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CNN Live Today

Conflict in the Middle East: Colin Powell Mission Nears End

Aired April 17, 2002 - 13:01   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: I mentioned Colin Powell and Cairo. Want to pick things up a short time ago. Andrea Koppel traveling with Secretary Powell, her report from the Egyptian capital.

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ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Secretary Powell's stop here in Cairo was a little more than just a courtesy call. This was a way to brief the Egyptian foreign minister, a very close U.S. ally, as well as the Jordanian foreign minister on the developments of the last six days.

Today, earlier today, Secretary Powell set down with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the second time. And it appears that meeting didn't go well at all. In fact, Chairman Arafat came downstairs in his Ramallah headquarters, he's been under siege now for 20 days, and spoke with reporters and was absolutely gripped with fury, saying how can they expect me to live like this? I can't even go outside. Clearly, he didn't give Secretary Powell what he wanted, which was a declaration condemning all acts of terrorism and violence in a much more expansive way than what Mr. Arafat has done before, and also telling the Palestinian people not to become suicide bombers, which is a key Israeli demand.

So, as things have now been left after Secretary Powell's 10-day Middle East peacemaking mission, it appears very little progress was made. One sort of bright light at the end of the tunnel, however, is the prospect of having this regional, perhaps international, Middle East peace summit, which is something that Secretary Powell also discussed during his stop here in Cairo. But there is no word as to when that might happen. Secretary Powell himself said he will be out in the region again next month.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, Cairo.

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