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CNN Live At Daybreak

Powell Heads to Beirut, Damascus for Regional Talks

Aired April 15, 2002 - 06:04   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the Middle East right now. While his staff continues cease-fire discussions with Israeli and Palestinian officials, Secretary of State Colin Powell is talking with other regional leaders this morning about Mideast peace.

CNN Beirut bureau chief, Brent Sadler, joins us with a live update. Brent, Powell has wrapped up in Lebanon. Any progress there?

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Well, first of all, good morning from Beirut. As you say, Secretary of State Colin Powell has now left Lebanon. His plane took off for Damascus, Syria within the past 10 minutes or so.

In terms of tangible progress, no, there is nothing to report on that level here. This is really unplanned, unscheduled trips to the Lebanese capital and the Syrian capital is mainly in context with what's been going on along the Lebanese-Israeli border, where attacks by Hezbollah guerrillas against Israeli troops occupying an area at the foot of the Golan Heights have been causing great alarm.

And Secretary of State Colin Powell has been here trying to urge all parties that have influence on Hezbollah -- that's the Lebanese, as well as the Syrians and also the Iranians have influence on Hezbollah -- to calm that border situation down. Otherwise, it runs the risk of widening conflict in the Middle East.

Now, for their part, the Lebanese have made it clear that they see the Hezbollah attacks in this area, called the Shebaa Farms at the foot at the Golan Heights, as legitimate resistance against Israeli occupation. It's not recognized that way by either the Israelis or the U.S., which regards Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Now, also on the agenda here has been the situation, the crisis between Israelis and Palestinians and occupied-Palestinian territories. A short time ago, Secretary Powell met with Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Mr. Hariri will be making Lebanon's voice heard in Washington this week, when Hariri meets with President Bush on Wednesday, we expect.

Now, this is what Secretary Powell had to say just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I know that he will say to you that he is committed to finding a political solution to bring peace to this region, and that is why he sent me here to talk about ending terror and violence, but with the clear understanding that that in and of itself won't be enough. Just as you said, all the cease-fires in the world will not solve the problems until there is a political solution. And that is our commitment, and we will develop all of our energies to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: While for his part, Prime Minister Hariri made it plain that Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories must stop. Otherwise, the whole region could explode. This is what Hariri said after meeting Secretary Powell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAFIK HARIRI, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: I want to say publicly that in the recent weeks in the West Bank creates assault of feeling among the Arab world, among the people in the Arab world and among the leaders of the Arab world. And this is why we need strong efforts from the United States and strong commitment from President Bush and the secretary. And we believe strongly that security is important -- very important. But it is not at a placement (ph) of the peaceful agreement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: So Secretary Powell not only getting his teeth into the dangerous situation along the Lebanese-Israeli border, but also expanding his mission, trying to sound out the authorities here in Beirut, and now on his way to Damascus about their ideas, not only on calming the situation along that southern border, Lebanon with Israel, but also trying to build on finding momentum to try and bring a comprehensive peace in the Middle East -- back to you, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, Brent, over the weekend, Colin Powell and Ariel Sharon suggested an international Mideast peace conference. Do you think there is any interest in Lebanon?

SADLER: Oh, I think there is certainly interest in what I have heard from the Lebanese officials in the build-up of this Powell visit over the past few hours. I think an international conference -- there has been talk here of the idea of an international force. Obviously they want U.S. involvement that. But not a monitoring force, not a monitoring presence on the ground to separate the Israelis and the Palestinians, but some sort of disengagement or separation force are the words being used here, perhaps under the United Nations umbrella. That idea I think is certainly being welcomed. That kind of idea, if it moves forward at all will be welcomed.

What the Syrians have to say will more or less be what they always say is, and that is complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab lands taken back in 1967, including the Golan Heights in its entirety and really put Israel to be forced to implement all of the United Nations security resolutions in the Middle East, and also continuing with the Madrid and Oslo peace accord peace processes. That's what the Syrians will be saying -- back to you, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Brent Sadler, thank you for that report.

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