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CNN Live Saturday
Bush Monitors Situation in Middle East From Kennebunkport
Aired June 14, 2003 - 12:03 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: President Bush is monitoring the situation in the Middle East. He's spending this Father's day weekend at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, and that's were find our Chris Burns.
And Chris, any reaction from the White House as to what they're going to do about all of this tension in the Middle East?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Hi, Fredricka. Yes, the president's spending a quiet weekend, but of course, his underlings are very, very busy. There is a troubleshooting team that is heading to the Middle East just today, Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf is going over there with more that a dozen diplomats trying to talk to both sides, also Secretary of State Colin Powell will be going to the region in a week, his spokesman talked earlier about the importance of restraint, but also of trying to isolate and undermine Hamas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: If we are going to get end with the violence, at some point, well, we have to see all the parties cutting off money, cutting off support, cutting off the ability to operate, cutting off the ability of violent groups to challenge the authority that needs to be vested in the Palestine authority and the new government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, telling reporters that it -- a little bit more couched words, not saying the "restraint" word as Secretary Powell said yesterday, but talking about the importance of Israel to defend itself and also, however, to keep in mind that they need to keep alive the vision, the vision of peace, the road map aimed at establishing a Palestine state by the year 2005.
President Bush, however, taking a relaxed time over the weekend, he was busy -- this morning we saw him batting tennis balls out to the dogs. He's been doing some golfing and fishing, he attends a wedding tonight -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Chris, is the White House saying anything about how helpful it might be that Egyptians are also trying to apply some pressure to the Palestinians in this conflict?
BURNS: Well, Fredricka, that's what's absolutely important, that the Egyptians were the ones who hosted that first summit among Arab leaders with the president when he went to the region about ten days ago, so obviously the Egyptians are very, very important on that angle. Also, actually, on the Syrian side, Secretary Powell spoke with the Farooq al Sharaa, the foreign minister of Syria, just yesterday, urging him to try to cut off any support to Hamas because it is seen that there is support coming, at least a base for Hamas in Syria, so that is very key, as well. The Bush administration looking to the Arab countries to try to help and cooperate in trying to defeat the militants -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Burns from Kennebunkport thanks very much.
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 14, 2003 - 12:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is monitoring the situation in the Middle East. He's spending this Father's day weekend at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, and that's were find our Chris Burns.
And Chris, any reaction from the White House as to what they're going to do about all of this tension in the Middle East?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Hi, Fredricka. Yes, the president's spending a quiet weekend, but of course, his underlings are very, very busy. There is a troubleshooting team that is heading to the Middle East just today, Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf is going over there with more that a dozen diplomats trying to talk to both sides, also Secretary of State Colin Powell will be going to the region in a week, his spokesman talked earlier about the importance of restraint, but also of trying to isolate and undermine Hamas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: If we are going to get end with the violence, at some point, well, we have to see all the parties cutting off money, cutting off support, cutting off the ability to operate, cutting off the ability of violent groups to challenge the authority that needs to be vested in the Palestine authority and the new government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, telling reporters that it -- a little bit more couched words, not saying the "restraint" word as Secretary Powell said yesterday, but talking about the importance of Israel to defend itself and also, however, to keep in mind that they need to keep alive the vision, the vision of peace, the road map aimed at establishing a Palestine state by the year 2005.
President Bush, however, taking a relaxed time over the weekend, he was busy -- this morning we saw him batting tennis balls out to the dogs. He's been doing some golfing and fishing, he attends a wedding tonight -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Chris, is the White House saying anything about how helpful it might be that Egyptians are also trying to apply some pressure to the Palestinians in this conflict?
BURNS: Well, Fredricka, that's what's absolutely important, that the Egyptians were the ones who hosted that first summit among Arab leaders with the president when he went to the region about ten days ago, so obviously the Egyptians are very, very important on that angle. Also, actually, on the Syrian side, Secretary Powell spoke with the Farooq al Sharaa, the foreign minister of Syria, just yesterday, urging him to try to cut off any support to Hamas because it is seen that there is support coming, at least a base for Hamas in Syria, so that is very key, as well. The Bush administration looking to the Arab countries to try to help and cooperate in trying to defeat the militants -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Burns from Kennebunkport thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
