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American Morning

In 90 Minutes, Long Awaited Speech on Middle East by Powell

Aired November 19, 2001 - 09:43   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: In about 90 minutes, a long-awaited and widely publicized speech on the Middle East by Secretary of State Colin Powell. State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has our preview.

Good morning, Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

It' the speech that almost wasn't. It's been hotly debated within the administration in recent months, even before September 11th, but all the more so ever since those attacks. The speech is expected to spell out the U.S. role, a stepped up U.S. role, in trying to jumpstart the long stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

State Department officials describe this speech as a comprehensive statement, something that will tie together, various loose ends. For instance, the other a day we heard President Bush, essentially endorse a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people.

Look for Secretary Powell also to spell out a more active U.S. role in trying to mediate between the two sides. To that end, Secretary Powell will dispatch in coming days a retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni, the former head U.S. Central Command.

But while there will be new initiatives, Secretary Powell has been very careful and adamant to say that this speech is not going to be laying out a new Bush administration policy for the Middle East.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: A new plan coming in from flank isn't what's going to do it. It's both sides working together, finding ways to talk to each others, so that we can get a real cease- fire in place, and we can use that cease-fire to start rebuilding trusts, and confidence, get openings in the region so people can go back-and-forth and get to their jobs, and when you start to build that level of trust, then you are on your way to the negotiations called for in Mitchell Plan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: What State Department officials tell us, Paula, you will not hear in Secretary Powell's speech is what the U.S. vision for Jerusalem would be, that is whether or not as the Palestinians want it should be the capital of a Palestinian state. You won't hear as well whether or not the U.S. expects a freeze on all Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

What's unclear is just how much pressure the U.S. will be willing to put on the Israelis, to withdraw various security forces from Palestinian territories. However, having said that, Secretary Powell will essentially underscore the need for both sides, to do whatever they can to end the violence.

To that end, he will also call for Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, to make a 100 percent effort to end the violence -- Paula.

ZAHN: So, Andrea, without those kinds of specifics on those hot button issues that affect both Israelis and Palestinians, how will this speech play with the Palestinians and Israelis?

KOPPEL: Well, that really is the question. Both sides will be watching and listening very carefully to see if the U.S. is leaning to one side or the other. What's also going to be interesting to look for is the reaction within the Middle East, within the Arab world, which has been putting a lot of pressure on the Bush administration to increase its level of participation, of mediation, within the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

Today, in fact, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emeriates is expected to be here to repeat the message from the Arab world that it must see a more active U.S. role if they want to have continued support for the U.S. war on terrorism -- Paula.

ZAHN: Andrea Koppel, thanks. Good luck.

Later on today, CNN of course will be there when the secretary of state makes his comments. Again, Secretary Powell's international policy comments, are set for 11:00 am Eastern Time. That would be 8:00 am Pacific Time.

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