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CNN Live At Daybreak

Powell Says He Plans to Go to Damascus

Aired April 18, 2003 - 05:24   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: Secretary of State Colin Powell says there is a new dynamic in the Middle East because of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and he says he hopes Syria will respond to the change.
As CNN's Andrea Koppel reports, Powell says he plans to go to Damascus in the near future for some high level talks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Damascus, officials warmly welcomed the news from Secretary of State Powell that he would soon travel to Syria. But Powell's trip, his first to the Middle East in a year, would be part of a wider regional tour designed to jump start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: And as we get ready to release the road map that will get us jump started in the Middle East peace process, there will be an opportunity for me to travel to the region in the not too distant future.

KOPPEL: One issue, scornfully dismissed by Syria's foreign minister, that some of Iraq's weapons are now hidden next door in Syria.

FAROUK AL-SHAARA, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: If there were mass destruction weapons inside Iraq, Saddam Hussein would have kept it inside Baghdad in order to use it against the invading forces. He wouldn't have even the slightest stupidity to smuggle it to another country during the war.

KOPPEL: Syria denies U.S. allegations it has its own chemical weapons program and, looking to turn the tables, sponsored a U.N. resolution this week calling for a weapons free region, a move designed to focus the world's attention on Israel's suspected nuclear weapons program.

In fact, Syria believes recent tough talk from the Bush administration is designed to bully Damascus on behalf of an Israeli agenda. The U.S. says Syria is a state sponsor of terrorism because it harbors groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad and gives Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon free reign to carry out attacks against Israel.

MAMOUN FANDY, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Syria is the last holdout as far as the peace process is concerned. So if Syria is pressured enough, the Syrians might be willing to play on the peace process and not to create obstacles. KOPPEL (on camera): In an interview with "The News Hour With Jim Lehrer," Secretary Powell said the U.S. plans to release its road map for peace between Israel and the Palestinians "pretty soon." He also said the U.S. hopes that that would eventually lead to a comprehensive settlement between Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired April 18, 2003 - 05:24   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell says there is a new dynamic in the Middle East because of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and he says he hopes Syria will respond to the change.
As CNN's Andrea Koppel reports, Powell says he plans to go to Damascus in the near future for some high level talks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Damascus, officials warmly welcomed the news from Secretary of State Powell that he would soon travel to Syria. But Powell's trip, his first to the Middle East in a year, would be part of a wider regional tour designed to jump start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: And as we get ready to release the road map that will get us jump started in the Middle East peace process, there will be an opportunity for me to travel to the region in the not too distant future.

KOPPEL: One issue, scornfully dismissed by Syria's foreign minister, that some of Iraq's weapons are now hidden next door in Syria.

FAROUK AL-SHAARA, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: If there were mass destruction weapons inside Iraq, Saddam Hussein would have kept it inside Baghdad in order to use it against the invading forces. He wouldn't have even the slightest stupidity to smuggle it to another country during the war.

KOPPEL: Syria denies U.S. allegations it has its own chemical weapons program and, looking to turn the tables, sponsored a U.N. resolution this week calling for a weapons free region, a move designed to focus the world's attention on Israel's suspected nuclear weapons program.

In fact, Syria believes recent tough talk from the Bush administration is designed to bully Damascus on behalf of an Israeli agenda. The U.S. says Syria is a state sponsor of terrorism because it harbors groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad and gives Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon free reign to carry out attacks against Israel.

MAMOUN FANDY, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Syria is the last holdout as far as the peace process is concerned. So if Syria is pressured enough, the Syrians might be willing to play on the peace process and not to create obstacles. KOPPEL (on camera): In an interview with "The News Hour With Jim Lehrer," Secretary Powell said the U.S. plans to release its road map for peace between Israel and the Palestinians "pretty soon." He also said the U.S. hopes that that would eventually lead to a comprehensive settlement between Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com