Bush Asserts Powell Achieves Progress in Middle East Mission

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 19, 2002

Bush Asserts Powell Achieves Progress in Middle East Mission

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United States President George W. Bush tried hard Thursday to claim that Secretary of State Colin Powell had "made progress" during his Middle East mission though he failed to broker a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians.

"Progress is made as a result of the United States and the Secretary of State going into the region and convincing the parties that we'll never get to peace if there is violence," Bush told reporters in the White House.

Powell will report to Bush and other members of the national security team, including Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, on his trip.

Before Powell's arrival, the situation in the Middle East was "at a boiling point," Bush said. He also cited partial Israeli military withdrawal from the West Bank and condemnations issued byPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat on terror.

Powell's mission "laid out the framework to achieve peace" in the region, he said.

Although Israeli troops remained in the West Bank two weeks after he demanded an immediate withdrawal, Bush said he was pleased that Israel "is now continuing withdrawal."

"History will show that they responded," Bush said.

"He gave me a timetable and he met the timetable," Bush said, praising Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as "a man of peace."

Bush did not answer questions on what his next step in the Middle East was, only saying that his administration will remainedengaged.

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