*EPF307 05/22/2002
Transcript: U.S. Working Intensively on Mideast Issues, Says Powell
(Meets with Solana at the State Department May 21) (1410)

The United States is intensively working on Palestinian humanitarian, economic and political issues, according to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Speaking with the European Union High Representative Javier Solana at the State Department in Washington May 21, Powell said CIA Director George Tenet would soon be leaving on his trip to the Middle East to discuss security issues with Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

Tenet's trip had been delayed, said Powell, due to "pressing demands here back at home."

"I also expect that in the next week or so you'll see us taking a more active role in exploring transformation issues with Palestinian leaders and other Arab leaders, and talking about what we can do to help the people in the occupied territories dealing with humanitarian issues, economic issues. And we are also in close contact with the Israeli Government and the Arab nations in the region, as well as Palestinian leaders, concerning a political way forward. All of these different pieces are being worked on intensively, " said Powell.

Following is a transcript of Secretary Powell and EU High Representative Solana May 21:

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
May 21, 2002

REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AND EUROPEAN UNION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE JAVIER SOLANA
AFTER THEIR MEETING

MAY 21, 2002

C STREET ENTRANCE
WASHINGTON, D.C.

1:35 p.m. EDT

SECRETARY POWELL: It has been my pleasure this afternoon to receive someone who has become a dear friend to me, High Representative of the European Union Javier Solana. And as always, we had a good chat about matters of interest to us both.

I expressed my appreciation to the High Representative again for the excellent job he has done in recent days to help resolve the situation at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and we just got word that the 13 Palestinians who were moved to Cyprus have now been permitted to move on to their next location. And I thanked Javier for what he did to make that happen.

It's a sign of closeness that exists between the United States and the European Union that a matter such as the Church of the Nativity, or discussing the situation between India and Pakistan, and especially the Middle East, we work closely together, we work in a spirit of cooperation, a spirit of mutual respect. And I am very appreciative of the efforts that the European Union has been making with us on the campaign against terrorism and all the other many areas in which we have a mutual interest.

So, Javier, it is once again a pleasure to welcome you, and I invite you to say a word or two.

HIGH REPRESENTATIVE SOLANA: Thank you very much, Colin. Very, very briefly to underline once again, but it shouldn't be underlined every day that we are cooperating, we are cooperating in a very constructive manner, not only on the Middle East and other issues of international agenda, and that we are having some successes.

We are going to continue working together, the European Union and the United States, in a constructive manner to make this world a better place. We are going to continue working in a very constructive and intense on the Middle East in particular. I think the work of the Quartet is going to continue being done. It will be fruitful and we will get a future for the region which is the one that we want, and I think is the one that the people of the region also want.

We have, as has the Secretary of State, we have mentioned the question of India and Pakistan, will show our concern, and we are going to keep on working.

And let me say that this week that President Bush is going to Europe is going to be again another historical week. The fact that the meeting between the United States and Russia and the following meeting of NATO with Russia is something that is very, very, very important. And for me, the start of these negotiations between Russia and NATO is a moment of great satisfaction. I think literally we can say that the page of history has been written just about every day.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, did you discuss the issue of cooperation between ESDP and NATO? And for Mr. Solana, can you report any progress with problem with ESDP and Greece, the difference Greece has with the Ankara agreement?

SECRETARY POWELL: We did discuss ESDP. I stay in close touch with Javier on how to find a solution so that the European Union and NATO can work together. And I will now invite Javier to say a few more words on that subject.

HIGH REPRESENTATIVE SOLANA: Whenever I come here, I try to report something positive, and today also I report something positive. Don't expect that everything is solved, but we are moving in the right direction and I hope we will come to an end soon.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I ask about your efforts to have a peace conference on the Middle East, and how important for this conference to deal with real issues, not just procedural matters?

And on the other issue, are you worried about political problems in Israel to sidetrack your efforts to restart the peace process?

SECRETARY POWELL: The work that we have been undertaking with the Madrid Quartet, as we call it, continues. We are interested in doing what we can to improve the security situation in the region. As you know, Director Tenet will be going over. We have had to delay his trip because of some pressing demands here back at home, but I expect him to be going over in the not-too-distant future to work on security issues.

I also expect that in the next week or so you'll see us taking a more active role in exploring transformation issues with Palestinian leaders and other Arab leaders, and talking about what we can do to help the people in the occupied territories dealing with humanitarian issues, economic issues. And we are also in close contact with the Israeli Government and the Arab nations in the region, as well as Palestinian leaders, concerning a political way forward.

All of these different pieces are being worked on intensively, and we hope to bring them all together at an appropriate time in the not-too-distant future. And as you know, we have talked about having a meeting at some point in the summer where these threads can be brought together as part of a continuing process of discussion and dialogue that began with President Bush's speech on the 4th of April.

With respect to internal politics within Israel, I'll leave that to Prime Minister Sharon and the various political leaders and authorities in Israel to work out, without benefit of my comment.

Thank you.

QUESTION: Can you discuss the situation in Balkans, please?

HIGH REPRESENTATIVE SOLANA: Yes, we have discussed the situation in the Balkans -- not for a long time because the situation is moving very, very fast and very well. I think that we have been seeing, Secretary Powell and myself, in different places just about all the leaders of the region in the last weeks, so we are following very close the situation and we can report that it's moving fairly well.

SECRETARY POWELL: I was able to note to the High Representative that this morning I signed the certification for resumption of aid to Belgrade, and I was pleased to do that and do it with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Serbia here.

One more. Terri.

QUESTION: In the Terrorism Report -- sorry, we didn't get to ask you any questions, but you criticized Israel for destroying some of the Palestinian Authority's infrastructure, saying that this contributes actually to a rise in terrorism now. Ambassador Taylor wasn't able to back up that remark but said he'd get more for us. Do you have something more to add to that now?

SECRETARY POWELL: No, I think the report speaks for itself. Obviously when there has been damage caused to institutions that were responsible for security, it may make the whole situation a little bit more unstable and introduce vulnerabilities. But I'll wait and see what additional information Ambassador Taylor is able to provide for you.

Thank you.

(end transcript)

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

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