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American Morning

Prince Saud Al-Faisal Discusses Arab League Summit

Aired March 28, 2002 - 08:02   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: Up front this hour, the latest devastating suicide attack in Israel took place, of course, on the first day of the Arab League summit in Beirut. About an hour ago, Arab leaders approved a Saudi peace proposal put forth by Crown Prince Abdullah. That plan would offer Israel recognition and secure borders if Israel gives up the land it captured in the '67 War and meets some other conditions, as well.

Earlier this morning, CNN's Christiane Amanpour sat down with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and asked him if this is the first time the Arab nations as a bloc are offering to recognize Israel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER: I think this is one of the most important aspects of the proposal. For the first time there is a proposal that security for Israel will come from signing of peace treaty with all the Arab countries at the same time. All the neighborhood, if you will, will be at peace with Israel, will recognize their right to exist.

If this doesn't provide security for Israel, I assure you the muzzle of a gun is not going to provide that security.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What exactly are the specifics in the initiative? For instance, on the details of Jerusalem and refugees?

AL-FAISAL: We are going to go into details that are part of the negotiating process because we set principles and these principles are total peace for a total withdrawal. Total peace for Israel would be recognition and normal relations with the Arab countries, and a peace treaty with all of the Arab countries.

As, in return, Israel must withdraw from all the Arab territories because as the conference said yesterday, peace and the keeping of territory are incompatible. No peace can emerge from that.

AMANPOUR: What do you expect now from the United States, for instance?

AL-FAISAL: The United States has the most crucial to, the United States is the one that supports Israel militarily, economically and politically. It is the only country that can wield an influence on Israel. It has been shown that when the United States pushes Israel toward the compromising position, they will listen. Even public opinion is affected by what the United States is doing.

This is the time where sense must be talked into Mr. Sharon. The war and the conflict now is in his head. This has to be removed from his mind and only the United States can do that.

AMANPOUR: Mr. Foreign Minister, thank you very much for joining us.

AL-FAISAL: A pleasure to have you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: And Christiane will be joining us again in a couple of minutes live from Beirut, and we'll talk to her a little bit more about her interview with the Saudi foreign minister.

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