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Conflict in the Middle East: Arafat Wants to Restart Peace Process

Aired October 15, 2001 - 08:12   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now we travel to London where we're going to very quickly get in on some concluding remarks that Yasser Arafat is making having -- after having met with Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

YASSER ARAFAT, LEADER OF PALESTINE (through translator): In consistency with the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 425 and General Assembly Resolution 194, and all other relevant resolutions. It's high time to end the Israeli occupation.

It's high time to put an end to the Israeli occupation, to put an end to the conflict between the two sides, to establish a Palestinian independent state with East Jerusalem, which we call Holy Noble Jerusalem as its capital. A Palestinian state next to the state of Israel.

So our children and their children, our people and their people, and all the people of the Middle East region can live in peace, security and stability.

In this occasion, I'm not going to forget to mention my late partner in the making of the peace, the brave Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, elect Prime Minister of Israel, the man who I signed the first agreement with.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I understand (INAUDIBLE) the Palestinian authority.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Opinion in the Middle East appears to have been polarized by recent events and won't you have to wait for a calmer period before you can reinvigorate the peace process.

ARAFAT (through translator): On the contrary, I see it's time to reinvigorate (ph) the peace process. Yesterday my colleagues, he mentioned (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and Mr. Abu Ala, the speaker of Palestinian Parliament, met with Shimon Perez and his colleagues yesterday and there were three other meetings conducted last week with Shimon Perez and us. Before that, the president had met him in the Gaza International Airport.

And also there was a meeting between the two -- President Arafat and Mr. Perez. in the residence of President Mubarak of Egypt. And in that meeting (UNINTELLIGIBLE) both the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Mr. Ahmed Maher and special adviser to President Mubarak, Dr. Usama El-Baz participated with us in the meeting

I should also recall that I held a meeting with Mr. Perez also in Lisbon, Portugal, which also was attended by Mr. Guterres, the Prime Minister of Portugal and Foreign Minister of Norway at that time, Mr. Englund.

And before that, myself and my colleague (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we met in Athens. We are determined -- we are determined to continue driving the peace process and we need the help of the Prime Minister.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

ZAHN: Once again, that's Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat answering questions of reporters after having met with Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain, saying now is just as good as time as any to try to get Middle East peace tracks -- peace talks back on track.

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