H.E. Dr. Marwan Muasher
Minister of Foreign Affairs
U.S.
Secretary Colin L. Powell Holds News Conference with
Foreign Minister and Minister of Planning
May 13, 2003
Amman, Jordan
SPEAKERS:
Colin
L. Powell
U.S. Secretary of State
Dr.
Marwan Muasher
Jordanian Foreign Minister
Basem
Awadallah
Jordanian Minister of Planning
MR. AWADALLAH: If you think your mission to the Middle East was tough,
getting Protocol to agree to me to stand on this podium for two minutes this
morning to say few words was very, very tough indeed. Tough negotiations, which
lasted for many hours but I wanted to say few words on behalf of the government
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on behalf of my colleagues His Excellency
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Trade and Industry. If you
measure gratitude for the partnership that we have with the United States of
America, a partnership that really tries to sustain a model of reform, of
development, and of progress. The two agreements that we will sign this morning,
the first one is for assistance grant assistance that will be given to Jordan to
help mitigate the impact of the adverse region reality in the value of 700
million dollars. This is in addition to the regular assistance that we received
this year from the United States, the economic package of 250 million dollars,
which will be used to finance education programs, water programs, health
programs, and to help accelerate the social and economic class transformation of
Jordan.
Second agreement is the Bilateral Investment Treaty. This is an agreement that
was signed in 1997 and designed to enhance private investment in Jordan - US
private investments in Jordan. It is a very significant agreement because it was
a first in a series of agreements that we signed over the past two years, Open
Skies Agreement, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, and later the Free
Trade Area Agreement (FTA) which was signed in 2000 and ratified by Congress in
2001. Both agreements point to the direction that we have chosen, a partnership
to really sustain a model of development and liberalization, as I said.
In his commencement address to the University of South Carolina last Friday, the
president announced an initiative for the development of the Middle East.
Development that is underpinned by peace, security, and stability,
comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for all in this part of the world. This
is the kind of development that we seek in close and active partnership with
you, Mr. Secretary. It is a partnership that we hope will be discussed at the
upcoming World Economic Forum meeting on June 21 and we are delighted that you
and Trade Representative Zoellick will be joining us in order to discuss all
these important matters in the Middle East as we usher in a new crossroads in
the history of this region.
Again, let me thank you one more time for taking the time to sign this agreement
with us today. Let me also thank your very able Ambassador, Mr. Gnehm, and his
able team. Anne Aarnes and the very able team at USAID have done a very superb
job in trying to get this agreement as quickly as possible and really I would
like to express once again how proud we are of the special relations we have
with the United States of America.
Thank you, sir.
DR. MUASHER: Mr. Secretary, let me first begin by welcoming you once
again to Amman and expressing also our sympathies with the victims of the
terrorist act in Saudi Arabia and our condemnation of this act. This will only
strengthen our resolve to keep our efforts at finding a solution to all the
problems of this region.
We had extensive talks with the Secretary yesterday, both on Iraq and on the
Peace Process. And let me say that we believe, in Jordan, that we need to have a
smooth and quick transition to a credible Iraqi government and we talked about
ways and means of doing so in a way that would ensure that an Iraqi government
that is representative of all political factions in Iraq is formed at the
soonest possible time so that once again Iraq will be part of the international
community.
We talked at length about the Peace Process. We believe the time has come for
all parties to accept the road map. The Arab party has done that, the
Palestinians have done that. It is very important to move both on the security
aspect of the problem, and we have expressed our readiness to work with the
United States and with the Palestinians to do that in order to create the proper
conditions for forward movement on the Peace Process. At the same time, we also
believe that Israel has to accept the road map if we are to work within a clear
framework and if we are to implement the president's vision of a two- state
solution in three years.
Let me say that Jordan's position, in particular, in support of the road map
emanates from the road map adopting the Arab Initiative as one of the bases for
a solution and thereby defining the outlines of the end game, adopting a
three-year framework. This is the first international document that adopts a
specific timeframe for the end of the occupation and adopts a monitoring
mechanism to ensure that all the parties are meeting their commitments on time.
