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CNN Sunday Morning
White House Skeptical of Cease-Fire Agreement
Aired June 29, 2003 - 11:03 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a movement on peace in the Middle East. An agreement by two militant groups on a cease- fire and troop pullbacks by Israel. CNN's Dana Bash joins us live from Crawford, Texas, for the president's take on the peace process.
Is the president at all encouraged by these at least two militant groups agreeing to a cease-fire, Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.
We don't have any specific reaction this morning to the actual announcement of the cease-fire, but the White House has been highly skeptical of any cease-fire agreement.
As a matter of fact, the president himself, when asked about it earlier in the week, said, frankly, he'll believe it when he sees it. He made clear that what is needed in that region and among Palestinian groups isn't a promise to stop the violence and to stop the terrorist attacks, but a dismantlement of those groups. He said that what is needed is to keep those groups like Hamas, he pointed out Hamas in particular, Hamas must be stopped from blowing up the process in the future. So a stopping of using their arms is not sufficient as far as the White House is concerned.
So -- and this, of course, Fredricka, comes as Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser, is in the region. Today, she met with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Yesterday, she met with senior Palestinian officials, including Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister. And this is all in an effort, first of all, for the White House to continue to prod, to cajole, to talk and listen to the leaders in the region to make sure this road map keeps moving, and to talk about what their needs are, and to give whatever assistance the U.S. can possibly give in terms of diplomatic assistance.
And in addition, it is a symbolic move, because the president did make a promise when he was in Aqaba on June 4th to keep engaged in the process, because it is a known fact, both here in the U.S. and around the world, that U.S. involvement is key to any Mideast peace process. So having Condoleezza Rice there, someone who is well known, who is very close to President Bush, is certainly a signal that the U.S. is trying to stay involved. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: And, Dana, apparently Condoleezza Rice has extended an invitation for the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to come to the U.S. Is a similar invitation being extended to the Israeli prime minister? And for, perhaps for a meeting to take place simultaneously in the U.S.?
BASH: Unclear how those meetings will take place. As you said, according to Palestinian sources, Mahmoud Abbas has been invited to the White House. And Ariel Sharon, of course, has met with President Bush a number of times, has been to the White House.
But it is certainly significant if Mahmoud Abbas is coming to the White House, because there has not been a Palestinian leader in the White House since President Bush has occupied it. He had refused to meet with Yasser Arafat. If Mahmoud Abbas does come, it is certainly another step in the White House's trying to prop up Abbas, trying to make sure that he has credibility, both among his people and on the world stage. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much. Dana Bash in Crawford, Texas.
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 29, 2003 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a movement on peace in the Middle East. An agreement by two militant groups on a cease- fire and troop pullbacks by Israel. CNN's Dana Bash joins us live from Crawford, Texas, for the president's take on the peace process.
Is the president at all encouraged by these at least two militant groups agreeing to a cease-fire, Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.
We don't have any specific reaction this morning to the actual announcement of the cease-fire, but the White House has been highly skeptical of any cease-fire agreement.
As a matter of fact, the president himself, when asked about it earlier in the week, said, frankly, he'll believe it when he sees it. He made clear that what is needed in that region and among Palestinian groups isn't a promise to stop the violence and to stop the terrorist attacks, but a dismantlement of those groups. He said that what is needed is to keep those groups like Hamas, he pointed out Hamas in particular, Hamas must be stopped from blowing up the process in the future. So a stopping of using their arms is not sufficient as far as the White House is concerned.
So -- and this, of course, Fredricka, comes as Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser, is in the region. Today, she met with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Yesterday, she met with senior Palestinian officials, including Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister. And this is all in an effort, first of all, for the White House to continue to prod, to cajole, to talk and listen to the leaders in the region to make sure this road map keeps moving, and to talk about what their needs are, and to give whatever assistance the U.S. can possibly give in terms of diplomatic assistance.
And in addition, it is a symbolic move, because the president did make a promise when he was in Aqaba on June 4th to keep engaged in the process, because it is a known fact, both here in the U.S. and around the world, that U.S. involvement is key to any Mideast peace process. So having Condoleezza Rice there, someone who is well known, who is very close to President Bush, is certainly a signal that the U.S. is trying to stay involved. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: And, Dana, apparently Condoleezza Rice has extended an invitation for the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to come to the U.S. Is a similar invitation being extended to the Israeli prime minister? And for, perhaps for a meeting to take place simultaneously in the U.S.?
BASH: Unclear how those meetings will take place. As you said, according to Palestinian sources, Mahmoud Abbas has been invited to the White House. And Ariel Sharon, of course, has met with President Bush a number of times, has been to the White House.
But it is certainly significant if Mahmoud Abbas is coming to the White House, because there has not been a Palestinian leader in the White House since President Bush has occupied it. He had refused to meet with Yasser Arafat. If Mahmoud Abbas does come, it is certainly another step in the White House's trying to prop up Abbas, trying to make sure that he has credibility, both among his people and on the world stage. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much. Dana Bash in Crawford, Texas.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
