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Conflict in the Middle East: Colin Powell Mission Draws to Close

Aired April 17, 2002 - 12:39   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: Israel says it will allow Yasser Arafat to have his freedom if they turn over five wanted men that they believe right now are holed up taking refuge inside of that compound. They say until those five men are turned over, the tanks will stay in Ramallah, and so too will the troops.

And again, as I mention, Secretary Powell left the region. Andrea Koppel tracked his every move since arriving in the area. Her story now on the search for peace and the withdrawal right now of Secretary Powell's mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The body language said it all. Two hours after his meeting with Yasser Arafat began, Secretary Powell emerged grim-faced and solemn from Arafat's Ramallah headquarters, refusing to answer reporters' questions. But only a few feet away, inside the building where he's been under siege for 20 days, a visibly outraged Yasser Arafat had plenty to say.

YASSER ARAFAT, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT: I have to ask the whole international world. I have to ask this of President Bush. I have to ask the United Nations. Is this acceptable, that I can't go outside from this door?

KOPPEL: Ten days after Powell's high-stakes Mid East peace mission got under way, he's heading home without a cease-fire, or an end to the current crisis. But in this final press conference, Powell said without a full Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, that's not a realistic expectation.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We could have a cease-fire declared today, but what would it mean? While one side is still pursuing an operation that they are bringing to a close, but not they have not yet brought to close. And the other side is not yet in a position to respond because the incursion has not yet ended. It is in the process of ending, I hope. And so cease-fire is not a relevant term at the moment.

KOPPEL: At the same time, Powell also said his diplomatic shuttling had achieved some measure of progress. He said he'd rallied the international community, including the E.U., Russia, and the U.N. to support U.S. efforts to find a way out of the crisis, brought the endorsement of the Saudi peace initiative and a timeline for an Israeli withdrawal with the exception of Bethlehem and Ramallah.

And Powell said his mission also demonstrated the new commitment of the Bush Administration to remain actively involved.

POWELL: I have shown to both the people of Israel, Palestinians, our Arab friends in the region and the world that President Bush is going to be playing a leadership role in this.

KOPPEL: But Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat wondered aloud if there isn't an Israeli withdrawal quickly, will it be too late?

SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: The situation is very grim, very deteriorating. I believe Sharon's endgame is being implemented now. I don't know if we have a Palestinian Authority any more.

KOPPEL (on camera): In the end, as one U.S. official put it, it's not nothing but it's not much either. Secretary Powell's next diplomatic mission to the region begins next month.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

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