Interview by Peter Jennings on ABC's "World News Tonight"Secretary Colin L. PowellWashington, DC June 25, 2002 MR. JENNINGS: Mr. Secretary, yesterday the President said Yasser Arafat must be replaced as the Palestinian leader before the US will support a Palestinian state. White House officials said it did not matter if Mr. Arafat won free and fair elections. Today, you and your spokesman say the US will respect whatever Palestinians decide in free elections, and you still acknowledge Mr. Arafat as a leader. Which is it?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I don't think there's any inconsistency, at least not in the mind of those of us in the administration. First of all, the President has made it clear that he does support the creation of Palestinian state. He wants to see that Palestinian state come into being as quickly as possible. And he believes that the way to get to that state as quickly as possible is for the Palestinian people to exercise their right to make another choice with respect to who their leaders might be. MR. JENNINGS: Let me just seek some clarification, sir. Why do you think a White House official said no Mr. Arafat, even in fair elections? Are you saying, sir, that if Mr. Arafat wins free and fair elections you will acknowledge him as the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people? SECRETARY POWELL: What I'm saying is let's have the free and fair elections and see what the Palestinian people say to us, and let's not prejudge the outcome of those elections. I don't know about the official you're citing, but let's have free and fair elections. And when we have the results of that election, clearly we'll make a judgment as to how to respond to that new government. MR. JENNINGS: Thank you, sir. If you are at all confused about this, there is more of the interview of the Secretary of State at ABCNEWS.com. |
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