    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [July 18, 2002]
    [Pages 1269-1270]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1269]]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi
    Arabia and an Exchange With Reporters
    July 18, 2002

        The President. I have a short statement here, and then I'd be glad
    to answer two questions; I'll call on the people. Then we need to get to
    our meeting.
        I want to thank the Ministers for coming today. Secretary of State
    Powell has been working hard to work on an
    initiative that we believe will bring peace to the Middle East.
        Our vision of peace says that there ought to be two states living
    side by side in peace. Our vision for peace recognizes that there must
    be security in the region. Our vision for peace understands that too
    many Palestinians suffer; they suffer from lack of food and basic
    services. Our vision for peace understands that all parties have got
    responsibilities: The United States has a responsibility; the
    neighborhood has responsibilities; the Israelis have a responsibility;
    the Palestinians have a responsibility. And we will continue to work
    with all parties to achieve the pathway to peace.
        And I want to thank the Ministers for coming. They represent
    governments that are anxious to work with us, anxious to work toward
    achieving the vision that we all hope will happen soon. It's in the best
    interests of the world that we do achieve peace in the Middle East, and
    I'm looking forward to continuing our dialogs.
        I'll answer a couple of questions. Dick Keil [Richard Keil,
    Bloomberg News].

    Reform of the Palestinian Authority

        Q. Mr. President, would you be willing to consider a permanent
    Palestinian state that included Chairman Arafat in some sort of
    ceremonial role or as President?
        The President. As I mentioned--I think it was yesterday, I think, I
    had a press conference. My, time flies. The issue is bigger than any
    single person. And our discussions will center on how to have
    institutionals--institutions in place that will truly represent the will
    of the Palestinian people, that will give confidence to the world that
    we can spend money in a way that helps the Palestinians, that when we
    talk about security, there are security forces there aimed at protecting
    people from terrorist attack, as opposed to enabling people to stay in
    office.
        You know, it's very interesting that these leaders came to our
    country to discuss peace, and the terrorists attacked. It's clear that a
    few want to damage the hopes of many. And by working to put institutions
    in place that will help on security and finances and government,
    institutions which will outlast any single leader--and so that's what
    we're going to discuss today.
        Mark Smith [Associated Press Radio].

    Middle East Security Arrangement/Timing of Terrorist Attacks

        Q. Mr. President, what do you think of the idea of having troops and
    others from the Egyptian and Saudi and Jordanian sides help train
    security forces for the Palestinians? And, sir, yesterday there was
    another double suicide bombing just after you used the word
    ``progress.'' Do you think that's a coincidence?
        The President. You know, I'm beginning to think that every time we
    have a high-level meeting, something happens. It's not coincidental. I
    think the enemies of peace try to send signals, try to derail peace, and
    try to discourage us. And one of the things I'm going to tell the
    leaders today is we refuse to be discouraged. We're going to continue to
    work for peace, continue to push hard for peace, because we think it's
    a--we know it's in our vital interests.
        In terms of who trains whom for security, that's part of the ongoing
    discussions, and that's what we want to discuss. George

    [[Page 1270]]

    Tenet has laid out a plan, and part of the
    plan is to work with the nations present here as to how to effect a
    security arrangement that will be effective and will work. That's what
    we want to do, and that's what we want to discuss.
        Listen, thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:22 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. The President met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Maher of
    Egypt; Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Muasher of Jordan; and
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Saud al-Faysal al Saud of Saudi Arabia. A
    reporter referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian
    Authority.