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CNN Live Saturday

Saudis Are Reportedly Considering Cheney's Land-for-Peace Proposal

Aired March 16, 2002 - 12:05   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In Saudi Arabia, Vice President Cheney has arrived there to meet with Crown Prince Abdullah. His land-for-peace proposal in the Middle East is reportedly under serious consideration. Earlier, the crown prince talked about the plan in a rare television interview. Videotape was not allowed, but still photos were.

CNN's Rula Amin reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The crown prince in Saudi Arabia doesn't often speak to journalists, but when he did this time, he was clear and straightforward his government opposes any U.S. attack against Iran or Iraq.

As for Iraq, the crown prince told CNN he doesn't believe the U.S. is capable of overcoming Saddam Hussein. Any attempt to do so would need ground troops, the crown prince predicted, and that, he said, could lead to a catastrophe. After 10 years of sanctions, such an attack, the crown prince said, would only further hurt the Iraqi people and generate more animosity and hatred toward the U.S.

The crown prince spoke to CNN one day before his meeting with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who is touring the Arab world trying to drum up support for the U.S. position toward Iraq and the broader war on terror. Crown Prince Abdullah was optimistic that Iraq would allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return to Baghdad, a key condition the U.S. has set before it seeks to remove those sanctions.

As for his Middle East peace initiative, the crown prince said he hopes his meeting with Cheney will help lead eventually to a full U.S. endorsement.

The initiative, what the crown prince called a message to Israelis, calls for all Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel if Israel pulls its troops back from all land it occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem. But he said, there will be no meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials at this point.

We asked the crown prince why is he bringing forth his initiative now? Crown Prince Abdullah said he is tired of seeing Palestinians, fellow Arabs, killed every day on television, quote -- "no one is doing anything about it." -- unquote, even, he said, other Arab countries. He told us he wanted to stop the bloodshed for both sides.

Rula Amin, CNN, Jeddah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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