[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.