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New hope for Palestinian state
12/11/2004 22:07 - (SA)
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| President George W Bush gestures during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the White House. (Dennis Cook, AP) |
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Washington - President George W Bush said on Friday that after the death of Yasser Arafat there was now a "great chance" to create an independent Palestinian state living at peace with Israel by the time he leaves office in 2009.
He said after a summit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, dominated by the Middle East and Iraq, the United States wants to see a Palestinian leadership that is committed to fighting terror and carrying out democratic reforms.
"I believe we've got a great chance to establish a Palestinian state," he said. "I would like to see it done in four years. I think it is possible."
Bush said he and Blair "share a vision of a free, peaceful, a democratic broader Middle East".
"We meet at a crucial time, where it is important that we revitalise and re-invigorate the search for a genuine, lasting and just peace in the Middle East," Blair told the press conference.
Both leaders emphasised their commitment to a two state solution, support for Palestinian elections and the need to help the creation of a Palestinian state.
Bush said: "Our sympathies are with the Palestinian people as they begin a period of mourning. Yet the months ahead offer a new opportunity to make progress toward a lasting peace."
Would help revive Palestinian economy
Bush said the choosing of a new Palestinian president "is the first step in creating lasting, democratic political institutions through which a free Palestinian people will elect local and national leaders.
"We're committed to the success of these elections and we stand ready to help.
"I look forward to working with the Palestinian leadership that is committed to fighting terror and committed to the cause of democratic reform."
He said the United States would help international efforts to revive the Palestinian economy, "to build up the Palestinian security institutions to fight terror, to help the Palestinian government fight corruption, and to reform the Palestinian political system and build democratic institutions".
- AFP
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