Interview on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Mr. Armitage, thank you for joining us.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  Good morning, Mr. Stephanopoulos.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  You just spoke with Secretary Powell.  What exactly did Secretary Powell ask for in the meeting, and how did Chairman Arafat respond?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  Well, Secretary Powell -- I've had three conversations with him since he came out of Ramallah and the Mukata'a compound.  He had a tough, straightforward conversation with Chairman Arafat, where he is calling upon Mr. Arafat to do what the President has said; that is, to realize the words that he uttered yesterday in Arabic, and actually use the bully pulpit of his leadership in every possible way to bring down the level of violence, and to make sure that all Palestinians know that he is calling to end the violence, and particularly the suicide bombings.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  There are reports that Chairman Arafat said he wouldn't take any new action until Israel pulls out of the West Bank.  Is that true?    

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  I have heard that Chairman Arafat pushed back and said he does need withdrawals in order to accomplish these.  I do note that there have been substantial withdrawals by the Israelis since Secretary Powell has been in the region, and there are news tickers right now of the possibility of some lessening of the curfews.  So there's something going on.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Is that an acceptable condition?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  Well, what do you mean?

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  For Chairman Arafat to say he won't take any new action until there's a withdrawal?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  Well, he's a party to this conflict.  He has his own views, so he has a right to put his views forward.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  There are also reports that Secretary Powell will meet with Prime Minister Sharon later today.  Will he be demanding a full pullout immediately?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  These are not just reports; he will meet with the Prime Minister.  It's scheduled for 7:00 p.m. East Coast Time.  I'm sure that, in addition to speaking about the meeting just concluded with Chairman Arafat, he'll be again echoing the President's call for withdrawal without delay.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  And is there another meeting scheduled with Chairman Arafat? 

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  As far as I know, the meeting scheduled is with the staffs tomorrow, and beyond that I don't have a schedule.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Finally, sir, there's been some great concern over the Hezbollah shelling of northern Israel from Lebanon.  Will Secretary Powell go to Damascus and bring a message to Syria to stop the shelling?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  The United States is very concerned about that shelling.  It's why Secretary Powell went to the Northern Command headquarters and actually viewed some of the shelling on the Shebaa Farms area.  We've been very straightforward, and indeed tough, on the Syrians and the Iranians to stop and restrain Hezbollah.  Whether or not the Secretary goes to Damascus will be a decision that he and the President reach.

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  When will he make that decision?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  Oh, he could make it any time. 

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Mr. Armitage, thank you very much.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE:  Thank you, Mr. Stephanopoulos.