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CNN Live Today

Blair Set to Meet Bush This Weekend

Aired April 05, 2002 - 14:05   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's see how these guises and forms will affect a meeting between British Prime Minister Tony Blair this weekend, with the president of the United States, President Bush. CNN White House correspondent, Kelly Wallace, near the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Kelly, so many developments every day in the Mideast. So much for these two men to talk about. What do you think their primary focus is going to be?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as you and I have been discussing throughout the afternoon, their primary focus no doubt will be the development on the ground in the Middle East. This visit was in fact scheduled many, many weeks ago, and was really to focus on the war on terror and what to do about Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The two men will of course talk about those subjects, but their main focus topping the agenda will, again, be the Middle East. Prime Minister Blair, in fact, was last at the White House back in November. He and the president enjoy a very close relationship. Mr. Bush called Tony Blair yesterday before coming out to the Rose Garden and giving his address on the situation in the Middle East.

Mr. Blair will be arriving here in Crawford, Texas a few hours from now. The British prime minister has basically been supportive of the United States' policies when it comes to the Middle East. Whereas, Carol, you know many other European leaders and Arab leaders have been very, very critical. They've been saying that the administration needs to definitely step up its engagement, based on the deteriorating situation on the ground.

Of course, Mr. Bush announcing yesterday that Secretary of State Colin Powell will be going to the region next week. So the two men will discuss, really, the game plan for Secretary Powell, the message he'll be taking to the Israelis and the Palestinians, the message to the Palestinians, that they must crack down on terror. The message to the Israelis, that they must withdraw from those Palestinian areas.

Senior administration officials saying again today the president's statements were clear. The president expects results. The administration definitely wants to see some withdrawal before Secretary Powell leaves for the region. Something else we're seeing, Carol, lots and lots of frustration when it comes to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Mr. Bush did an interview yesterday with a British journalist some time after he delivered that statement in the Rose Garden. I want to read you a portion of that interview, focusing on the Palestinian leader.

The president said -- quote -- "My worry is that Yasser Arafat can't perform. He's been given plenty of opportunities." The president goes on to say, "It starts with him proving that he can lead. He has let his people down and there are others in the regions who can lead and those who have called upon those other in the region to lead."

The president was asked by this interviewer if he's laying the groundwork that the Palestinians should choose another leader. Mr. Bush said far be it for the American president to decide who should lead the Palestinian people. But he said Mr. Arafat, in his view, has clearly not performed.

And we know that Secretary Powell, when he goes to the region next week, he will be meeting with leaders of the Palestinian Authority. It's not clear if he'll be meeting with Yasser Arafat. But we do believe the secretary will want to meet with other leaders of the Palestinian Authority, and also encourage Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, other countries, to engage with the rest of the leadership of the Palestinian Authority.

The message, Carol, really is, this administration doesn't believe Yasser Arafat has done what he needs to do. This administration will be watching, but if Yasser Arafat does not perform, in President Bush's words, you are already seeing the administration is laying the groundwork to deal with other leaders within the Palestinian community -- Carol.

LIN: Kelly, has the Bush administration or the president identified who those other leaders are?

WALLACE: Not exactly. You know, senior administration officials have basically just said that there are other leaders. Not really sort of identifying any names, but clearly there are other people that Secretary Powell has met in the past. You have Saeb Erakat, one name that many of our viewers certainly are aware of, the chief Palestinian negotiator for the Palestinians.

So what you're seeing is, in a way, some sense that the administration is trying to sort of put more pressure on Yasser Arafat, but also encouraging the Arab community, the other Arab allies, to say that, look, Yasser Arafat, if he's not delivering for the Palestinian people, then it might be time to think about who else within the Palestinian community can deliver -- Carol.

LIN: Kelly, I know we do a lot of reading of the tea leaves before we actually see things in concrete evidence. But by simply making that sort of statement in such a public manner, I mean, it would -- I would assume that they have people in mind. And that this is a threat hanging over Yasser Arafat's head, that if he does not produce concrete results by the time, or very near the visit of the secretary of state, that the United States may come out in a very public way and support other people, whom they will name publicly.

WALLACE: Well, you know, again, a delicate balancing act. Because on the one hand, just as the president said in this interview. He said, far be it for him, the president of the United States, to decide who should lead the Palestinian people. That is not something the Palestinian people want to see, the U.S. leader deciding who should be their leader.

But if you look at what President Bush said yesterday, very, very tough talk. Basically saying that the events that Yasser Arafat finds himself in, really of his own doing. That so far he's been a failure, in Mr. Bush's words, when it comes to cracking down on terror.

So it seems to be really a way to put out the pressure and, again, strike the balance by saying right now Yasser Arafat is the recognized leader of the Palestinian people. But you heard the president say yesterday that if the Palestinian people want that vision of a Palestinian state, of the right of Palestinian refugees to travel back to the region and these other issues, as part of a political process, it's going to come down to having willing people, willing peace partners to work together.

And it does appear the administration again is putting out the pressure, sending the message, wanting Arab leaders to get out the message that if Yasser Arafat is not delivering, this administration would like those Arab leaders to get out the message that perhaps maybe it is time for the Palestinian people to consider someone else -- Carol.

LIN: That is really interesting. Thank you very much. Kelly Wallace, live from near the ranch in Crawford, Texas, where the president will be spending the weekend with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

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