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Bush: Hard Decisions Ahead in Middle East

Aired June 03, 2003 - 15:05   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: In Egypt today, President Bush called his meetings with Arab leaders a moment of promise for the cause of peace. He said there will be hard decisions ahead. But now is the time, he said, to work towards a Palestinian state at peace with its neighbors. CNN's John King is traveling with the president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The meeting convened in a spirit of cautious optimism and the president quickly addressed a top concern of the Arab leaders around the table.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Israel must deal with the settlements. Israel must make sure there is a continuous territory that the Palestinians can call home.

KING: It was the first time Mr. Bush met face to face with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. And one goal here at the edge of the Red Sea is to establish Mr. Abbas, not Yasser Arafat, as the point man in peace talks.

BUSH: We seek true peace, not just a pause between more wars and intifadas, but a permanent reconciliation among the peoples of the Middle East.

KING: The leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain were on hand to endorse the Bush road map and to promise to do more to choke off political and financial support to Palestinian militants and other terror groups.

HOSNI MUBARAK, EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We will continue to fight the scourge of terrorism against humanity and reject the culture of extremism and violence in any form or shape.

KING: Round two is a three-way summit on Wednesday with Mr. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Administration sources tell CNN Mr. Sharon is poised to make a public commitment to dismantle some settlements. The president was happy to take the wheel on an upbeat day here, but also says he will dedicate whatever time and energy it takes when things turn tough in the challenging days ahead.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: This president will not back away. This is a president who is known for his determination, who is known for keeping his word.

KING: Officials tell CNN a new U.S. special Mideast envoy will soon be dispatched: Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf. The White House also envisions a more active role for National Security Adviser Rice in the new push for peace. This is hardly the first summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, but the White House hopes this one will be different because Yasser Arafat is not at the table. Found only on the walls.

(on camera): But the president told Prime Minister Abbas he must rise to the challenge of the moment. And, as Mr. Bush put it bluntly, not allow a few killers, a few terrorists to derail this new hope and fragile new momentum for peace.

John King, CNN, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 - 15:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: In Egypt today, President Bush called his meetings with Arab leaders a moment of promise for the cause of peace. He said there will be hard decisions ahead. But now is the time, he said, to work towards a Palestinian state at peace with its neighbors. CNN's John King is traveling with the president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The meeting convened in a spirit of cautious optimism and the president quickly addressed a top concern of the Arab leaders around the table.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Israel must deal with the settlements. Israel must make sure there is a continuous territory that the Palestinians can call home.

KING: It was the first time Mr. Bush met face to face with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. And one goal here at the edge of the Red Sea is to establish Mr. Abbas, not Yasser Arafat, as the point man in peace talks.

BUSH: We seek true peace, not just a pause between more wars and intifadas, but a permanent reconciliation among the peoples of the Middle East.

KING: The leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain were on hand to endorse the Bush road map and to promise to do more to choke off political and financial support to Palestinian militants and other terror groups.

HOSNI MUBARAK, EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We will continue to fight the scourge of terrorism against humanity and reject the culture of extremism and violence in any form or shape.

KING: Round two is a three-way summit on Wednesday with Mr. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Administration sources tell CNN Mr. Sharon is poised to make a public commitment to dismantle some settlements. The president was happy to take the wheel on an upbeat day here, but also says he will dedicate whatever time and energy it takes when things turn tough in the challenging days ahead.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: This president will not back away. This is a president who is known for his determination, who is known for keeping his word.

KING: Officials tell CNN a new U.S. special Mideast envoy will soon be dispatched: Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf. The White House also envisions a more active role for National Security Adviser Rice in the new push for peace. This is hardly the first summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, but the White House hopes this one will be different because Yasser Arafat is not at the table. Found only on the walls.

(on camera): But the president told Prime Minister Abbas he must rise to the challenge of the moment. And, as Mr. Bush put it bluntly, not allow a few killers, a few terrorists to derail this new hope and fragile new momentum for peace.

John King, CNN, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com