This is why Jordan has accepted the road map and this is why we believe these
elements should not be tampered with in the course of the implementation of this
road map. We stand ready to work with the United States in order to make this a
reality and I look forward to very close cooperation with the United States,
with the Palestinians, and with all parties in order to once and for all find a
permanent solution to this conflict. Thank you.
SEC. POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. I join you in
condemning the terrorist attacks that took place in Saudi Arabia overnight. I
will be going from here to Saudi Arabia where I will have a chance to express my
regrets and condolences directly to the leadership of Saudi Arabia. Once again
it reminds us that terrorism is a global phenomenon that we must all fight. I
would like to extend my best wishes to those who were injured for a speedy
recovery and to the families of those who were causalities to give them some
comfort in this time of concern.
The United States will not be deterred from pursuing the interests of peace
around the world in the face of this kind of terrorism. And I once again condemn
them, cowardly individuals who sneak during the night and kill innocent
civilians. We have been concerned about the situation for some time. The United
States had issued advisory warnings to citizens traveling the region and we have
worked with Saudi authorities in recent days to assist them in chasing down
terrorist organizations. As you know, the Saudis have been working very hard on
this matter and last week arrested some and found caches of explosives which
suggested that terrorist organizations were hard at work trying to commit such a
crime. I look to consulting with my Saudi colleagues later this afternoon on how
we can redouble our efforts to go after terrorism in any form that it manifests
itself in the world.
At this time, however, I am very pleased to be here with my colleagues to sign
these two important agreements that underscore the strength and breadth of the
relationship between our two countries. The Bilateral Investment Treaty and
Supplemental Assistance package we signed today are testament to Jordan's real
achievements in economic reform and to the confidence we have in Jordan's
future.
This is a moment of great change and opportunity for the region. As was noted a
moment ago, President Bush has laid out in his speech at the University of South
Carolina last week an ambitious agenda to create new partnerships with the
peoples and governments of the Middle East for a more prosperous, peaceful and
democratic future. Economic reform is a critical component of this agenda and an
area where in many respects Jordan has been a model. I look forward to returning
to Jordan in June to attend the meeting of the World Economic Forum. It is
fitting that Jordan, a true regional leader in economic reform, will host the
World Economic Forum. With Parliamentary elections scheduled for next month as
well, Jordan will demonstrate how political and economic development can
re-enforce one another.
I had the opportunity during my brief visit here to exchange ideas and views
with King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Muasher on two extremely important
challenges. First, a prosperous democratic Iraq, governed by Iraqis. An Iraq
that we are working hard now to stabilize and to rebuild the infrastructure in
that country, infrastructure destroyed after so many years of Saddam Hussein's
regime. We are working hard to help the Iraqis put in place a political system
that will result in democracy, and a country that will be living in peace with
its neighbors.
Second, the United States and Jordan will work to restore hope to Palestinians
and Israelis in a peaceful, secure future. In each of these efforts, Jordan's
role will be crucial. I emphasized President Bush's strong commitment to his
vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and in
security. I reinforced to His Majesty and to my colleague Foreign Minister
Muasher our commitment to the road map aimed at implementing that vision. And I
might, at this moment, congratulate my friend and thank my friend for the hard
work that he put in developing the road map over the past year.
The message I brought is that to move forward, Palestinians will have to move
quickly and decisively against those who cling to the path of violence and
terror to achieve their ends. And at the same, the state of Israel must do its
part to immediately improve the daily lives of Palestinians, to restore hope and
to show respect for the dignity of the Palestinian people. This is the only way
we will create an environment for peace. Both sides moving together to take
those steps that are clear and must be taken if we are to achieve the vision not
only of President Bush in his speech of 24 June last year, but also the vision
that was put forward by the Arab league at its Beirut summit last year as well.
Thank you very much.
QUESTION: Do you have any indication at this early stage of who might
have been behind this attack? And do you relate this to the Arab Israeli
conflict or just blind hatred of Americans and Westerners?
SEC. POWELL: I don't know yet. I think the suspects are clear, though. It
has the earmarks of Al Qaida. I think it is just part of Al Qaida and other
terrorist organizations willingness to kill innocent people in order to push
forward a criminal agenda, a terrorist agenda that very often has no purpose, no
meaning other than to strike out in rage. I don't attribute it to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, I just attribute it to terrorists. We should not try to
cloak their terrorist activity, their criminal activity, their murderous
activity in any trappings of political purpose. They are terrorists.
