.

And I remember coming back from my trip to Jerusalem absolutely amazed at the spirit of the people of Israel -- how they could live through these kinds of terrorist attacks, go about their normal way of life and show no fear even though the terrorists were attempting to make them fearful.

So we're -- we are so proud that you're naming a street after the City of New York. We feel now that we're just totally united with the -- with the people of Jerusalem. We experienced what they experienced and hopefully we're going to have the same courage and the same determination and the same ability to preserve freedom that you've shown for so long.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: All right, once again we have to interrupt the mayor. You can hear the other side of the conversation with the mayor of Jerusalem to bring you this statement by Secretary of State Colin Powell. COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES: . . . he's been very, very supportive. He indicated support to me directly and then he spoke to President Bush yesterday. They had a good conversation. And he pledged his support. And I expect in the next several days we'll be sending a interagency team to Pakistan to get into greater details about what our campaign plans might be like and what kind of support might be needed.

But it's a little early to get more specific than that. But the Pakistanis have been very forthcoming and I think we should stop saying, "Can we trust them? Can't we trust them?" We will see what they are going to be able to do. And, yes, I trust them -- they have been very forthcoming. We should compliment them on that forthcomingness rather than start speculating about sincerity.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) urgency, sir, to solve the Israeli- Palestinian problems as part of the global . . .?

POWELL: There is always urgency to solving the Israeli- Palestinian problem. And I have spent a good part of my time this week in the midst of our own crisis talking to leaders in the region -- Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Perez and Chairman Arafat in an effort to see progress to get a meeting started or at least one meeting going so that we can see some progress in this time of crisis.

But so far that has not come about but we still have hope. And I'm still encouraging all parties to find a way to meet and begin a dialog that will result in a cease fire and we can get started with the Mitchell Plan, which still remains our goal.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

POWELL: One more and then I have to go.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from America's NATO?

POWELL: I'm very please with what NATO has done with indication of Article Five of the Washington Treaty, which says an attack from outside the alliance and any member of the alliance -- the whole alliance will respond. And in the days ahead I'll be having more in depth discussions with my NATO colleagues as we structure our response and see how NATO members can participate in that response in one way or the other.

Don't always think of it in terms of just military terms but there's -- there are a lot of other things we can do with respect to the pressure that we can put on countries that harbor or provide a haven for terrorists.

And so we've been looking to work with NATO and all of our European, Asian, African, South American allies throughout the world to deal with a crisis that has been directed against the civilized world.

Let me also say that while America is in a state of grief over the losses we suffered, some 40 countries lost people in the World Trade Center. And some of those numbers are not trivial -- hundreds lost from other countries. And so our hearts go out to all of those countries that lost citizens and that's why this is an international matter and not just solely an American matter. Thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary?

ZAHN: All right, one of the more interesting things to come out of that short appearance by the Secretary of State is that he reiterated his support for Pakistan. Obviously Pakistan has pledged cooperation. In exchange for its cooperation it wants the United States to retire some $30 million worth of debt -- $30 billion worth of debt. In addition to that they want the Unites States to somehow get involved with the dispute between Kashmir and India and Pakistan.

He also touched upon problems in the Middle East saying he has encouraged all parties to talk and hopes that perhaps a cease-fire could be accomplished. Now on that note at a time when the Secretary of State was speaking for the second time we were trying to share with you part of the conversation that Mayor Giuliani was having with the Mayor of Jerusalem, Ahood Omar.

The mayor of New York is not a man who is given to much emotion in public. What you did not see was his reaction when the Mayor of Jerusalem told him that the citizens of Israel are going to rename Jaffi Street, which is a street where so much bloodshed has happened -- Jaffa Street to New York Street.

Once again, it would take a third attempt to show you that strain of the conversation but the Mayor of New York incredibly moved by that gesture this morning.

When we talk about Israel there is actually one other note I can add to you. Sources are telling CNN that in addition to what Pakistan has conveyed that it wants from Washington he does not want Israel -- it does not want Israel or any kind of Indian participation in any military operation around or close to its borders.

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