President Bush March 14 outlined his vision for peace in the Middle East, and said that as soon as a Palestinian Prime Minister "with real authority" is confirmed, the "road map" for peace will be presented to the Palestinians and Israelis.
"This moment" offers a hopeful opportunity for progress towards peace, Bush said, since Israel has a new government following recent elections, and the Palestinian Authority has created the new position of prime minister.
"This road map will set forth a sequence of steps toward the goals I set out on June 24th, 2002, goals shared by all the parties," the president said.
"Once this road map is delivered, we will expect and welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document that will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the road map with one another. The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions and to take concrete actions to achieve peace," said Bush.
The president, accompanied by Secretary of State Colin Powell, addressed reporters from a podium in the White House Rose Garden, but took no questions.
The plan is a result of the cooperative efforts of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, a partnership which has been called "the Quartet." Bush said the plan was developed over the last several months.
Following is the White House transcript of President Bush's remarks:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 14, 2003
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE MIDDLE EAST
The Rose Garden
10:00 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. We have reached a hopeful moment for progress toward the vision of Middle Eastern peace that I outlined last June. I spoke of a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, will live side by side in peace and security. I called upon all parties in the Middle East to abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibilities for peace. The Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful and democratic state that abandons forever the use of terror. The government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and security improves, must take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable and credible Palestinian state, and to work as quickly as possible toward a final status agreement. As progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories must end. And the Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly that they will live in peace with Israel.
This moment offers a new opportunity to meet these objectives. After its recent elections, the nation of Israel has a new government. And the Palestinian Authority has created the new position of Prime Minister. Israeli and Palestinian leaders and other governments in the region now have a chance to move forward with determination and with good faith.
To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian Prime Minister must hold a position of real authority. We expect that such a Palestinian Prime Minister will be confirmed soon. Immediately upon confirmation, the road map for peace will be given to the Palestinians and the Israelis. This road map will set forth a sequence of steps toward the goals I set out on June 24th, 2002, goals shared by all the parties. The United States has developed this plan over the last several months in close cooperation with Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. Once this road map is delivered, we will expect and welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document that will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the road map with one another. The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions and to take concrete actions to achieve peace.
America is committed, and I am personally committed, to implementing our road map toward peace. Our efforts are guided by clear principles: We believe that all people in the Middle East -- Arab and Israeli alike -- deserve to live in dignity, under free and honest governments. We believe that people who live in freedom are more likely to reject bitterness, blind hatred and terror; and are far more likely to turn their energy toward reconciliation, reform and development.
There can be no peace for either side in the Middle East unless there is freedom for both. Reaching that destination will not be easy, but we can see the way forward. Now the parties must take that way, step by step, and America will be the active partner of every party that seeks true peace.
Thank you very much.
END 10:06 A.M. EST
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)