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American Morning

President Bush to Meet with South Africa's Mbeki, Israel's Sharon

Aired June 26, 2001 - 11:05   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Two world leaders call on the White House today, and both men bring with them prickly problems for President Bush. Senior White House correspondent John King is at the post this morning. Good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Kyra. The first of those leaders due here at the White House in just a few minutes, Thabo Mbeki, the president of South Africa. Now, he is being criticized by AIDS activists and some health organizations back home for being here in the United States to meet with President Bush, yet not taking the time to travel to New York for that United Nations Global Conference on Combating AIDS. Mr. Mbeki facing criticism at home.

That subject will also be discussed here in his meeting with President Bush at the Oval Office. White House officials not wanting to answer any direct questions whether the president thinks President Mbeki is being aggressive enough, active enough in the fight against AIDS in his country, but we do know the president will highlight the $200 million U.S. commitment, what the administration calls Seed money, to a new United Nations fund designed for education, treatment and prevention of AIDS around the world, with an emphasis on Africa.

That first meeting her this morning, then this afternoon another very difficult issue, the president will meet with Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel. Mr. Sharon's second visit to the White House. On the agenda there, of course, the very fragile cease-fire now in place in the Middle East. Some deadly violence despite the cease-fire agreement.

Mr. Bush, we're told, will implore the Israeli leader to give what the White House calls a, quote, "100 percent effort" to keep that cease-fire in place. This meeting, of course, comes on the eve of a trip by Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region. He hopes to take the diplomacy even one more step. The recent report from the Mitchell Commission, headed by the former Senator George Mitchell, calls for the cease-fire, which is in place now, again, very delicately, and then a cooling-off period with some confidence- building measures to follow.

One of those confidence-building measures would be a freeze on Israeli settlements. The White House saying, though, the focus right now is the cease-fire, then a cooling-off period, then the United States would be prepared to talk with Israel and the Palestinians about the even more difficult issues town the road -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And a struggle that we'll continue to follow and check in with you, John. Thanks so much, John King, live at the White House.

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