QUESTION: (inaudible)
SEC. POWELL: I am sorry, I don't understand the question. Could it
be translated?
DR. MUASHER: Let's have another question.
QUESTION: Mr. Powell how do you evaluate the Israeli move towards the
application of the road map? Are you satisfied with it? And, do you see if it's
fully acceptable that the Israeli troops can continue the raids and
assassinating of the members of the (inaudible) and so on, the Palestinian
civilians? Thank you.
SEC. POWELL: If I understand the question, you are asking my opinion of
the Israeli approach. I think that Israel understands that the current situation
is not sustainable, either for the Palestinian side or the Israeli side. In my
conversations with Prime Minister Sharon and other members of the Israeli
cabinet, I believe they understand we have to move forward to the vision of two
states living side-by-side in peace that President Bush laid out, and that also
reflects the Arab initiative. We believe the best way to get there is through
the road map. Israel knows that the road map lays out the steps that have to be
taken. They have some comments on the road map and we will listen to their
comments, but we do not plan to rewrite or renegotiate the road map. We hope
that we will be able to get a better understanding of their comments and
concerns.
There is another opportunity for the two sides to talk to one another before the
week is out. Prime Minister Abu Mazen will be speaking to Prime Minister Sharon.
This will be a good opportunity for the two sides to talk to one another about
the issues of greatest concern to them. Israeli willingness to move down this
path and Palestinian willingness and ability to deal with the security issues
that are uppermost in the minds of the Israelis. So we have a road map that the
United States is committed to, Jordan is committed to, other nations are
committed to. It lays out the path that is the only path one can follow. We will
wait to see what other comments Israel has on that road map. We will wait to see
the results of the conversation between the two Prime Ministers, and then Prime
Minister Sharon will be in Washington next week for conversations with the
president. We will see where we go after that exchange of views.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, in recent weeks the United States has said that
Al Qaida had been weakened. In light of what has happened in Saudi Arabia, what
does this say about the U.S. war on terrorism and Al Qaida's ability to operate
in a place as secure as Saudi Arabia? And, to the Minister, if Prime Minister
Sharon does not embrace the road map when he comes to Washington, what does that
tell the Arab world.
SEC. POWELL: I believe that Al Qaida has been weakened, but it has
not been destroyed. It continues to present a threat to the world. If Al Qaida
ultimately is the one found responsible for what happened in Saudi Arabia
overnight, it illustrates that it can still strike. All that means is that we
have to keep on guard, we have to redouble our efforts, we have to cooperate
even more closely with friends and allies around the world with respect to the
exchange of information and intelligence. We have to continue chasing Al Qaida
finances around to drain them of their resources to conduct such acts. We have
to do more with respect to defending our facilities and defending access to our
countries so that we know who is coming into our countries and for what purpose.
All it says to me is that the war continues. We have made some progress but it
is not over. Al Qaida still has the capacity to act, but we will not shrink from
the task that is before us. We have no choice. We must prosecute this war with
all the resources at our disposal.
DR. MUASHER: Let me say, on the road map. It is, as you know, a series of
steps that both sides have to take, starting with the security situation and
ending with a two-state solution. The road map has everything that Israel needs
in terms of addressing the security situation, so if the excuse is security, it
is handled in the road map. We see no reason why any party should now reject a
document that has been accepted by the U.S. president, the U.S. administration,
as well as the international community. We believe that acceptance of the road
map and implementation of it is the true test of seriousness in trying to find a
solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The road map does address the security
situation, but it also addresses the political process that would lead to a
two-state solution in three years. We hope and expect Israel, just as all other
parties have, to accept it.
QUESTION: Is His Majesty King Abdullah going to visit Washington next
month?
DR. MUASHER: The dates of the visit have not been assigned yet. We
are working on a visit. I do expect it to happen sometime in the next few weeks,
but we have not yet decided on a date. Thank you very much.
SEC. POWELL: Thank you.