12 January 2002

Burns Television Interview in Bahrain

In a television interview during his visit to Bahrain on January 12, Assistant Secretary William Burns expressed America's deep appreciation for the country's support following the September 11 terrorist attacks. He said that the U.S.-Bahrain security relationship is strong and offered support for Bahrain's program of political and economic change to better serve its people.

Regarding the Palestinian-Israeli situation, Burns said that in recent speeches by President Bush and Secretary Powell, the United States has laid out "what we believe is a fair vision through which two states, Israel and Palestine, can exist side by side. That's the best way to ensure security and prosperity for both peoples."

In the U.S. view, Burns stated, both sides have important obligations to meet. "We have emphasized repeatedly the obligation of the Palestinian Authority to make a maximum effort to ensure security and to end violence," he said. "But we have also emphasized the obligation of the Israeli government to take steps to ease the sufferings of Palestinians living under occupation and ease closures and other measures that make conditions more difficult."

Following is a transcript of the television interview by Assistant Secretary Burns in Bahrain on January 12:

Question: First of all Mr. Burns, welcome to Bahrain, and I understand you'd like to say something as we begin.

Assistant Secretary Burns: Good evening, and thank you very much for making the time to see me. I would just like to say that I am delighted to be back in Bahrain. This visit gives me another opportunity to express on behalf of President Bush and the American government our deep appreciation for the solidarity which His Highness the Amir and the people of Bahrain have demonstrated toward the people of the United States since the terrorist attacks of the 11th of September.

This is also an opportunity to stress the importance that we attach to our partnership with Bahrain, which continues to grow. A recent example of that is the achievement of Major Non-NATO Ally status for Bahrain, which is a rare occurrence amongst our friendships in the world. It's a mark not just of 50 years of a strong security relationship between our two countries, but also of the respect and the support that we want to demonstrate for His Highness the Amir's programs of political and economic change to better serve the people of Bahrain. So it is a very good opportunity for me to come and to listen to the concerns of the Bahraini leadership, and also to have an opportunity to talk about some very important issues whether in Afghanistan or between Palestinians and Israelis and a range of other regional issues.

Question: Mr. Burns, the first question, about the war on terrorism which your country has launched starting in Afghanistan. I'd like to ask your opinion about the Israeli efforts against the Palestinians, especially the bombarding of the airport in Gaza last night, and the demolishing of homes. Don't you see that as terrorism itself, or do you see it as some different form of act?

Assistant Secretary Burns: With regard to the situation between Palestinians and Israelis, what I would say first is that the United States recognizes that we have a very important responsibility in trying to work to encourage peace between Palestinians and Israelis. President Bush in New York and Secretary Powell in a speech in Kentucky in recent months have both laid out what we believe is a fair vision through which two states, Israel and Palestine, can exist side by side. That's the best way to ensure security and prosperity for both peoples. And that is a difficult challenge, we understand that as well, especially after the violence of the last sixteen months. What's important to do is first to create a security situation and a ceasefire which enables us to move quickly toward a political process and ultimately to make a reality of the vision that the President and Secretary Powell have described.

I think the answer to your specific question is that both sides have obligations here. We have emphasized repeatedly the obligation of the Palestinian Authority to make a maximum effort to ensure security and to end violence. But we have also emphasized the obligation of the Israeli government to take steps to ease the sufferings of Palestinians living under occupation and ease closures and other measures that make conditions more difficult. And in that light we've said consistently that the demolition of homes, for example, is not helpful to the process of trying to get people to move back toward a political process, or trying to get people to move toward reconciliation. Both sides have obligations and we are determined to do our part to try and create a situation in which a serious political process can be renewed.

Question: Do you think that your government supports the Israeli opinion that negotiations can only start when calm persists in the area for a few weeks, which the Israeli Prime Minister says. Do you think this is necessary?

Assistant Secretary Burns: What we are interested in -- I can only speak for the United States in this -- what we're determined to do is to try and help find a practical formula for implementing some of the proposals which have already been developed. There are proposals, some worked out by former Senator Mitchell and the international committee that he formed last year in order to develop a way to get from the current very difficult situation back toward a political process. George Tenet has also developed some ideas for making a ceasefire a reality and then implementing the rest of the Mitchell report. And so what we're determined to do is to find a quick practical way of implementing those proposals so that we can resume a real negotiating process, and I think it is in the interests of everyone to try and make a maximum effort toward that end so that we don't allow ourselves a situation where any one extremist can threaten progress.

Question: The U.S. Middle East Envoy Anthony Zinni may return to the region soon, to try to bring Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table. Do you think his trip this time will be successful?

Assistant Secretary Burns: Well all I can say is that we are going to continue to make every possible effort to bring the two parties together. As I said, the immediate challenge is to restore the security situation and bring about a ceasefire, not as an end in itself, but as a way to get back to a political process. That does require the Palestinian Authority to take serious measures against violence and it does require obligations of the Israeli side as well. And so we remain quite determined, as President Bush said the other day to stay engaged and to do what we can.

Question: What do you think about the developments that have taken place in Bahrain, especially since your last visit here?

Assistant Secretary Burns: We remain quite impressed with the direction that His Highness the Amir and the Bahraini leadership and more broadly the Bahraini people themselves are trying to take this society, dealing quite forthrightly and honestly with challenges which affect many people in the region, whether it's opening up its economy, or dealing with questions of political participation. And I think in the United States we have great admiration and respect for the really courageous steps that Bahrain is undertaking. We know that it's not an easy process, we know also that there's no one solution that fits every society around the world.

In the United States we have a system that we're proud of, but it's not a perfect system. And every society, such as Bahrain's, will have to adapt to the need for a broadened political participation, for example, in a way that is consistent with its own traditions and culture and history. And we do, as I said, greatly admire the efforts that are being made here.

Question: Finally, what do you think about the decision by His Highness the Amir, made last year, to amend the Constitution and carrying out a national referendum to allow women to vote for the first time?

Assistant Secretary Burns: I think those are very positive steps. I think they're admirable ones. I think they reflect what I said before about the direction that the leadership of Bahrain, especially His Highness the Amir, is trying to take the country, to create greater opportunities for all of the citizens of this country, male and female, young and old. I think those are the kind of steps that we in the United States are going to continue to do all that we can to encourage in the years ahead.

Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?

Assistant Secretary Burns: No, just to say thank you for your time, and it's a pleasure to be back in Bahrain. I look forward very much to my next visit. Thank you.

Question: Thank you.