President Bush Welcomes Prime Minister Abbas to White House
Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Abbas
The Rose Garden
12:05 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good day. I'm honored to welcome Prime Minister
Abbas to the White House. It is such an honor to have you here, sir.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: To break through old hatreds and barriers to
peace, the Middle East needs leaders of vision and courage and a
determination to serve the interest of their people. Mr. Abbas is the
first Palestinian Prime Minister, and he is proving to be such a
leader.
We had a good meeting today about the way forward on the road map
to Middle Eastern peace. Prime Minister Abbas and I share a common
goal: peace in the Holy Land between two free and secure states,
Palestine and Israel.
Reaching this goal will require all sides to meet their
responsibilities. We made a good progress last month at the Red Sea
Summit in Aqaba. The government of Israel recognized that Israel's own
interests would be served when the Palestinians govern themselves in
their own state, a peaceful, democratic state where the forces of
terror have been replaced by the rule of law.
Prime Minister Abbas committed to a complete end to violence and
terrorism, and he recognized that terror against Israelis, wherever
they might be, is a dangerous obstacle to the achievement of a
Palestinian state.
I committed to both sides that the United States will strive to see
that promises, and monitor the parties' progress on this difficult
journey.
To meet the goal we have set, we must improve the daily lives of
ordinary Palestinians. For just this purpose, I recently approved a
grant of $20 million directly to the Palestinian Authority. Today, I'm
also pleased to announce that the United States and Palestinian
Authority will establish a joint Palestine Economic Development Group.
This group of American and Palestinian officials will meet regularly
and be charged with finding practical ways to bring jobs and growth and
investment to the Palestinian economy.
In addition, I'm sending Treasury Secretary John Snow and Commerce
Secretary Don Evans to the region early this fall. I'll ask them to
report back to me on the steps we need to take to build a solid
economic foundation for a free and sovereign Palestinian state.
In our talks this morning, Prime Minister Abbas and I covered a
range of issues. We discussed the impact on the Palestinian people of
the limits on their freedom of movement and the need to reduce the
network of checkpoints and barriers. Prime Minister Abbas shared his
concerns about Israeli settlements, confiscation of land, and the
building of a security fence. He also expressed his strong desire to
see the release of many more Palestinian prisoners.
We will continue to address these issues. We will address them
carefully and seriously with Palestinian and Israeli officials. We
will work to seek solutions.
We've seen important progress towards peace over the last 13
months, and we see even more progress today, here in Washington and in
the region, as well. Today, the government of Israel announced that it
will be taking down more of the checkpoints that are making it
difficult for Palestinians to travel to their jobs and schools. In
addition, Israel will consider ways to reduce the impact of the
security fence on the lives of the Palestinian people.
And Israel has helped -- has also pledged to transfer to the
Palestinian Authority security responsibility for two additional cities
in the West Bank, and to make further progress in removing settlement
outposts. Like Prime Minister Abbas, Prime Minister Sharon is
demonstrating that he's a partner committed to reaching a peace
settlement.
I welcome these announcements from Israel. And I look forward to
seeing Prime Minister Sharon on his visit to Washington next week.
Together, these leaders can bring a bright future to both their
people.
This is the time of possibility in the Middle East. And the people
of the region are counting on the leaders to seize opportunities for
peace and progress. Too many years and lives have been squandered by
resentment and violence. The Palestinian people, like people
everywhere, deserve freedom. They deserve an honest government and
they deserve peace.
I thank Prime Minister Abbas for his hard work. I thank him for
his service to his people, and for carrying their cause here to
Washington, D.C.
Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: Thank you. Mr. President, allow me to start
by thanking you to your invitation and for the fruitful meeting we have
just had, and for the bilateral support we have received from you. We
are particularly grateful for the $20 million of direct assistance to
Palestinian Authority. And we hope that this assistance increases and
is, in turn, in legislation.
Allow me to also express my appreciation to you for your relentless
efforts in pursuit of peace, and your intensive engagement in resolving
the conflict between us and the Israelis.
Mr. President, we remain committed to the road map and we are
implementing our security and reform obligations. Security for all
Palestinians and Israelis is an essential element in progress, and we
will achieve security based on the rule of law. We have succeeded
significantly, where Israel, with its military might, has failed in
reducing violence, and we will continue.
