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CNN Live Sunday
Powell Expects Israelis, Palestinians to Move Forward on Road Map
Aired May 11, 2003 - 16:03 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: More bloodshed in the Middle East today even as Secretary of State Colin Powell says both sides are ready to get down to business. Israeli Defense Forces say Palestinians opened fire on a truck in the West Bank, killing an Israeli man. As CNN's Kelly Wallace reports, Powell is convinced enough common ground exists to move forward on the road map to peace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): From one handshake to another, the same message from the U.S. Secretary of State. Get to work on the Mideast road map.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Let's get started now. Let's not waste another day. Let's not waste another discussion session. Let's get on with the actions required.
WALLACE: Powell called on both sides to take immediate steps. The Palestinians, to disarm and dismantle the radical Palestinian groups responsible for suicide attacks against Israelis. The Israelis, to lift travel and work restrictions on the Palestinian people. But the secretary faces a real problem. Each side wants the other to move first. Ariel Sharon says he will not pull the forces out of Palestinian towns until the new Palestinian prime minister launches what he calls a genuine war on terror.
ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I think that the time of promises and declarations is behind us. What we expect are steps that should be taken, real steps.
WALLACE: But Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians have accepted and will immediately implement the road map as soon as Israel does the same.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER: We are also ready to make the statement that is needed on the same day and hour on the road map when Sharon will make his own statement.
WALLACE: The secretary's day of diplomacy included a notable omission, no session with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian's protested with a general strike in Ramallah. Powell, who announced the U.S. was providing $50 million to the new prime minister to rebuild roads and aid political reform, said his administration will not be dealing with Arafat and urged European diplomats to take the same approach. POWELL: We believe this is the time to invest in the new leadership.
WALLACE (on camera): Sources on both sides say the Palestinian prime minister has agreed in principle to meet with the Israeli prime minister before Ariel Sharon heads to Washington for talks with the U.S. president. That is one achievement Secretary Powell can point to, but with the two sides still so far apart about even what should happen next, it's not clear what other tangible results will come from this Powell mission.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Road Map>
Aired May 11, 2003 - 16:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More bloodshed in the Middle East today even as Secretary of State Colin Powell says both sides are ready to get down to business. Israeli Defense Forces say Palestinians opened fire on a truck in the West Bank, killing an Israeli man. As CNN's Kelly Wallace reports, Powell is convinced enough common ground exists to move forward on the road map to peace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): From one handshake to another, the same message from the U.S. Secretary of State. Get to work on the Mideast road map.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Let's get started now. Let's not waste another day. Let's not waste another discussion session. Let's get on with the actions required.
WALLACE: Powell called on both sides to take immediate steps. The Palestinians, to disarm and dismantle the radical Palestinian groups responsible for suicide attacks against Israelis. The Israelis, to lift travel and work restrictions on the Palestinian people. But the secretary faces a real problem. Each side wants the other to move first. Ariel Sharon says he will not pull the forces out of Palestinian towns until the new Palestinian prime minister launches what he calls a genuine war on terror.
ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I think that the time of promises and declarations is behind us. What we expect are steps that should be taken, real steps.
WALLACE: But Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians have accepted and will immediately implement the road map as soon as Israel does the same.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER: We are also ready to make the statement that is needed on the same day and hour on the road map when Sharon will make his own statement.
WALLACE: The secretary's day of diplomacy included a notable omission, no session with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian's protested with a general strike in Ramallah. Powell, who announced the U.S. was providing $50 million to the new prime minister to rebuild roads and aid political reform, said his administration will not be dealing with Arafat and urged European diplomats to take the same approach. POWELL: We believe this is the time to invest in the new leadership.
WALLACE (on camera): Sources on both sides say the Palestinian prime minister has agreed in principle to meet with the Israeli prime minister before Ariel Sharon heads to Washington for talks with the U.S. president. That is one achievement Secretary Powell can point to, but with the two sides still so far apart about even what should happen next, it's not clear what other tangible results will come from this Powell mission.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Road Map>
