The Hindu : Powell to push for ceasefire

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2002

International

International

Powell to push for ceasefire

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington APRIL 8. Even while being a little disappointed that the principal parties in the West Asia crisis are not heeding words of wisdom or warning, the Bush administration is pinning a lot of hope on the visit to the region by the Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

Gen. Powell left late on Sunday for a trip to West Asia and Europe in the hope that the spiralling violence in the Palestinian cities could be contained, a ceasefire worked out by the Israelis and the Palestinians and the basis for political negotiations could be laid down. All this in the absence of a firm word on whether or not Gen. Powell will be meeting the key element to West Asia peace _ Yasser Arafat.

Gen. Powell said on Sunday that he would meet Mr. Arafat "if circumstances permit'', meaning the security situation, access and the agenda. "Until the violence goes down hopefully to zero, but at least to a level where you can see that both sides are acting in a responsible way... you're not going to get a peace agreement'', Gen. Powell remarked in one of the talk shows.

Gen. Powell's first stop is Morocco for a meeting with King Mohammad. He is also scheduled to meet the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the leaders of Egypt and Jordan. In Spain, Gen. Powell will meet leaders including the Russian Foreign Minister and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. The Bush administration has been leaning very hard on Mr. Arafat to come to terms with what has been happening in his part of the world by way of attacks and suicide bombings against Israel. At the same time, there is the realisation in Washington that very little can be accomplished unless Mr. Arafat is brought on board.

In repeating the administration line that Mr. Arafat has not done enough by speaking out against the ongoing violence, Gen. Powell noted the importance of the Palestinian leader. "Chairman Arafat, whether one likes it or not, and whether one approves of it or not, does occupy a position in Palestinian society. He is seen by the Palestinian people as their leader, and that has to be taken into account'', the Secretary of State said.

Meanwhile, after a weekend of talks with the President, George W. Bush, at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, had some strong words for the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, even if not giving the impression that military action against Iraq was imminent.

Mr. Blair demanded that Mr. Hussein must allow weapons inspectors into his country "any time, any place the international community demands'' or face the consequences. "The regime of Saddam is detestable'', Mr. Blair remarked in Texas.

The Bush administration and its staunch ally, Britain, have been urged caution and restraint in the international community in dealing with Iraq, especially when it has to do with the free-for-all rhetoric in resorting to military action against Baghdad. Mr. Blair made it known that no immediate plans were under way for a military strike against Iraq. "We will proceed, as we did after September 11, in a calm, measured, sensible but firm way'', the Prime Minister noted.

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