Bush underlines need for establishing a Palestinian state
Palestine-USA, Politics, 10/13/2001

US President George Bush has renewed his support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

He said a Palestinian state, whose frontiers should be negotiated, must be established, adding such a state should recognise Israel's right to existence within its borders.

This statement is the strongest and most clear-cut stance by the US President on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

This language is the most decisive one compared to his statements a few days ago that the establishment of a Palestinian state was part of the US vision of a solution.

"President Bush said that his support for the Palestinian state is conditional on launching a peace process based on the Mitchell Committee plan, adding if the Mitchell plan started to be carried out, and we have become capable of discussing a political solution in the Middle East, I believe that there should be a Palestinian state whose borders are negotiated by both parties as long as the Palestinian state recognizes Israel's right to existence, deals with Israel properly and be peaceful within its frontiers," the US President said.

Meantime, Bush said if he comes to the conviction that a meeting with one party at this stage would be helpful to the peace process, he would do it, adding if it transpired that such a meeting would serve as an opportunity for taking photos, he would not embark on that.

President Bush said that he was prepared to meet Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat adding when he comes to the conviction that such a meeting would be helpful to pushing forward the peace process.

He expressed hope that Arafat would take the measures necessary for cutting down violence in the Middle East, and he called on the world to support Arafat's efforts for controlling extremism.

In an important message, President Bush said that he was keen to assure the US people and allies who are interested in US attitude towards Middle East, that he was devoting much time for this region.

He said that Secretary of State Colin Powell was keeping in touch with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat.

Meantime, President Bush said that he asserted to Sharon during their meeting in the US capital that the United States was his best friend.

France has welcomed the US President statements on the establishment of a Palestinian state. A Foreign Ministry spokesman described these statements as very important and positive.

He said that views of France and European Union, and the US were concurrent on the issue of Palestinian state.

President Bush has asserted in a telephone conversation with the King of Morocco that he supported the Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 for reaching a just and durable solution to Palestinian issue.

On his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that President Bush statement on the need for establishing a Palestinian state is a repetition of the well-known US stances.

A spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister said that United States can never impose a solution to the conflict.

Previous Stories:
  Reaction to President Bush's statements on the Palestinian state   (10/5/2001)
  Bush: Palestinian state always part of US vision   (10/3/2001)
  Washington against buffer zones in Palestinian territories   (9/11/2001)

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