RAMALLAH, 6 May 2003 — Calling on Israelis and Palestinians to fulfill their obligations under the road map, United States Middle East envoy William Burns vowed yesterday the US would put its weight behind the momentum created by the international peace plan.
Burns met yesterday with new Palestinian Premier Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) in Ramallah, after holding talks with Israeli leaders Sunday.
“I was able to convey the very strong commitment and determination of President (George W.) Bush to seize the moment of opportunity before us, to move aggressively and energetically toward the two-state vision,” he told reporters after the meeting.
He added that the president saw the road map, as “the starting point to reach this vision” and Secretary of State Colin Powell would arrive soon in the region to promote the process and advance the “moment of opportunity” it created.
The road map, an initiative by the US, Russia, Europe and the United Nations, was presented to Israelis and Palestinians last Wednesday.
It calls on the sides to take a series of steps to end more than two years of violence and return to the negotiating table, leading to a Palestinian state with temporary borders by the end of the year and with permanent boundaries by 2005.
Referring to the steps the sides had to take, Burns said that, “on the Palestinian side that means that there will be absolutely no substitute, no substitute for decisive fight against terror and violence.”
“On the Israeli side,” he added, “that also means taking practical steps to ease the suffering of Palestinians living under occupation, to stop settlement activities and to renew a sense of dignity and hope.”
Speaking before Burns, Palestinian Communication Affairs Minister Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian leadership reiterated to the US its acceptance of the road map and was hoping to hear a positive official Israeli response.
“We believe that Palestinians and Israelis stand a chance to revive the peace process, to revive hope and to go in the direction of a meaningful peace process that would end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state next to the state of Israel,” he said.
He added that the Palestinians had stressed that international monitors were needed to oversee implementation of the plan. Abbas did not address the reporters.
Burns earlier met with Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) in Abu Dis, near Jerusalem.
He did not schedule parleys with Yasser Arafat, in keeping with the US policy of sidelining the Palestinian president.
Following talks with Israeli officials on Sunday, Burns said the most pressing concern was the current security situation in the region.
Implementation of the road map is expected to begin after both sides hold discussions with US and have submitted their official responses.
In the meantime, Israel continued what it calls its “war against Palestinian terrorism”, arresting eight suspected militants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip overnight.
Israeli soldiers also destroyed the house of an alleged militant near Hebron, on the southern West Bank. The man was suspected of involvement in a deadly attack on a Jewish settler last January.
Meanwhile, Colin Powell will leave Washington on Friday to visit Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Bulgaria and Germany, spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday.
Powell, who visited Syria and Lebanon last Friday and Saturday, is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas to promote the Middle East peace plan or road map.
It will be his most direct intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in more than a year and reflects US promises to work harder on ending the conflict now that American forces have overthrown Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Boucher said: “The secretary’s visit to the Middle East will be an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, confirmation of the new Palestinian leadership, our efforts to advance Arab-Israeli peace, the liberation of Iraq and progress toward a democratic representative government in Baghdad.”
“His meetings in Russia, Bulgaria and Germany will give the secretary the opportunity to discuss bilateral and trans-Atlantic relations with leaders in those countries as well as consult with them ... as UN Security Council members on the liberation and reconstruction of Iraq,” he added.
The trip will last through May 16 but other stops could be added later, he said.
Powell will travel tomorrow to New York to make a speech and receive an award, together with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Boucher said.
Powell is expected to have talks with Solana and possibly with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, officials said.
