*EPF502 05/16/2003
Bush to Urge Israelis, Palestinians to Take Steps Toward Peace
(White House Report, May 16: Norway, Russia, Bush reelection, week ahead) (960)

President Bush looks forward to his May 20 meeting at the White House with Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters.

"There will be much to discuss. This is an important moment in the Middle East and it's a moment that the president is going to urge the prime minister, as well as the Palestinians and the Arab neighbors, to seize," Fleischer said, noting that President Bush would also be inviting Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, to Washington to meet with him.

Bush "is determined to work very closely with the Israelis as a friend, as an ally, and as a nation that cares deeply and is prepared to act to protect the security of Israel, to help Israel so Israel can help itself," Fleischer said.

"Similarly, with the Palestinians, it's important the Palestinians continue their efforts at reform so that Israel knows that it has faithful interlocutors with whom to discuss peace and security, and real changes on the ground that allow Israelis to go to bed at night knowing that they will be able to wake up in the morning safe and protected."

This is a moment in which President Bush wants to "urge each party to focus on what it is that they need to do to advance the cause of peace, and not to worry so much about what the other party may not be doing, but to focus on what they, individually, need to do to advance peace," Fleischer said.

"The way to achieve success in the Middle East, history has shown, is for the United States president to work diligently with the parties to continue to push them to help themselves. And that's what this president will do," Fleischer said.

He added that "the Arab neighbors, as well, have a role to play. And they have, indeed, been playing a productive role, particularly Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia."

BUSH MEETS WITH NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER

Bush welcomed Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik of Norway to the White House May 16. The two leaders met in the Oval Office and discussed reconstruction in Iraq and bringing peace to the Middle East, Fleischer said.

BUSH, PUTIN SAY THEY FACE COMMON THREAT FROM TERRORISM

Bush began his day May 16 with a phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Fleischer said. The presidents "underscored their commitment to building a strong U.S.-Russia partnership" and "stressed the importance of cooperating on post-conflict Iraq."

The two "spoke generally about the resolution" that is being discussed at the United Nations to end sanctions on Iraq, Fleischer said. That resolution, he said, will come up for a vote sometime soon, and "the United States continues to be optimistic about its ultimate outcome."

The U.N. Oil-for-Food program for Iraq expires June 3, so the United Nations "knows it is up against a June 3rd deadline to get their business done. And the faster it is done, the quicker, the better, the more relief for the Iraqi people," Fleischer said.

Bush and Putin "also expressed condolences over the terrorist attacks in Chechnya and Saudi Arabia and noted the United States and Russia face a common threat from terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Fleischer said. He added that Bush and Putin look forward to seeing one another in St. Petersburg at the end of the month.

BUSH FILES FOR RE-ELECTION

President Bush formally initiated his bid for re-election to a second term May 16 by filing necessary papers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The action allows Bush to begin fund-raising, hire a campaign staff, and open a campaign headquarters.

"Today ... the legal structure for a re-election campaign was put in place as a result of the filing of what's called FEC Form One, and FEC Form Two," Fleischer told reporters.

"This is the required legal step that must be taken for other events to follow on," Fleischer said. "In terms of any statement by the president, that's a follow-on event that would happen some time substantially down the road -- no time soon."

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, May 19: Monday morning Bush will participate in the state arrival ceremony for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines. Following the ceremony, the two leaders will have a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Later Monday morning the presidents will participate in a joint press availability. That evening the president and Mrs. Bush will host the president and Mr. Arroyo at the White House for a State Dinner.

Tuesday, May 20: Bush will make remarks at the White House "on healthy forests," Fleischer said. Later that day, the president will meet with President Rafael Hipolito Mejia Dominguez of the Dominican Republic in the Oval Office.

That afternoon Bush will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Oval Office.

Wednesday, May 21: Bush will travel to New London, Connecticut, where he will deliver the commencement address at the United States Coast Guard Academy. That evening he will make remarks at the 2003 Presidents Dinner in Washington.

Thursday, May 22: Thursday afternoon Bush will depart for his Texas ranch where he will remain until Sunday, May 25.

Friday, May 23: Bush will participate in a joint press availability with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

May 23-May 25: Bush will spend the weekend at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day): Bush will make remarks at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of Memorial Day.

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

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