*EPF511 05/23/2003
Text: Powell, Rice Acknowledge Israeli Concerns about Roadmap
(Say U.S. will address them "fully and seriously") (200)

Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice issued a statement on May 23 acknowledging that the Government of Israel has communicated to the United States its concerns about the roadmap for Middle East peace.

In the statement, Powell and Rice said the United States will address Israel's concerns about the roadmap "fully and seriously."

Following is the text of the statement by Powell and Rice:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)

May 23, 2003

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AND
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR CONDOLEEZZA RICE

The roadmap was presented to the Government of Israel with a request from the President that it respond with contributions to this document to advance true peace. The United States Government received a response from the Government of Israel, explaining its significant concerns about the roadmap.

The United States shares the view of the Government of Israel that these are real concerns, and will address them fully and seriously in the implementation of the roadmap to fulfill the President's vision of June 24, 2002.

(end text)

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

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