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CNN Live Event/Special
Powell Comments On Arms Shipment Seized By Israel
Aired January 10, 2002 - 11:55 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we want (ph) to the Secretary of State Colin Powell, out of D.C.
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COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I had the opportunity to thank the secretary for the strong support we have received from Mexico in the campaign against terrorism. We also discussed migration issues and water issues and other issues of importance between our two countries.
Our relationship is stronger than ever. I think our two presidents have a very close relationship, especially as they talk to each other on a regular basis, dealing with areas having to do with regional issues in our own hemisphere, as well as international issues.
And so it's been a great pleasure to have Secretary Castaneda here and I will ask him to make a brief statement, and then we'll take one or two questions.
Mr. Secretary?
CASTANEDA: (Speaking in Spanish)
KAGAN: We are going to interrupt here. That is Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda. He is making some comments after meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell. We are going to go back in when the secretary of state takes some questions. We're expecting the secretary of state to get some questions on the situation with the arms -- the huge ship and the shipment of arms -- and in fact, those questions are beginning. Let's listen in to Secretary of State --
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QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, if I may? I apologize -- on another issue, this year, have you or has the U.S. government seen specific evidence that you can describe, at least in some way, from Israel that ties the Palestinian Authority to the smuggling? And what is, if any, Arafat's connection to this operation?
POWELL: The information we are receiving and developing on our own makes it clear that there are linkages to the Palestinian Authority. I have not seen any information that yet links it directly to Chairman Arafat.
I have been in touch with Chairman Arafat. I spoke to him yesterday. And our consul general is going to speak to Palestinian authorities today to make it clear to them that this is a very serious matter. They have to give it their immediate attention. They have to conduct whatever inquiries or investigations are necessary to get to the bottom of this matter.
We are deeply disturbed by the arrival of the ship in the region and the fact that it could have completed its mission and off-loaded weapons that would have been put to the worse kind of use against Israel and others in the region. I'm glad the Israelis intercepted it. And now, we have to find all those responsible and accountable for this incident.
QUESTION: (Speaking in Spanish)
Mr. Secretary, I wonder if you can give me your reaction to the situational peace talks in Columbia?
CASTANEDA: (Speaking in Spanish)
KAGAN: We have been listening in at the State Department. That was the Mexican foreign minister giving some comments there. He has just been meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell. We dipped in because we wanted to hear comments from the secretary of state about the situation with the shipment of arms that was discovered last week that Israel says was connected to the Palestinian Authority.
You heard very strong statement from the secretary of state there, saying that they believe that this was linked to the Palestinian Authority. Not sure yet, or not as much compelling evidence that you could draw this back to Yasser Arafat, and yet there have been some very strong conversations between the secretary of state and Mr. Arafat.
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