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Rice taps Army general as Mideast 'coordinator'
Edited for length.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday tapped an Army general as a Middle East "security coordinator" to assist with Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and to help with training and equipping of the Palestinian forces. Miss Rice, who completed her first trip to the region as America's chief diplomat, invited, on President Bush's behalf, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to visit Washington separately in the spring. "There are going to be specific things the parties need to do, and we will not hesitate to say to the parties when those obligations are not being met," Miss Rice said. "That is part of our role." She told Mr. Abbas, as she did Mr. Sharon the day before, that Washington is committed to the peace process, but it would step back for the time being and allow moderate Arab states in the region to be the leading mediators. "Gen. Ward will also work with Egypt, Jordan and others to coordinate assistance to the Palestinian Authority as it rebuilds its security capacity to end violence and terror and restore law and order," he said. "It is very important that the United States not somehow supplant the bilateral security discussions and cooperation that the Israelis and the Palestinians are involved in," Miss Rice said. "They are going to do even more, I believe, in the future, and the United States does not have to be party to everything that goes on," she said. "In fact, it is a good thing when the parties can resolve problems on their own." Because of Washington's decision to remain backstage during negotiations, Miss Rice chose not to appoint a special envoy for the peace process. Gen. Ward is deputy Commander officer of U.S. Army Europe and the 7th Army. Miss Rice, to whom he will report, chose him because of his previous experience as commander of the NATO Stabilization Force in postwar Bosnia-Herzegovina and a recent assignment in Egypt, the senior official said. He also has served in Somalia, Germany and South Korea. The senior official said Gen. Ward's small staff would include mainly people from the State Department, but employees of the Pentagon and other agencies also are likely to participate. During a joint press conference with Mr. Abbas, who was elected Jan. 9, the secretary announced that $40 million would be given to the Palestinians within 90 days in a "quick action program" to help with job creation and rebuilding infrastructure. The money will be diverted from the $75 million the United States already had appropriated in this year's budget for projects in Gaza. It will be returned to that account when Congress approves the $350 million in aid Mr. Bush pledged last week. Posted by: trailing wife 2005-02-08 |
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