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CNN Live Today
Tone Generally Positive Between Bush and Sharon
Aired April 16, 2002 - 14:07 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: Let's get to the White House right now with Major Garrett. There was a conversation last night that lasted about 15 minutes time between President Bush and the prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. We are told anyway, Major, that the tone was better than in previous conversations. And again, this was topic A at the White House today. Good afternoon to you, back in D.C.
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Bill. The tone was generally positive. But it's worth pointing out that the president of the United States was essentially calling to confirm what the Israeli prime minister first told the world on our network: that he planned to bring Israeli defense forces out of Jenin and Nablus within a week.
The president of the United States wanted to make sure he could get that confirmed directly from the Israeli prime minister and not have to rely on media accounts of what he said. That in fact was confirmed. That was the No. 1 thing the president wanted to have confirmed for himself and for the Bush administration.
Also a good bit of discussion about the standoff at the Church of the Nativity. Ari Fleischer said afterwards it was the president's feeling that situation could be resolved and in fact would be resolved. He said Secretary of State Powell was working very hard on that. And at which -- whatever point that situation of the Church of Nativity is resolved, the Israeli prime minister gave President Bush assurances of Israeli forces and would in very short order withdraw from Bethlehem as well.
As far as the overall administration assessment of the pace of Israeli withdrawals, not a single discouraging word could be heard today, Bill, from the podium. Ari Fleischer saying that all sides have their responsibilities, their commitments to fulfill.
It's clear the Israeli defense forces remain in the West Bank, even now more than 10 days after President Bush first said that they would withdraw, more than a week after he said they should withdraw without delay. And there is really no strong condemnation of the fact that those Israeli defense forces are still there, still present in the West Bank.
On another front, Bill, the White House announced today a definitive date for meeting in Crawford, Texas, a week from Thursday, April 25th, between the president of the United States and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Who is the crown prince? Well, he is the de facto leader of that Saudi kingdom. King Fahd has been ailing for a good number of years and leadership of the Royal Kingdom has fallen to Crown Prince Abdullah.
He is a key player in the Middle East, the author of the, as yet unreleased but nevertheless endorsed by the Arab League, proposal to bring peace to the region -- one where Israel would withdraw to the 1967 borders and all Arab nations would fully recognize Israel's right to exist. Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary, briefly summarized some of the reasons for the meeting and gave us a little bit of a hint of its agenda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The U.S.-Saudi relationship, which extends back over six decades, has been a bulwark of U.S. engagement in the Middle East. Among other things, the two leaders are expected to discuss the Saudi peace proposal, presented by the Crown Prince at the March 27-28 Arab summit in Beirut.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GARRETT: So in fact, Bill, some of the focus which had been so prevalent on Secretary of State Colin Powell's shoulders may in fact shift to Crawford, Texas next week as the president sits down with Crown Prince Abdullah. There had been some speculation the Saudi government would cancel this planned meeting that had been announced by the White House earlier this month, out of its disenchantment with the Bush administration's unwillingness to lean more aggressively on the Israeli government to pull out of the West Bank.
That speculation is now over. The meeting is on. A good deal of attention will be focused on the president's Texas ranch as he heads this very important meeting with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia -- Bill.
HEMMER: Major, thanks. Major Garrett at the White House.
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