Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Powell Meets With International Representatives in Madrid

Aired April 10, 2002 - 13:09   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now on the diplomatic front, Secretary of State Colin Powell is repeating his call for both sides to end the violence, and for Israel to continue its West Bank withdrawal, but the renewed violence is only complicating an already tough Mideast peace mission.

CNN's Andrea Koppel is traveling with Secretary Powell, and has more now on the search for peace from Madrid -- Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, that's right. Secretary Powell's call for Israel to withdrawal from the territories and for Yasser Arafat to rein in militants was basically endorsed with an overwhelming show of solidarity here in Madrid today by members of the international community, including representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and the Russian Federation. All of them echoing Secretary of State Colin Powell's calls for both sides to do their part.

Now, just a short time ago, Secretary Powell was asked, and was actually quite defensive about any characterization of his mission as being in jeopardy. He said that despite criticism by the Israeli prime minister of his desire to meet with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Secretary Powell said that such a meeting would go forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I believe it is important for me to meet with Chairman Arafat. He's the leader of the Palestinian people, and I think the Palestinian people and the Arab leaders with whom I've met over the last several days believe that he is the partner that Israel will have to deal with at some point, he and the other leaders of the Palestinian Authority.

The reality is that no other Palestinian, or for that matter, Arab leader is prepared to engage as a partner until Mr. Arafat had a chance to express his views to me and to others. So, I hope that there will be no difficulties in arranging a meeting with Chairman Arafat, and I think if we are going to move forward, such a meeting is appropriate and important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Secretary Powell is due to arrive in the region later this week. Kyra, as we've said, he obviously recognizes that this is an unbelievably difficult mission, but it is one that members here in Madrid from the international community said essentially has to go forward because the situation is really too dire to allow it to continue without some sort of high-level U.S. intervention -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Andrea, while Colin Powell commented, of course, on the Middle East and took questions from reporters, also the foreign minister of Spain very eager to talk about the bilateral relationship between Spain and the United States. Can you tell us a little bit about this amendment that is being submitting to the Spanish parliament with regard to intelligence services of both Spain and the U.S., combining efforts there to fight this war on terrorism.

KOPPEL: To be quite honest with you, Kyra, most of our energies today here on the ground have been focused on the Middle East peacekeeping mission. In fact, I don't know how much of that press conference you were able to listen to, but almost all of the questions were focused on Secretary Powell's mission, so I'm afraid I can't really elaborate on what you've said, than -- there other than to say that Spain, like the rest of the international community, has said that it will do its part to try to help the U.S. fight terrorism and the kind of terrorism that is going on right now in Israel.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. Understood. Andrea Koppel, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com