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American Morning
Possibility of Summit After Israeli Acceptance of Road Map
Aired May 26, 2003 - 07:36 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The Israeli government's historic vote yesterday to accept in principle a Palestinian state is being hailed by the Bush administration as an important step forward.
Does this pave the way for a three way summit with President Bush and the prime ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority?
Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is live now at the White House with more on that -- good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
The answer to that question is yes, but it's a cautious yes we heard from White House officials yesterday, who said that, yes, the president certainly hoping that he's going to participate in that three way summit with the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, as well as the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, perhaps in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, that there is an advance team that is on its way to set up for that possible summit, maybe even happening in Jordan or Geneva, Switzerland.
But it is really far from a done deal. There are a number of things U.S. officials are looking at in the next couple of weeks before this actually happens. First of all, if there's a period of calm where there are no terrorist attacks or bombings. Also, some U.S. officials are looking for really a good faith effort from the Palestinians and the Israelis to show that they're really serious in this road map. They want the Israelis to lift those economic sanctions against the Palestinians. They want those Palestinians to show that they're really cracking down on those terrorists, on those extremists.
So, we will see how this whole thing plays out. It is not yet a done deal, but the administration certainly hoping they can build on this momentum to make this move forward -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Suzanne, let's talk also now, if we could, about Iran. The Bush administration taking such a hard line approach with Iran and a possibly speaking about action towards destabilizing that country. What are you hearing this morning on that?
MALVEAUX: Well, it's a very good issue -- I mean it's a very good question and it's a very important issue. Essentially, as you know, U.S. officials are frustrated. They believe that Iran has senior al Qaeda and that they also support terrorists like Hezbollah. We have seen a series of steps that the State Department has taken. They've cut off discussions. They canceled a meeting with Iranian officials last week. Now what we are seeing is the possibility of showing support to destabilize that Islamic regime.
Now, a State Department official saying that it does not mean military action. Perhaps it would mean supporting groups or organizations that would benefit from that destabilization of the Islamic regime.
What we're going to see is tomorrow there's going to be a meeting. Defense officials, state officials are going to try to figure out what to do next, how to handle this.
But it is important to note, Heidi, that over the weekend, Iranian officials, including their ambassador to the United Nations, said that yes, they are harboring al Qaeda, but they say they have them in custody, even, perhaps, those who are responsible for that Riyadh bombing, and perhaps that they would be willing to hand them over to Saudi officials.
Well, a State Department official says it really depends on how you define whether or not you're in custody or it's a safe haven. We'll see how this plays out. Very important.
COLLINS: Indeed.
All right, Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House this morning.
Thank you.
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Aired May 26, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The Israeli government's historic vote yesterday to accept in principle a Palestinian state is being hailed by the Bush administration as an important step forward.
Does this pave the way for a three way summit with President Bush and the prime ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority?
Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is live now at the White House with more on that -- good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
The answer to that question is yes, but it's a cautious yes we heard from White House officials yesterday, who said that, yes, the president certainly hoping that he's going to participate in that three way summit with the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, as well as the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, perhaps in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, that there is an advance team that is on its way to set up for that possible summit, maybe even happening in Jordan or Geneva, Switzerland.
But it is really far from a done deal. There are a number of things U.S. officials are looking at in the next couple of weeks before this actually happens. First of all, if there's a period of calm where there are no terrorist attacks or bombings. Also, some U.S. officials are looking for really a good faith effort from the Palestinians and the Israelis to show that they're really serious in this road map. They want the Israelis to lift those economic sanctions against the Palestinians. They want those Palestinians to show that they're really cracking down on those terrorists, on those extremists.
So, we will see how this whole thing plays out. It is not yet a done deal, but the administration certainly hoping they can build on this momentum to make this move forward -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Suzanne, let's talk also now, if we could, about Iran. The Bush administration taking such a hard line approach with Iran and a possibly speaking about action towards destabilizing that country. What are you hearing this morning on that?
MALVEAUX: Well, it's a very good issue -- I mean it's a very good question and it's a very important issue. Essentially, as you know, U.S. officials are frustrated. They believe that Iran has senior al Qaeda and that they also support terrorists like Hezbollah. We have seen a series of steps that the State Department has taken. They've cut off discussions. They canceled a meeting with Iranian officials last week. Now what we are seeing is the possibility of showing support to destabilize that Islamic regime.
Now, a State Department official saying that it does not mean military action. Perhaps it would mean supporting groups or organizations that would benefit from that destabilization of the Islamic regime.
What we're going to see is tomorrow there's going to be a meeting. Defense officials, state officials are going to try to figure out what to do next, how to handle this.
But it is important to note, Heidi, that over the weekend, Iranian officials, including their ambassador to the United Nations, said that yes, they are harboring al Qaeda, but they say they have them in custody, even, perhaps, those who are responsible for that Riyadh bombing, and perhaps that they would be willing to hand them over to Saudi officials.
Well, a State Department official says it really depends on how you define whether or not you're in custody or it's a safe haven. We'll see how this plays out. Very important.
COLLINS: Indeed.
All right, Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House this morning.
Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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