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American Morning
Israeli Prime Minister, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud to Meet Today
Aired May 29, 2003 - 07:30 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet today in Jerusalem. They're discussing President Bush's road map peace plan. Mr. Bush will personally push the two to make diplomatic headway when he meets with them next week in Jordan.
Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House now with the very latest on this -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, the White House, of course, is going to be watching very closely what comes out of that meeting, if either side is going to give a little before this history Middle East peace summit that is going to be later in the week. Of course, the president has a very busy and ambitious schedule. He's going to be traveling to Poland, Russia and then to France. That's where he's going to be attending the G8 summit. The focus there, of course, international trade, mending fences, moving forward regarding Iraq.
But the top issue here, of course, is going to be Middle East peace. The president actually is going to leave that summit a day early and that is where he is going to go to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on Tuesday. He's going to be meeting with Arab leaders simply to underscore the importance of their role in facilitating the Israelis and Palestinians coming together and moving forward on this road map.
Wednesday, the president is on to Akaba, Jordan. That's where he's going to be meeting with King Abdullah and then separately with the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.
Now, U.S. officials tell us if all goes well, there will be a three way summit with the president and the two prime ministers. U.S. officials believe that now is the time, they have to seize the moment to move forward in the Middle East peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think that the president believes that the reason that this is the time to go is that the Arab leaders with whom he will meet are all telling him that this is an historic opportunity for peace. And that historic opportunity for peace is only going to be delivered if there is, on the part of all parties, a desire to take up their responsibilities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And, Heidi, after that, the president is on to Doha, Qatar. That's where he's going to be thanking U.S. troops for their service in Iraq. He's also going to get an update on that situation that's on the ground -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House this morning.
Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
to Meet Today>
Aired May 29, 2003 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet today in Jerusalem. They're discussing President Bush's road map peace plan. Mr. Bush will personally push the two to make diplomatic headway when he meets with them next week in Jordan.
Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House now with the very latest on this -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, the White House, of course, is going to be watching very closely what comes out of that meeting, if either side is going to give a little before this history Middle East peace summit that is going to be later in the week. Of course, the president has a very busy and ambitious schedule. He's going to be traveling to Poland, Russia and then to France. That's where he's going to be attending the G8 summit. The focus there, of course, international trade, mending fences, moving forward regarding Iraq.
But the top issue here, of course, is going to be Middle East peace. The president actually is going to leave that summit a day early and that is where he is going to go to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on Tuesday. He's going to be meeting with Arab leaders simply to underscore the importance of their role in facilitating the Israelis and Palestinians coming together and moving forward on this road map.
Wednesday, the president is on to Akaba, Jordan. That's where he's going to be meeting with King Abdullah and then separately with the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.
Now, U.S. officials tell us if all goes well, there will be a three way summit with the president and the two prime ministers. U.S. officials believe that now is the time, they have to seize the moment to move forward in the Middle East peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think that the president believes that the reason that this is the time to go is that the Arab leaders with whom he will meet are all telling him that this is an historic opportunity for peace. And that historic opportunity for peace is only going to be delivered if there is, on the part of all parties, a desire to take up their responsibilities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And, Heidi, after that, the president is on to Doha, Qatar. That's where he's going to be thanking U.S. troops for their service in Iraq. He's also going to get an update on that situation that's on the ground -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House this morning.
Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
to Meet Today>
