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American Morning
Bush, Arab Leaders Address Peace Plan
Aired June 03, 2003 - 07:03 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To President Bush now and his mission in the Middle East. The president seeking support from moderate Arab leaders not just for the peace road map, but also for the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.
Senior White House correspondent John King reporting now live in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
John -- good afternoon there.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Bill. Good morning back in the United States.
President Bush opening his two days of urgent Middle East diplomacy with some very tough words reflecting the urgency of this mission and the president's commitment, he says, to get involved personally to do whatever it takes to move the process forward.
Tomorrow, of course, a three-way summit with the prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, and the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. At the moment, though, Mr. Bush is meeting for the first time with Mr. Abbas and with a handful of other key Arab leaders, leaders the white house views as critical to selling any peace process and any peace agreements down the road.
Mr. Bush opening with tough words. He turned directly to Mr. Abbas, the new prime minister, and said, "You, sir, have got a responsibility you must assume." Mr. Bush said that he and the leaders, but principally Mr. Abbas, must not let a few people, a few killers, a few terrorists derail any hopes for peace.
Mr. Bush also in this meeting answering one of the key concerns of Arab leaders in his opening statement, Mr. Bush said -- quote -- "Israel must deal with the settlement issue." So, Mr. Bush making clear at this meeting that he is prepared to put pressure on the Israeli government. That has been something the Arab leaders have questioned.
CNN also was told that beyond these two days of diplomacy from the president, Mr. Bush is prepared to reflect his new personal commitment with the new Middle East team. The White House is debating a new Middle East envoy, and CNN has told the leading candidate is a veteran State Department hand, Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf. He currently is a top State Department official dealing with proliferation issues, impressed the president, we are told, during the Iraq debate up at the United Nations. An announcement of a new special envoy could come as early as tomorrow at the three-way summit in Jordan.
White House officials also say not only will Secretary of State Colin Powell be deeply involved, but do not be surprised at all if in the weeks and months ahead if there is a bump down the road in the negotiations that the president sends his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, to get involved as well; that, a reflection, the Bush administration says, of the president trying to prove his personal commitment to move this process forward -- Bill.
HEMMER: John, thanks -- John King in Sharm el-Sheikh.
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 - 07:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To President Bush now and his mission in the Middle East. The president seeking support from moderate Arab leaders not just for the peace road map, but also for the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.
Senior White House correspondent John King reporting now live in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
John -- good afternoon there.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Bill. Good morning back in the United States.
President Bush opening his two days of urgent Middle East diplomacy with some very tough words reflecting the urgency of this mission and the president's commitment, he says, to get involved personally to do whatever it takes to move the process forward.
Tomorrow, of course, a three-way summit with the prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, and the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. At the moment, though, Mr. Bush is meeting for the first time with Mr. Abbas and with a handful of other key Arab leaders, leaders the white house views as critical to selling any peace process and any peace agreements down the road.
Mr. Bush opening with tough words. He turned directly to Mr. Abbas, the new prime minister, and said, "You, sir, have got a responsibility you must assume." Mr. Bush said that he and the leaders, but principally Mr. Abbas, must not let a few people, a few killers, a few terrorists derail any hopes for peace.
Mr. Bush also in this meeting answering one of the key concerns of Arab leaders in his opening statement, Mr. Bush said -- quote -- "Israel must deal with the settlement issue." So, Mr. Bush making clear at this meeting that he is prepared to put pressure on the Israeli government. That has been something the Arab leaders have questioned.
CNN also was told that beyond these two days of diplomacy from the president, Mr. Bush is prepared to reflect his new personal commitment with the new Middle East team. The White House is debating a new Middle East envoy, and CNN has told the leading candidate is a veteran State Department hand, Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf. He currently is a top State Department official dealing with proliferation issues, impressed the president, we are told, during the Iraq debate up at the United Nations. An announcement of a new special envoy could come as early as tomorrow at the three-way summit in Jordan.
White House officials also say not only will Secretary of State Colin Powell be deeply involved, but do not be surprised at all if in the weeks and months ahead if there is a bump down the road in the negotiations that the president sends his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, to get involved as well; that, a reflection, the Bush administration says, of the president trying to prove his personal commitment to move this process forward -- Bill.
HEMMER: John, thanks -- John King in Sharm el-Sheikh.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
