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CNN Live Today

Perspective on Arab Peace Initiative

Aired March 28, 2002 - 11:17   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get some more perspective on the Arab peace initiative that was talked about just before the break, as well as the talk about the fallout from the latest violence in the Middle East.

Joining us now from Beirut is Scott McCloud. He is the Cairo bureau chief for "Time" magazine. He's been a Mideast correspondent for seven years, and he is in Beirut, carrying the Arab summit meeting that have been taking place over the last few days there. Thank you very much for taking time to talk with us this evening there your time.

First off, Scott, I want to ask you about the absences of this heads of state that we have seen at this Arab summit. Much has been talked about in the seeing that Hosni Mubarak did not show up. King Abdullah from Jordan did not show up. And also Yasser Arafat did not show up.

Can you give us any sense of whether or not their absences are sending a particular message to those who did show up?

SCOTT MCCLOUD, "TIME" MAGAZINE": I don't think so. In fact, I think it's been a bit overblown. Definitely, if they had been here, it would have added a lot of weight to the summit. But this has been a very powerful summit resolution, in a way very surprising one. During the period of violence that we've been seeing during the intifada. For all the Arab states unanimously to offer such a peace initiative as this to Israel now.

HARRIS: But, Scott, I know that they're that this is a unanimous agreement here, but it is clear that every single Arab leader there who did sign on to this statement has the same understanding about what to key terms actually mean? For instance, the talk of normal relations with Israel, is it clear that they all agree on what that means?

MCCLOUD: No, I don't think they do. Definitely Syria's idea of normal relations at this stage not the same as Jordan's, for example. But the important thing is this was a very strong peace initiative. Prince Abdullah's speech opening the summit yesterday was very -- not only very clear about the peace message to Israel, but he even spoke directly to the Israeli people, which is unprecedented. It's unprecedented for the Saudis -- the country of the holy mosques of Islam, to be taking such a visible leadership role in reaching out not only to Israel, the government of Israel, but the Israeli people.

HARRIS: All right, but, Scott, tell us this, what action can we expect to see to come out of this talk that we have heard?

MCCLOUD: Well, it just -- at this point, it is just talk. It is an important part in the evolution in the accepting of Israel. It's been many years in coming. It will probably remain just talk until either the Israeli government changes or until the United States government gets engaged in such a way that it can successfully move the Sharon government back into peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

HARRIS: Scott McCloud, the Cairo bureau chief for "Time" magazine. Thank you for taking time to talk to us. We know you're busy, and that you have to move. We appreciate the moment you shared with us just now.

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