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CNN Live Today
Interview With Saudi Official Adel Al-Jubeir
Aired March 27, 2002 - 13:15 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go back to Beirut now, and again we will intermingle the pictures that we received through television there in the Middle East.
Right now with us, Adel Al-Jubeir, an adviser to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah, with us live there, where it is nightfall, once again, in Beirut. We sure appreciate your time.
Curious to know, given the twists and the turns and the massive confusion earlier today at the beginning of that summit, is that Saudi proposal right now still something that's being talked about and discussed? And at this point, what chances would you give it for passage when -- in this two-day meeting?
ADEL AL-JUBEIR, ADVISER TO SAUDI CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH: Oh, I believe the chances are 100 percent, or very close to that. I think that we have to look at it for -- with the certain perspective. What -- what has been reported out of Beirut has dealt with a lot of administrative glitches. But when we focus on the substance of the matter, the initiative was put forward to the summit. It was extremely well received by the summit. The summit is working on a declaration or a statement regarding the peace initiative, which they will release before the summit is over, and I think things are moving extremely smoothly.
HEMMER: You say 100 percent passage. The Syrians are already saying no. How can it be 100 percent if that's the case?
AL-JUBEIR: I don't know that that's what the Syrians are saying. Syria supported the initiative. The Syrian foreign minister is a member of the foreign minister's group that will be drafting the final document. And I don't know where this is coming from.
HEMMER: I want to go back to the images we're getting just south from your location, right down the eastern edge of the Mediterranean, in the coastal town of Netanya. As we look at these pictures, another suicide bombing. A professor here in the U.S. quite familiar with the region says that many Arabs simply believe that the violence is working. And if it's working, go ahead and continue it. How do you address that at the Arab summit right there?
AL-JUBEIR: Oh, I believe when the crown prince first annunciated his vision a few weeks ago, it was extremely well received in the Arab world as well as in the rest of the world, in over 40 countries -- sorry, have supported it. Now, what that means is it would not have been received this well if -- if people thought that violence pays. The objective of this initiative is to go beyond the violence and to have peace. The objective is to stop the senseless killings on both sides.
HEMMER: There was a recent interview done with Ariel Sharon. In fact, it was published here in the U.S. magazine, "Newsweek" magazine, where the Israeli prime minister was saying relative to that Saudi proposal, that Israel will not be able to do that proposal if it wants to survive. It might sound like a good thing, but if you've only got one side on board, how do you convince the Israelis that this indeed is a proposal that will work?
AL-JUBEIR: Well, our idea is that you can have peace if it is not based on oppression and humiliation. They Israeli public should lift their sights beyond the horizon and see that if they want to have normal relations with the neighborhood that they live in and if they want to live in peace and security, they better get along with the people that share this region with them.
The only way to get this region out of its conflict, the only way to stop the senseless conflict and killings on both sides is through peace. This plan -- this initiative, if adopted by the Arab summit, will become an Arab initiative, and it essentially gives a blueprint for what a peace settlement looks like. Remember that it takes two people to make peace by their own free will. And here we have the Arab side very clearly saying, yes, we are for peace and we are now waiting for the Israeli side to reciprocate, if they are genuinely interested in peace.
HEMMER: Want to move away from the proposal just for a moment here, and also our viewers are still seeing these pictures, haunting images once again from northern Israel, coming to us right now by way of Israeli television.
Away from the Saudi proposal and the issue that occurred earlier today with Yasser Arafat's interview being shut off by the Lebanese. Help give us an explanation back here in the U.S. as to why something like this could happen, for what was viewed as such a critical speech for the Palestinian leader?
AL-JUBEIR: Well, this is -- this is more of an administrative matter. And there were a number of reasons that were given for why it -- why it happened, whether they involve technical reasons or other reasons. And I think that the answer to that question or that question is better directed to the Lebanese host.
HEMMER: But there is a suggestion here that the Lebanese were worried that Ariel Sharon might pop up on that satellite feed. Was that really talked about there in Beirut?
AL-JUBEIR: There were a lot of rumors going around in Beirut on this issue, and like I said, I think it's better to address that question to the Lebanese.
HEMMER: Here's another question, then, if you don't mind here. The number of absences, high-profile, King Abdullah of Jordan, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Without their participation, can anything come of that summit? I know you mentioned that you anticipate your proposal to pass with 100 percent approval. But how is that possible when such key players in that region are not even there?
AL-JUBEIR: Well, the two leaders that you mentioned, President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Jordan, have been very strong supporters of this initiative from day one. Their foreign ministers have been very instrumental and very effective in working with the other foreign ministers to come up with a final document. The both countries are represented at a very high level by their prime ministers, and they have very solid delegations.
The question is not a question of the countries being represented or not. They are. And the question is also not being represented at a high level. They both are at the level of a prime minister, who heads the government. It would have been nice to have the heads of state here, but the reasons for why they're here are really better addressed -- that issue is better addressed to them. We would liked to have them here. But them not being here doesn't distract from the importance of the effectiveness of what their delegations are doing.
HEMMER: Adel Al-Jubeir from Saudi Arabia, adviser to the crown prince. I wish you the best of luck.
AL-JUBEIR: Thank you.
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