Reform and institution-building are an internal Palestinian
priority. We do not merely seek a state, but we seek for a state that
is built on the solid foundations of the modern constitution,
democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and the market economy.
We continue to negotiate with Israel on the implementation of its
obligations. Some progress has been made, but movement needs to be
made in terms of freeing prisoners, lifting the siege on President
Arafat, Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas, and easing up
freedom of movement to Palestinians.
A transformation in the human conditions on the ground must occur.
As you have said many times, Mr. President, attacks on the dignity of
the Palestinians must end. Palestinians must be able to move, go to
their jobs and schools and conduct a normal life. Palestinians must
not be afraid for their lives, property, or livelihood. Some steps
have been taken by Israel so far, but these steps remain hesitant. The
new era of peace requires the courageous logic of peace, not the
suspicious logic of conflict.
The outcome most correspond with your vision, Mr. President,
achieving a peace that will end the occupation that started in 1967.
The establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, with
East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just, agreed solution of the
refugee question on the basis of the U.N. Resolution 194.
This vision cannot be realized if Israel continues to grab
Palestinian land. If the settlement activities in Palestinian land and
construction of the so-called separation wall on confiscated
Palestinian land continue, we might soon find ourselves at a situation
where the foundation of peace, a free Palestine state, living
side-by-side in peace and security in Israel is a factual
impossibility. Nothing less than a full settlement freeze will do
because nothing less than a full settlement freeze will work. For the
sake of peace, and for the sake of future Palestinian and Israeli
generations, all settlement activities must be stopped now, and the
wall must come down.
Mr. President, in conclusion, allow me to thank you again for all
your efforts, to reiterate our commitment to peace and security for
all, and to express my hope for a solid, fruitful relation between our
governments and our peoples. Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good job, Mr. Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: Thank you very much.
Q Mr. President --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Hold on for a second, please. We'll have two
questions a side, alternating, starting first with Barry of AP.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. On Liberia, if I may.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Liberia, yes.
Q How many U.S. troops will be going in? What is their role?
How long might they stay?
PRESIDENT BUSH: As the statement says that we put out, that U.S.
troops will be there to help ECOWAS go in and serve as peacekeepers,
necessary to create the conditions so that humanitarian aid can go in
and help the people in Liberia. We're deeply concerned that the
condition of the Liberian people is getting worse and worse and worse.
Aid can't get to the people. We're worried about the outbreak of
disease. And so our commitment is to enable ECOWAS to go in. And the
Pentagon will make it clear over time what that means.
Secondly, it is very important for Charles Taylor to leave the
country. Third, we want to -- in order to expedite aid and help, in
order to make the conditions such that NGOs can do what they want to
do, which is to help people from suffering, that the cease-fire must be
in place.
And finally, we're working very closely with the United Nations.
They will be responsible for developing a political solution, and they
will be responsible for relieving the U.S. troops in short order. And
so we're working all these pieces right now. But today I did order for
our military in limited numbers to head in the -- to the area, to help
prepare ECOWAS's arrival to relieve human suffering.
Q Mr. President --
Q Prime Minister -- (question asked in Arabic) --
Mr. President, how you perceive the settlements as obstacle to your
vision, to implementation of your vision? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes --
Q The first question to the Prime Minister --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Okay, good, yes. This is the old two-question
trick. It's an international trick, I see. (Laughter.) Very good
job, yes. You learned from the guy to your left. Both of them from
your left are pros at that, too, I might add. (Laughter.)
Q (Question to the Prime Minister is translated.) Various
officials in the administration yesterday indicated that they are
having difficulties understanding the Palestinian situation when it
comes to the issue of prisoners. In your meeting today with the
President, did you discuss that, and did any progress happen on the
U.S. understanding?
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: We always raise this issue, that it is
basically an important and sensitive issue for us. This is the issue
of prisoners. We look at the prisoners as the true constituency for
peace. And we have raised this issue. We believe that they will
support the peace process. Today, we did discuss this issue, and we
see understanding coming from the administration about this
humanitarian and fair issue.
PRESIDENT BUSH: As to the settlements, I've constantly spoken out
for the need to end the settlements. I -- and we'll continue to work
with both sides on this very sensitive issue. Let me make something --
let me say this -- this is necessary. It is necessary for this good
man to continue to fight off the terrorist activity that creates the
conditions of insecurity for not only Israel, but for the peaceful
Palestinian people. In order for us to be able to make progress on a
lot of difficult issues, there has to be a firm and continued
commitment to fight terror.
