Powell Calls Abbas After Palestinian Vote

Powell Calls Abbas After Palestinian Vote

Associated Press
Date: 01-11-05

BARRY SCHWEID

WASHINGTON - The State Department encouraged new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to strengthen security forces on the West Bank and Gaza as it pledged to help bridge gaps with Israel.

Secretary of State Colin Powell called Israel's new Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and then telephoned Abbas.

"We will continue to encourage progress between the two parties," spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We will continue to encourage progress by the Palestinians in controlling the security situation in the territories," he said, adding, "We will continue to look for every opportunity to work with the parties to move forward."

Powell, in an interview with Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes program to be aired Wednesday, said Abbas did not achieve success as prime minister because Yasser Arafat "was in the way."

But Arafat is gone and if Abbas fights forces among the Palestinians who see a role for terrorists, "the United States will be able to support him," Powell said.

"He'll find that Israel can be a partner for peace with him, as well," Powell said.

Referring apparently to Abbas' description of Israel before his election as "the Zionist enemy," Powell said, "He said some things during the campaign that were of concern to me, that were disturbing to me. ... And we'll raise them directly with Mr. Abbas."

Later, in a brief conversation, Powell simply congratulated the new Palestinian leader on his election.

Boucher, meanwhile, said taking control of security forces was "an essential element" in curbing violence, building Palestinian institutions and making progress on a U.S.-backed road map for peacemaking with Israel.

The reference to the road map - prepared jointly by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - suggested American diplomacy at least in the short term will be focused on trying to persuade the Palestinians and Israel to implement all of its provisions.

President Bush on Monday made a point of reminding Israel publicly that the road map calls for an end to occupation.

Other provisions that remain unfulfilled include Palestinian arrests of terrorists and dismantling by Israel of illegal outposts on the West Bank.

On another subject, Powell said in the Fox News interview that if there was an administrative failure in the management of the U.N.'s oil-for-food program for Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan would have to accept responsiblity.

But Powell said all 15 countries on the Security Council, including the United States, shared that responsiblity because they approved the program, which permitted Saddam Hussein's government to sell oil despite a global embargo provided the proceeds were used for food or medicine.

Powell's remarks veered somewhat from the neutral stance he and other Bush administration officials have taken on Annan, who is the target of drive by some members of Congress to force him to resign.

Source

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