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CNN Sunday Morning
Bush, Blair Wrap Up Meetings in Texas
Aired April 07, 2002 - 10:04 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well efforts to bring peace to the Middle East were a priority topic as President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair wind up a week end of discussions. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is live now at the president's ranch in Texas. She's been hanging out with both of them.
Hi Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well not exactly hanging out with them. A little bit from a few miles away, but that's okay, right? Well they are, Kyra, President Bush and the British prime minister definitely wrapping up their meetings, expected to have breakfast this morning before the Blairs take off.
And while that is going on, the president's advisers have been out doing interviews on the Sunday talk shows and of course first and foremost they have been talking about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon saying that he will wrap up his military offensive as quickly as possible, but as we know, President Bush publicly and privately has been calling on the Israelis to pull their forces out of those Palestinian areas -- quote -- "without delay," which U.S. officials say is now.
So Secretary Powell was telling an interview program this morning that he spoke with the prime minister this morning following up President Bush's telephone call Saturday afternoon. Secretary Powell saying he believes the Israeli leader understands what Mr. Bush is asking and also that Mr. Bush is expecting some action soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE ... request Prime Minister Sharon yesterday in Crawford, Texas along with Prime Minister Tony Blair. I spoke with Prime Minister Sharon just this morning just before coming down here to the studio.
The president does expect something to happen soon with respect to bringing this operation to some culminating point where we can start to see a movement in the other direction. He has that expectation; Prime Minister Sharon understands it perfectly. Prime Minister Sharon says he's trying to expedite the operation to get it over as soon as possible, but there's no question in his mind about what the president's expectations are.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did Sharon give you any ...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: As to what will happen, what the consequences will be, if Israel does not respond and does not pull its force out of Palestinian areas, well Secretary Powell and also Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser refusing to speculate about that. dr. Rice, though, making very clear in an interview with CNN's "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer that the president is expecting action now.
She also said, though, that the president understands the Israelis won't be able to withdrawal draw all their forces overnight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NAT'L SECURITY ADVISER: We're at a tipping point and it is time for the Israelis to try and reverse the circumstances so that we can get into a better set of circumstances and move forward for peace. I want to be very clear that while he does expect Israel to begin withdrawal without delay, he understands that it can't be helter-skelter and chaotic, but does expect this withdrawal to begin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And Kyra, one other thing coming out on this day, you know the White House has sort of left it very vague, whether Secretary Powell will meet with Yasser Arafat when he travels to the region. As we know, he gets under way, taking off later tonight. Well Secretary Powell says he may meet with Yasser Arafat -- quote -- "if circumstances permit." And when pressed by an interview, the secretary said it depends on security issues. As we know, Yasser Arafat remains holed up in his Ramallah headquarters.
He said it depends on access, but he said it depends on the agenda and other issues as well. So a possible meeting, possible, with Yasser Arafat. Secretary Powell leaving later tonight. He said his first stop will be Morocco to meet with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, then on to Egypt to meet with President Mubarak, then on to Spain to talk with European leaders. he's expected to be in Jerusalem later in the week and is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, our Kelly Wallace live in Crawford, Texas. thank you so much.
WALLACE: Sure.
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