*EPF205 12/18/2001
Excerpt: Powell Says Two State Vision for Mideast Still Stands
(Reaffirms policy speech November 19 in meeting with Polish FM) (1000)

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the U.S. continues to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state despite the surge in violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

"The speech that I gave in Louisville about a month ago, preceded by the president's statement at the United Nations, at the U.N. General Assembly, outlining our vision for a Palestinian state alongside of Israel, a state called Palestine -- that vision still stands," said Powell.

Speaking after his December 17 meeting in Washington with Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Powell said President Bush is still committed to the vision for Middle East peace outlined in both speeches. The U.S. plan, said Powell, is "the only one that will work."

"The vision that I had in the speech of a need for the violence to go down; for people to stop inciting others to violence; recognition that we have to have land for peace, under the provisions of the U.N. Resolution 242 and 338; and that settlement activity should also stop -- all of that, I think, remains as valid today as it was when I gave that speech," said Powell.

Powell declared that the violence must end, and U.S. statements critical of Israeli and Palestinian actions over the past several months remain valid.

"There will be a day after tomorrow, and actions taken by one side or the other have to be considered in light of we're still going to be here tomorrow and the day after. And I hope that that reality is reflected and factored into actions that both sides take," said Powell.

Powell welcomed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's December 16 call for a halt to attacks on Israelis, saying that if Arafat takes effective action to clamp down on terrorism, "then we will all be in a better position to get this process moving."

"I hope that all Palestinians will respond for his call to end the violence and to create conditions, once again, where we can start moving toward a cease-fire and moving into the Mitchell process," said Powell.

Following is an excerpt from Secretary Powell's remarks with Polish Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz following their meeting:

(begin excerpt)

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, digressing -- and apologies to the Minister -- the Middle East situation. Frankly, what I am really interested in is whether the Louisville speech stands. Has anything happened in the last few weeks to change your opinion, your description, of Israel as the occupier, et cetera? And, indeed, do you think it will stand? Arafat -- has he had a change of heart?
SECRETARY POWELL: I think the speech that I gave in Louisville about a month ago, preceded by the President's statement at the United Nations, at the UN General Assembly, outlining our vision for a Palestinian state alongside of Israel, a state called Palestine, that vision still stands. And the vision that I had in this speech of a need for the violence to go down, for people to stop inciting others to violence, recognition that we have to have land for peace under the provisions of UN Resolutions 242 and 338, and that settlement activity should also stop, all of that I think remains as valid today as it was when I gave that speech. And the speech contains principles that the United States has long held. President Bush is still committed to that speech.
Chairman Arafat gave a speech yesterday where he reminded his people that there can only be one leader at a time, and the Palestinian Authority was that organization, and he was that leader as the head of the Palestinian Authority. And I hope that all Palestinians will respond for his call to end the violence and to create conditions once again where we can start moving toward a cease-fire and moving into the Mitchell process.
So I think the vision that we put out several months ago, the plan that we are following is still a valid one. And, frankly, it is the only one that will work and it will work once the violence ends. Of that, I am sure.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the European Union, the United Nations, your Arab allies have welcomed the speech of President Arafat. Are you taking any measures to encourage Israel to reciprocate, to show some good will, maybe ease their attack on their security apparatus, to enable him to deal with the suspects?
SECRETARY POWELL: We also welcomed Chairman Arafat's speech. But we also made the point that action has now to be taken. We have to see action. And it has been clear from the beginning that we have had many words pass back and forth, and now we see -- have to see his action. And I think if Mr. Arafat takes the action outlined in his speech, implied by his speech, then we will all be in a better position to get this process moving. And I am quite confident that the Israeli side would respond in a way that would be positive.
But what is important now is action, not just words. And that is the message we communicated back to the Palestinians yesterday. While welcoming Chairman Arafat's speech, we have to see action.
QUESTION: Secretary Powell, if the speech from Louisville still stands, why has the State Department not criticized directly Israeli responses since the December 1st triple bombings in Jerusalem?
SECRETARY POWELL: We have, I believe, spoken on both sides of this issue. I will let the State Department -- the various statements over the last several months stand as issued. I think we have indicated that the violence has to end. We have also indicated that there will be a day after tomorrow, and actions taken by one side or the other have to be considered in light of we're still going to be here tomorrow and the day after. And I hope that reality is reflected and factored into actions that both sides take.

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents