Powell to head to the Middle East
Regional-USA, Politics, 6/21/2001

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said yesterday that US President spoke George Bush spoke "this morning with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and Egyptian President Mubarak to discuss the situation in the region. The President said he is looking forward to seeing Prime Minister Sharon next Tuesday in Washington. The President thanked President Mubarak for his indispensable role that the Egyptian President is playing in assisting our efforts to bring an end to the violence in the Middle East."

The President later was to speak with Chairman Arafat. And finally, the President has directed Secretary Colin Powell to travel to the region next week. And I want to share all that information with you, he added.

The White House spokesman said " His message to Chairman Arafat will be that it's important for all parties to adhere to the cease-fire, to embrace the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee so that peace can be achieved in the region and confidence-building measures can be taken."

Fleischer added " The President has talked with Chairman Arafat before. Secretary Powell has talked with him before. And so this is part of the President's ongoing effort to help the parties in the Middle East to achieve peace."

He added " The President thinks it's very important for all parties in the region to seize the opportunity that has been created as a result of the mission that Director Tenet took to the Middle East that has created this fragile cease-fire."

Fleischer added " The President has asked the Secretary to go to the Middle East to help secure efforts to preserve the cease-fire and to build upon it, to build to a greater peace in the Middle East and try to get all the parties to continue to do their part to secure the Mitchell Committee recommendations."

Fleischer added "the President thinks it's important for all parties in the region to seize the opportunity that's been created as a result of the Mitchell Committee report, of Director Tenet's successful visit to the Middle East, to further build upon the fragile cease-fire that is in place. And, therefore, the President has made the phone calls today. He has directed the Secretary to travel. And the President will continue to be as helpful as is possible, to play the role of facilitator. But it remains fundamentally important for all the parties in the Middle East to act to preserve the fragile cease-fire and to build upon it."

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