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Bush Wraps Up Meeting in Egypt
Aired June 03, 2003 - 13:35 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush has wrapped up a landmark meeting with Arab leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. His goal, to build support for his road map to Middle East peace.
CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna is covering the summit. He joins us live from the coastal resort location.
Mike, a success?
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Miles, certainly, the U.S. president's first personal foray into the very dangerous waters of Middle East peace-making appears to have met some success.
He had a number of aims, to get as wide an Arab backing as possible for the implementation of the road map. This is the plan aimed to end the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict. And result in the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He was also looking for a clear statement against terror. This he obtained in a statement read on behalf of all the Arab leaders by his host, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. So, the tranquil settings of the waters of the Red Sea were a suitable backdrop for the statement made by both leaders along with all the parties who took part in the talks.
This display of unity, of common purpose, a very important thing for President Bush to take with him, when he holds talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan Wednesday. But afterwards, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had some optimistic sounds to make about the process of the summit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: There is hopeful change in the region. Iraqi liberation, Palestinians building institutions that will be responsive to their people, rejecting terror, seeking support from their neighbors. And as you saw today, receiving support and expressions of further support.
Regional efforts to improve the economic situation, in the region, as the president noted recently in his proposal for a Middle East trade agreement. The U.S. will be a full partner in these efforts, helping in every way that we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HANNA: And emerging, clearly, in the past 24 hours what would appear to be a prime U.S. strategy, and that is, create sufficient momentum in the road map process, and then it will be easier to deal with -- or even smash any obstacles that arise.
Miles?
O'BRIEN: CNN's Mike Hanna in Sharm el-Sheikh, 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 3, 2003 - 13:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush has wrapped up a landmark meeting with Arab leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. His goal, to build support for his road map to Middle East peace.
CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna is covering the summit. He joins us live from the coastal resort location.
Mike, a success?
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Miles, certainly, the U.S. president's first personal foray into the very dangerous waters of Middle East peace-making appears to have met some success.
He had a number of aims, to get as wide an Arab backing as possible for the implementation of the road map. This is the plan aimed to end the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict. And result in the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He was also looking for a clear statement against terror. This he obtained in a statement read on behalf of all the Arab leaders by his host, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. So, the tranquil settings of the waters of the Red Sea were a suitable backdrop for the statement made by both leaders along with all the parties who took part in the talks.
This display of unity, of common purpose, a very important thing for President Bush to take with him, when he holds talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan Wednesday. But afterwards, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had some optimistic sounds to make about the process of the summit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: There is hopeful change in the region. Iraqi liberation, Palestinians building institutions that will be responsive to their people, rejecting terror, seeking support from their neighbors. And as you saw today, receiving support and expressions of further support.
Regional efforts to improve the economic situation, in the region, as the president noted recently in his proposal for a Middle East trade agreement. The U.S. will be a full partner in these efforts, helping in every way that we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HANNA: And emerging, clearly, in the past 24 hours what would appear to be a prime U.S. strategy, and that is, create sufficient momentum in the road map process, and then it will be easier to deal with -- or even smash any obstacles that arise.
Miles?
O'BRIEN: CNN's Mike Hanna in Sharm el-Sheikh, 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
