DATE=4/06/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= BUSH MIDEAST (s)

NUMBER=2-288403

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= CRAWFORD, TEXAS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush says the United States is committed to achieving a "just" settlement in the Middle East. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports the search for peace in the region was the theme of the president's Saturday radio address.

TEXT: Mr. Bush delivered the address from his Texas ranch, where he is discussing the Middle East crisis with British prime minister Tony Blair.

They are focusing on ways to stop the violence and looking ahead to Secretary of State Colin Powell's upcoming trip to the region.

In his address, Mr. Bush acknowledged the task before Secretary Powell will not be easy.

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I have no illusions about the difficulty of this mission, yet our determination is strong.

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Mr. Bush also repeated his call for an Israeli military withdrawal from occupied areas, and a halt to Palestinian suicide bombings.

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Arab governments, the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people must recognize suicide bombings are jeopardizing the very possibility of an independent Palestinian state.

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Mr. Bush said that goal can not be realized through terrorism, but through a political process. (signed)

NEB/PW/RH