One reason I'm willing to stand with the Prime Minister is because
I believe that he has that commitment. He understands what I
understand, that terrorists, every time, everyplace, will thwart the
desires of those who want peace and freedom. And the commitment to
fight terror and the results in fighting terror will make it a lot
easier to deal with difficult issues, including the settlement issue.
Steve. That would be Steve of Reuters.
Q Would you like to see Israel release the political prisoners,
and would you like to see them stop building this barrier wall?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think -- first of all, on the wall. Let me talk
about the wall. I think the wall is a problem, and I discussed this
with Ariel Sharon. It is very difficult to develop confidence between
the Palestinians and the Israel -- Israel -- with a wall snaking
through the West Bank. And I will continue to discuss this issue very
clearly with the Prime Minister. As I said in my statement today, he
has issued a statement saying he is willing to come and discuss that
with us. And I appreciate the willing to discuss it.
On the prisoners, I think it's very important to have a frank
discussion on the prisoners. We ought to look at the prisoner issue on
a case-by-case basis. Surely nobody wants to let a cold-blooded killer
out of prison that would help derail the process. I mean, after all,
it doesn't make any sense if you've got somebody who is bent upon
destroying lives and killing people in prison to -- if you were to let
him out, it would make it harder to achieve the peace we all want. And
so I think it's very important to analyze the prisoner situation on a
case-by-case basis.
I fully understand the Prime Minister's desire. I fully understand
his request. And I have -- and, therefore, we'll talk to -- continue
to talk to both sides on this issue. But I would never ask anybody in
any society to let a prisoner out who would then commit terrorist
actions. And I think that's logical and clear.
And so -- but these are all difficult issues. By the way, we're
discussing them now in a frank way, which is progress unto itself.
These are issues where there had been no discussion before. And now
we're putting them on the table, and we're making progress. And as
people get more confidence -- listen, I'm gaining confidence in the
Palestinian Prime Minister and in his great cabinet.
I had the Finance Minister in to discuss issues with me. He told
me he would put the budget of the Palestinian Authority on the web
page. And he did, which means he's a man of his word. The Security
Chief, Dahlan, and I have had some discussions. He's a good, solid
leader. And so I gain confidence in them, because they're people who
do what they say. And the more confidence we gain, the more easy it's
going to be to tackle these very difficult issues.
Final question from the Palestinian.
Q Mr. President, Mr. President --
Q (Question asked in Arabic.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Wait, wait, wait. It's best if we only have one
question at a time.
Q Mr. President, do you think that --
Q (Question asked in Arabic.)
Q Do you think that --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Ladies first.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: Ladies first, okay. (Laughter.)
Q When you speak to Palestinians, they're saying that the
biggest problems they have now are the 160 Israel checkpoints that are
suffocating the Palestinian community. Did you get any guarantees from
Mr. President that he will pressure Israel in removing these
checkpoints?
And, Mr. President, you said the settlements are an obstacle for
peace. Will you pressure Israel to stop the settlement activity? When
and how?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, let me start, and then you can end.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: Please.
PRESIDENT BUSH: We'll let my guest end. I just told you that we
brought this issue up. I've constantly spoken out about the end of
settlements. I have done so consistently. It's very important for us
to continue to earn the confidence of each other. And I'm going to
tell you point-blank that we must make sure that any terrorist activity
is rooted out, in order for us to be able to deal with these big
issues.
Nobody is going to accept a situation in which they become less
secure, whether it be the Palestinian people or the Israeli people.
Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to
peace. And the reason I'm confident that we can achieve substantial
progress and achieve the vision of two states living by side-by-side in
peace is because I believe that the Prime Minister and his team is
interested in routing out terror.
And so, to answer your question, the more progress there's made on
terror, the more progress there will be made on difficult issues.
PRIME MINISTER ABBAS: The issue of the checkpoints between various
Palestinian towns and villages was one of the issues that basically was
discussed with the President. As he mentioned, we discussed a wide
variety of issues. We discussed issues of settlements, the issue of
the wall, the issue of prisoners, and others, including the
checkpoints. We feel that the President is paying attention to all
these issues, and we believe that he will raise those issues with the
upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sharon.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all very much.
Q We need three questions -- we're making a news conference.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you very much.
That's Bill Plante of CBS. An old veteran, constantly willing to
express his opinion.