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CNN Live At Daybreak
First Palestinian Prime Minister Prepares to Take Office Today
Aired April 30, 2003 - 05:07 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The first Palestinian prime minister is being reminded of his challenges as he prepares to take office today.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us live from the West Bank town of Ramallah with the story -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, commonly known as Abu Mazen, facing immense challenges. And just moments from now, he and his 24 member cabinet expected to come into this building behind me on the premises here of Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah for this official swearing in ceremony.
The backdrop to all of this, though, the overnight suicide bombing outside a Tel Aviv cafe, killing three innocent conversation, wounding as many as 20. One senior Palestinian official says this shows the extent of the real challenges facing Abu Mazen, because the Palestinian prime minister just yesterday in a speech says he rejects terrorism in all its forms and says weapons will only be allowed to be held to protect Palestinian security.
But again, in perhaps a rebuff to Abu Mazen's comments, two radical Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to the Associated Press and in a statement the groups saying that no one can disarm the resistance without a political solution.
Now, the Israelis have condemned the attack. An adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon saying this is the first test of the new Palestinian government and so far it is a "utter failure." Israelis are very skeptical about what exactly the new government might do when it comes to controlling these radical Palestinian groups. As far as Palestinian reaction, Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, says what all this shows is the need to release that so-called road map for Middle East peace right now and implement it immediately.
And on that note, Carol, sources continue to tell us that it is very, very likely that road map will be released on this day, but still no official confirmation. And there are expectations that even when this road map is released, paving the way for a Palestinian state by 2005, there are expected to be many, many bumps along the road -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: You're not kidding.
Does Abu Mazen have any idea how he's going to stop these suicide bombings?
WALLACE: Well, one way, Carol, is -- well, twofold. Number one, he has named as his security chief Mohammed Dahlan. He used to head up security forces for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He is known as someone who has stood up before to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, these radical Palestinian groups. The hope is he will be able to do so again.
But Abu Mazen is also hoping to see the Israelis take some steps, possibly pulling out of some Palestinian towns, easing restrictions on the Palestinian people. Many Palestinians believe some of these steps by the Israelis are fueling the violence, continuing the anger and leading to possible suicide attacks. But, Carol, the Israelis are saying they won't take any of those steps until they see real tangible results by this new government on the ground -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Kelly Wallace live from Ramallah this morning.
Let's get more now on that so-called road map to peace. That will be actually the focus of Colin Powell's visit to Israel and Gaza next week. The secretary of state will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the new Palestinian prime minister, Abu Mazen.
CNN's State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has more on the peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The last hurdle removed, the Bush administration says with a new Palestinian leadership now in place, the time is finally right to release the long awaited road map for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president looks forward to working with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, as well as the Israeli government and the Israeli people, to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East.
KOPPEL: But Secretary of State Powell also made clear the onus, at least in the short-term, will be on Abu Mazen to end two and a half years of violence.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We've made it absolutely clear that when the road map is released, performance is what counts, not the particular language of a particular paragraph. It's performance. And I hope that the new prime minister will speak out immediately and clearly about terrorism and about violence.
KOPPEL: A product of months of negotiations led by the United States, Russia, the E.U. and the United Nations, the road map calls for reciprocal steps to be taken over the next three years. While the Palestinians must reiterate Israel's right to exist, end incitement and terrorist attacks against Israel, as well as undertake political reform, Israel must withdraw from Palestinian areas occupied since September 2000, lift curfews, ease travel restrictions, freeze all settlement activity and eventually recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel has already raised at least a dozen objections and U.S. officials say they expect the road map could change once the parties start negotiating.
But some Arab states which quietly supported the war in Iraq warn they are quickly losing patience.
MARWAN MUASHER, JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We don't need more, you know, meetings, more photo-ops. What we need today is a serious process that will affect the lives of people and that will give them hope that we are finally on the road towards ending this longstanding conflict.
KOPPEL (on camera): Secretary of State Powell is not expected to meet the new prime minister until next week at the earliest, when officials say Powell will invite him to the White House, an invitation never extended to Yasser Arafat. The Bush administration anxious to offer support without making Abu Mazen look like a U.S. puppet.
Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we'll have much more on the Powell trip and the road map to peace in the next hour. CNN's State Department producer Elise Labott will debrief us in her wake up call.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Today>
Aired April 30, 2003 - 05:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The first Palestinian prime minister is being reminded of his challenges as he prepares to take office today.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us live from the West Bank town of Ramallah with the story -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, commonly known as Abu Mazen, facing immense challenges. And just moments from now, he and his 24 member cabinet expected to come into this building behind me on the premises here of Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah for this official swearing in ceremony.
The backdrop to all of this, though, the overnight suicide bombing outside a Tel Aviv cafe, killing three innocent conversation, wounding as many as 20. One senior Palestinian official says this shows the extent of the real challenges facing Abu Mazen, because the Palestinian prime minister just yesterday in a speech says he rejects terrorism in all its forms and says weapons will only be allowed to be held to protect Palestinian security.
But again, in perhaps a rebuff to Abu Mazen's comments, two radical Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to the Associated Press and in a statement the groups saying that no one can disarm the resistance without a political solution.
Now, the Israelis have condemned the attack. An adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon saying this is the first test of the new Palestinian government and so far it is a "utter failure." Israelis are very skeptical about what exactly the new government might do when it comes to controlling these radical Palestinian groups. As far as Palestinian reaction, Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, says what all this shows is the need to release that so-called road map for Middle East peace right now and implement it immediately.
And on that note, Carol, sources continue to tell us that it is very, very likely that road map will be released on this day, but still no official confirmation. And there are expectations that even when this road map is released, paving the way for a Palestinian state by 2005, there are expected to be many, many bumps along the road -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: You're not kidding.
Does Abu Mazen have any idea how he's going to stop these suicide bombings?
WALLACE: Well, one way, Carol, is -- well, twofold. Number one, he has named as his security chief Mohammed Dahlan. He used to head up security forces for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He is known as someone who has stood up before to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, these radical Palestinian groups. The hope is he will be able to do so again.
But Abu Mazen is also hoping to see the Israelis take some steps, possibly pulling out of some Palestinian towns, easing restrictions on the Palestinian people. Many Palestinians believe some of these steps by the Israelis are fueling the violence, continuing the anger and leading to possible suicide attacks. But, Carol, the Israelis are saying they won't take any of those steps until they see real tangible results by this new government on the ground -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Kelly Wallace live from Ramallah this morning.
Let's get more now on that so-called road map to peace. That will be actually the focus of Colin Powell's visit to Israel and Gaza next week. The secretary of state will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the new Palestinian prime minister, Abu Mazen.
CNN's State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has more on the peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The last hurdle removed, the Bush administration says with a new Palestinian leadership now in place, the time is finally right to release the long awaited road map for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president looks forward to working with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, as well as the Israeli government and the Israeli people, to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East.
KOPPEL: But Secretary of State Powell also made clear the onus, at least in the short-term, will be on Abu Mazen to end two and a half years of violence.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We've made it absolutely clear that when the road map is released, performance is what counts, not the particular language of a particular paragraph. It's performance. And I hope that the new prime minister will speak out immediately and clearly about terrorism and about violence.
KOPPEL: A product of months of negotiations led by the United States, Russia, the E.U. and the United Nations, the road map calls for reciprocal steps to be taken over the next three years. While the Palestinians must reiterate Israel's right to exist, end incitement and terrorist attacks against Israel, as well as undertake political reform, Israel must withdraw from Palestinian areas occupied since September 2000, lift curfews, ease travel restrictions, freeze all settlement activity and eventually recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel has already raised at least a dozen objections and U.S. officials say they expect the road map could change once the parties start negotiating.
But some Arab states which quietly supported the war in Iraq warn they are quickly losing patience.
MARWAN MUASHER, JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We don't need more, you know, meetings, more photo-ops. What we need today is a serious process that will affect the lives of people and that will give them hope that we are finally on the road towards ending this longstanding conflict.
KOPPEL (on camera): Secretary of State Powell is not expected to meet the new prime minister until next week at the earliest, when officials say Powell will invite him to the White House, an invitation never extended to Yasser Arafat. The Bush administration anxious to offer support without making Abu Mazen look like a U.S. puppet.
Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we'll have much more on the Powell trip and the road map to peace in the next hour. CNN's State Department producer Elise Labott will debrief us in her wake up call.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Today>
