STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH RE: MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
THE ROSE GARDEN, THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, D.C.
10:00 A.M. EST, FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2003

PRESIDENT BUSH: Good morning. We have reached a hopeful moment for
progress toward the vision of Middle Eastern peace that I outlined last
June. I spoke of a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, will live side
by side in peace and security. I called upon all parties in the Middle East
to abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibilities for peace.

A Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful and democratic
state that abandons forever the use of terror.

The government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and
security improves, must take concrete steps to support the emergence of a
viable and credible Palestinian state and to work as quickly as possible
toward a final status agreement.

As progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied
territories must end. And the Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the
emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly that
they will live in peace with Israel.

This moment offers a new opportunity to meet these objectives. After
its recent elections, the nation of Israel has a new government. And the
Palestinian Authority has created the new position of prime minister.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders and other governments in the region now have
a chance to move forward with determination and with good faith.

To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian prime
minister must hold a position of real authority. We expect that such a
Palestinian prime minister will be confirmed soon.

Immediately upon confirmation, the road map for peace will be given
to the Palestinians and the Israelis. This road map will set forth a
sequence of steps toward the goals I set out on June 24th, 2002; goals
shared by all the parties. The United States has developed this plan over
the last several months in close cooperation with Russia, the European Union
and the United Nations. Once this road map is delivered, we will expect and
welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document that
will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the road map with one
another. The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions and to take
concrete actions to achieve peace.

America is committed, and I am personally committed, to implementing
our road map toward peace.

Our efforts are guided by clear principles. We believe that all
people in the Middle East, Arab and Israeli alike, deserve to live in
dignity, under free and honest governments. We believe that people who live
in freedom are more likely to reject bitterness, blind hatred and terror,
and are far more likely to turn their energy toward reconciliation, reform
and development.

There can be no peace for either side in the Middle East unless there
is freedom for both. Reaching that destination will not be easy, but we can
see the way forward.

Now the parties must take that way, step by step, and America will be
the active partner of every party that seeks true peace.

Thank you very much.

Q Mr. President -- (inaudible due to cross talk) -- the Azores, sir?

Q Do you think it's possible to win a second resolution, sir?

Q Why go to the Azores, sir?

(No audible replies.)

END.