*EPF506 06/07/2002
Excerpt: Bush Says "Progress Is Being Made" in Middle East
(Expects good discussions with Mubarak, Sharon) (440)

President Bush says he anticipates "good discussions" with the leaders of Egypt and Israel and plans to talk about how to move forward in the search for peace in the Middle East after the meetings.

"After my meetings with President Mubarak and Prime Minister Sharon, I'll talk to our country about how I think we should move forward," Bush said June 7 before meeting with Congressional leaders at the White House on homeland security.

Bush will host Egyptian President Mubarak June 7-8 at Camp David, Maryland (the presidential retreat) and meet with Israeli President Sharon at the White House Monday, June 10.

"Progress is being made," Bush said. "The Arab world now understands they need to be involved in pushing for peace, and fighting against the terrorist actions that make it very difficult to achieve a peace."

He noted, however, that Palestinian leader Arafat "needs to cut off the terrorist activities."

Following is an excerpt from the transcript of Bush's comments June 7:

(begin excerpt)

Remarks by the President on Homeland Security in Meeting with Congressional Leaders

Q: Thank you. If I could, looking ahead the next couple days, it's been a couple months now since you asked all the parties to step up in the Middle East, and there are still suicide bombings, still the incursions by the Israelis. Is there any hope for any progress in the next couple days with the President of Egypt and the Prime Minister of Israel?

THE PRESIDENT: We're going to have good discussions, and that's always important. George Tenet has just come back from the Middle East. Ambassador Burns is coming back from the Middle East. There's been consultation with all the parties. And after my meetings with President Mubarak and Prime Minister Sharon, I'll talk to our country about how I think we should move forward.

Progress is being made. The Arab world now understands they need to be involved in pushing for peace, and fighting against the terrorist actions that make it very difficult to achieve a peace.

I still am disappointed in Mr. Arafat's leadership. He needs to cut off the terrorist activities.

Q: So you're talking about a speech on the Middle East?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don't know if it'll be a speech. Maybe a discussion. Could be a paper. I haven't decided the forum.

Q: But you'll lay out a new vision?

THE PRESIDENT: No. I'm going to lay out -- listen, if you're interested to know what I think, go back to the April 4th speech.

(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