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Powell Floats Idea of Conference for Middle East Peace
Aired April 15, 2002 - 13:54 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: One of the things that continues to be talked about throughout the entire region is the possibility of some sort of international conference that would bring all of the players of the region together, plus the United States, to talk about peace for the region.
That was floated initially to brick the leaders of all these countries, on Israel's part, though, minus Yasser Arafat. Earlier today, though, it seemed to be changing somewhat. Jerrold Kessel now brings us up-to-date on the proposal and as to whether or not it will happen in the first place.
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JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Away briefly from the Palestinian-Israeli morass, the U.S. Secretary of State was taking sounding from Lebanese and Syrian leaders about convening a special conference to support U.S. efforts to move the region from bloodshed to stability. Even a conference Mr. Powell now says could conceivably not include Palestine leader Yasser Arafat, something Ariel Sharon is insisting on.
"We've got to move quickly to a political track, and there are many ways to do that." said Mr. Powell, adding, "One way is a regional or international conference." Perhaps a conference beginning at foreign ministry level, Mr. Powell says. The conference idea, without Yasser Arafat, was actually floated by Prime Minister Sharon. Stunned by international and domestic criticism that ongoing Israeli military offense against terrorism lacks political follow through.
Good basic idea is said to have been Colin Powell's initial response to the conference idea. But there are elements, said the United States, which needed to be worked on. Elements that need to be worked on take that to mean one thing, what's the role for Yasser Arafat? Mr. Sharon says any peace conference would exclude the Palestinian leader.
The Israeli Prime Minister believes he is beyond rehabilitation as a peace partner. Though a top Sharon aid says if the U.S. insist on one more test, Israel would acquiesce.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If Arafat passes the test, which he failed up to this moment -- and we are very skeptical he is capable of doing it -- then there will be no problem. It is not a personal thing. It has to do with the commitment to peace or with a commitment to stop terrorism. It has to be someone that does not adopt the strategy of terror, but someone who is adopted a strategy of peace.
KESSEL: Yasser Arafat himself says such a conference could be useful, provide the Israeli reoccupation of Palestinian areas is ended. But top Palestinian officials say Mr. Sharon's attempt at sidelining of Yasser Arafat is nonsense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is ridiculous for him to say that because the Palestinian representative is President Arafat. That has no question about it. There would be no conference without Arafat. Second, what kind of conference, for this countries or international conference? Can we exclude the United Nation? Can we exclude the Europe? Can we exclude Russia?
KESSEL (on camera): Without Yasser Arafat, for Palestinians and the Arab world, the idea of the conference is simply a Sharon rouse. The United States, however, doesn't appear to be writing it off at source. Perhaps there is something here on which to build, as Washington searches for ways to further its purpose of stabilizing the region.
For now, another volatile development. Israeli forces have detained this man, Marwan Barghouti, the top field activist of Arafat's Fatah movement in the West Bank. Before the Palestinian Intifada broke out 18 months ago, Barghouti, who is close to Yasser Arafat, was a prominent supporter of the peace process with Israel and maintained close contacts with many Israeli political figures.
But since the Intifada, he has been very prominent in street demonstrations and other forms of resistance. In recent months, Israel charges he has also been masterminding terror actions against Israeli, something he denies. The Sharon conference idea was seen as a possible political opening. The Barghouti arrest is seen as a possible political land mine. It certainly complicates the U.S. stabilizing drive. Jerrold Kessel, CNN, Jerusalem.
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