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CNN Live Saturday

Powell to Meet With Arafat Tomorrow

Aired April 13, 2002 - 18:01   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: Colin Powell once again and the secretary of state and his meeting tomorrow in Ramallah that will take place in about 10 hours' time.

For now on the diplomatic dance that took place earlier today, let's bring in our State Department correspondent, Andrea Koppel, with us live here late tonight in Jerusalem. Good evening to you, I should say.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you.

HEMMER: The statement, I guess, was good enough or just good enough anyway.

KOPPEL: Exactly, and the emphasis is on just. This was a statement that the U.S. had been really pushing for from the Palestinian leader for the last 24 hours. There was a lot riding on the line. Secretary Powell having traveled here, having met with Ariel Sharon, wanting to end this standoff, but also needing to get a cease-fire from Yasser Arafat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: The statement issued earlier today by Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian leadership contains a number of interesting and positive elements. Condemnation of all terrorist attacks against Israeli and Palestinian civilians, a strong condemnation of yesterday's bombing in Jerusalem, the call to start immediate implementation of the Tenet understandings and the Mitchell report, a reaffirmation of the Palestinian commitment to a negotiated peace and support for Secretary Powell and his mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: So now while they got the statement from Yasser Arafat, Bill, and while that statement was just good enough to let him go to Ramallah tomorrow, Secretary Powell will be looking to Chairman Arafat to translate that statement into action, something he has failed to do before now.

HEMMER: Is there a sense that you have about how closely the State Department may have worked with the Palestinian Authority to craft this particular statement today? KOPPEL: I can't tell you what language the State Department got inserted into that statement, but I can tell you that they were on the phone constantly over the last 24 hours.

HEMMER: He got nothing from Ariel Sharon the other day, at least publicly anyway. What tells him he can get something from Yasser Arafat at this point?

KOPPEL: Nothing, but the fact of the matter is he's going there intent to try and to put tremendous pressure on Yasser Arafat. And he's actually going to tell him, look if you give me a cease-fire, I will guarantee you that we will put, the United States will put, this political process on the fast track so that the Palestinians can then see down the line a Palestinian state.

They can see Israeli withdrawal from settlements. They can see the boundaries of a state, something that initially they had been saying would take months and months if not years to be able to achieve.

HEMMER: Four hours yesterday with Ariel Sharon. Any indication how long this meeting might last?

KOPPEL: No, but I mean I -- you can assume that it's going to take quite a while. This is something that they've been waiting to have happen for many months. Secretary Powell hasn't been in the region after all since last June. He's met Arafat in November. They can't, he can't, Secretary Powell can't afford to have this fail, Bill.

HEMMER: Andrea, thanks. Andrea Koppel watching the State Department beat here in Jerusalem. Thanks again to you.

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