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CNN Live At Daybreak
Bush Meets With Arab Leaders in Egypt
Aired June 03, 2003 - 06:02 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: It is a big day for President Bush and possibly the Middle East peace process. Today, the president meets with six Arab leaders in Egypt, but as crucial as this meeting is, it's simply laying the groundwork for the next step, which occurs tomorrow.
We take you to Sharm el-Sheik and Mike Hanna, who is watching President Bush try to build that road to peace.
Good morning.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello there, Carol.
Well, the critical meeting with Arab leaders is now under way. George W. Bush on his first visit as U.S. president to the region began his day in a bilateral meeting with his host, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. And no sound from this meeting as there were restrictions on the use of audio while the two leaders were conducting their conversations.
They will then join a number of other leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, as well as the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, for an intense discussion about the implementation of the U.S.-backed road map, a document aimed at resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and bringing about an independent Palestinian state.
President Bush looking for full Arab support for the implementation of this road map process; Arab leaders having their own expectations of the U.S. president.
This is what the Palestinians in particular are hoping for:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NABIL SHA'ATH, PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We need first of all to see President Bush continue what looks like really a real involvement, an engagement, in the Arab-Israeli question, and that involvement is clear with this conference and with the conference in Aqaba. We would like him to continue that role as supporter of this peace process, to push to get it implemented on the ground. We want the Arabs to help do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNA: We are expecting statements from the leaders later on in the course of the day. This, a preliminary summit, in effect, to an even more important meeting due to take place between the U.S. president, the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. This taking place across the Red Sea in the Jordanian town of Aqaba tomorrow -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Mike Hanna live from Sharm el-Sheik this morning.
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 June 3, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is a big day for President Bush and possibly the Middle East peace process. Today, the president meets with six Arab leaders in Egypt, but as crucial as this meeting is, it's simply laying the groundwork for the next step, which occurs tomorrow.
We take you to Sharm el-Sheik and Mike Hanna, who is watching President Bush try to build that road to peace.
Good morning.
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello there, Carol.
Well, the critical meeting with Arab leaders is now under way. George W. Bush on his first visit as U.S. president to the region began his day in a bilateral meeting with his host, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. And no sound from this meeting as there were restrictions on the use of audio while the two leaders were conducting their conversations.
They will then join a number of other leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, as well as the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, for an intense discussion about the implementation of the U.S.-backed road map, a document aimed at resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and bringing about an independent Palestinian state.
President Bush looking for full Arab support for the implementation of this road map process; Arab leaders having their own expectations of the U.S. president.
This is what the Palestinians in particular are hoping for:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NABIL SHA'ATH, PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We need first of all to see President Bush continue what looks like really a real involvement, an engagement, in the Arab-Israeli question, and that involvement is clear with this conference and with the conference in Aqaba. We would like him to continue that role as supporter of this peace process, to push to get it implemented on the ground. We want the Arabs to help do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNA: We are expecting statements from the leaders later on in the course of the day. This, a preliminary summit, in effect, to an even more important meeting due to take place between the U.S. president, the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. This taking place across the Red Sea in the Jordanian town of Aqaba tomorrow -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Mike Hanna live from Sharm el-Sheik this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
