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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Powell's Mideast Trip
Aired May 09, 2003 - 06:09 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, though, we move on to world news and the conflict in the Middle East. Secretary of State Colin Powell heads for the region later today.
It sounds like a good topic for a "Wake-Up Call." Our State Department producer, Elise Labott, is joining us on the phone with more on that trip.
Elise -- good morning. The alarm clock has gone off.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, he's only been back in Washington for a few days; now, as you said, headed back to the Mideast and Europe, tonight for Israel and the West Bank to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. And they'll be discussing a newly-released road map for peace, and consulting with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. And Secretary Powell pushing the Israelis to begin taking steps to end the violence, create some trust between the two sides, asking Arab leaders to do all they can to encourage the parties.
The ultimate goal here is not only a Palestinian state, but a comprehensive peace between Israel and all of its Arab neighbors. And yesterday Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he is willing to hold talks with the Syrians with no preconditions.
So, we should really be looking for Secretary Powell to really seize the moment and try and get some momentum going here -- Daryn.
KAGAN: The Bush administration has never seemed too enthusiastic about getting in the middle of the Palestinian-Israel conflict here. In fact, it's been, I think, more than a year since Secretary of State Powell has gotten involved in this. This, of course, coming from international pressure, and also the output of the war in Iraq; the Bush administration having to get in, in order to appease people all around the world.
LABOTT: That's right, Daryn. Well, Secretary Powell last year at this time said, I'll be coming right back to the Mideast immediately. And we didn't even unpack our bags at one point, because we thought it would be within days. But as you said, it's been about a year.
And the Bush administration feels that now that Saddam Hussein is out of power, and now that there's a new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinians seem to be taking modest steps towards moving towards democracy, more transparent institutions, more financial accountability, they say that the climate is right for a new push in the Middle East. And they feel that they'll get more support from Arab leaders, and they feel that this is really the moment to try and go for it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: State Department producer Elise Labott, we're waking her up in Washington, D.C. Elise, thank you, and you have a great day.
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 May 9, 2003 - 06:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, though, we move on to world news and the conflict in the Middle East. Secretary of State Colin Powell heads for the region later today.
It sounds like a good topic for a "Wake-Up Call." Our State Department producer, Elise Labott, is joining us on the phone with more on that trip.
Elise -- good morning. The alarm clock has gone off.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, he's only been back in Washington for a few days; now, as you said, headed back to the Mideast and Europe, tonight for Israel and the West Bank to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. And they'll be discussing a newly-released road map for peace, and consulting with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. And Secretary Powell pushing the Israelis to begin taking steps to end the violence, create some trust between the two sides, asking Arab leaders to do all they can to encourage the parties.
The ultimate goal here is not only a Palestinian state, but a comprehensive peace between Israel and all of its Arab neighbors. And yesterday Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he is willing to hold talks with the Syrians with no preconditions.
So, we should really be looking for Secretary Powell to really seize the moment and try and get some momentum going here -- Daryn.
KAGAN: The Bush administration has never seemed too enthusiastic about getting in the middle of the Palestinian-Israel conflict here. In fact, it's been, I think, more than a year since Secretary of State Powell has gotten involved in this. This, of course, coming from international pressure, and also the output of the war in Iraq; the Bush administration having to get in, in order to appease people all around the world.
LABOTT: That's right, Daryn. Well, Secretary Powell last year at this time said, I'll be coming right back to the Mideast immediately. And we didn't even unpack our bags at one point, because we thought it would be within days. But as you said, it's been about a year.
And the Bush administration feels that now that Saddam Hussein is out of power, and now that there's a new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinians seem to be taking modest steps towards moving towards democracy, more transparent institutions, more financial accountability, they say that the climate is right for a new push in the Middle East. And they feel that they'll get more support from Arab leaders, and they feel that this is really the moment to try and go for it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: State Department producer Elise Labott, we're waking her up in Washington, D.C. Elise, thank you, and you have a great day.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
