Posted on 06/29/2002 1:42:42 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
W A S H I N G T O N, June 29 — Secretary of State Colin Powell says President Bush may have "jarred some nerves" with his strong stand against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but he believes international support for the new policy is solid.
In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Powell specifically referred to backing by European and Arab countries even though there is little indication among these countries that they fully embrace Bush's position.
"I think it is universally recognized," Powell said, alluding to Bush's contention that the leadership of Arafat and his colleagues has failed.
Bush's speech was a dominant theme of discussions at the Group of Eight summit of wealthy nations in Canada this week. No leader sided with Bush in his call for Arafat's ouster, but several agreed that peace was not possible without reforms.
In Sudan on Thursday, delegates from 57 Islamic countries issued a declaration that said Muslims stood by the "Palestinian people under the leadership of the gallant President Yasser Arafat."
Powell contended, however: "Most of the Arab nations have put out positive statements with respect to the vision that the president had in his speech. It may have jarred some nerves, it may have upset some people, but it is the reality."
Meeting with two AP reporters in his 7th floor conference room, Powell said Arafat earned the rebuke that Bush delivered in his speech.
"There's a price to be paid for inaction against terrorism, inaction against reform," he said.
Powell said he'd had "the most direct conversations" with Arafat to try to sway him "but we've not seen change or improvement."
In fact, Powell said, evidence that Arafat authorized payment to a group that carried out a suicide bombing against Israel had hardened the Bush administration's resolve to turn to other leaders.
Powell said the United States hopes to work with European and Arab countries to carry out a "transformation" of Palestinian society.
He said Assistant Secretary of State William Burns would meet in London next week with U.N., European Union and Russian officials "and explore with them how to move forward."
Diplomatic officials said Burns might then go on to the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Arab leaders.
Bush has promised to work toward the establishment of a Palestinian state within three years.
On other subjects, Powell said:
He was pleased that the Islamic government of Iran had agreed to accept a U.S. offer of humanitarian assistance in response to an earthquake last weekend.
"I'm not prepared to say it's the beginning of a new policy with Iran or a rapprochement. But I'm glad to see that they recognize that the aid we were offering came with no strings attached," Powell said.
The administration was proposing specific dates and locations to North Korea for a resumption of long-stalled security talks.
Other sources said the administration at a meeting on Thursday in New York proposed that the talks be resumed in mid-July in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and that Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly probably would lead the U.S. delegation.
It was a "major step forward" for Russia to agree to a $20 billion U.S.-European Union plan to dismantle dangerous weapons over 10 years. He said the program should diminish the possibility of leakage of such weaponry to pariah states.
It would not serve the interests of Cuban President Fidel Castro to expel U.S. diplomats. Castro has accused the American diplomatic mission in Havana of promoting anti-government conspiracies and violating Cuban sovereignty.
Message to 57 Islamic countries: "Either you're with US or against us." Be very careful! Your day is coming.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.