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Friday, December 5, 2003
Middle East Peace
Washington Times covers the Middle East Geneva Plan:
President Bush yesterday called a new unofficial Middle East peace plan "productive" as long as it adheres to his principles that the Palestinians end terrorism and Israel pulls back settlements in land he envisions as part of a democratic Palestinian state.
"We appreciate people discussing peace," Mr. Bush said. "We just want to make sure people understand that the principles to peace are clear."
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell will meet today with the architects of the so-called Geneva Accords — Yossi Beilin, a veteran Israeli negotiator, and Yasser Abed Rabbo, a former information minister for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Baker to negotiate debt
President Bush appointed Howard Baker to negotiate debt reduction on behalf of Iraq. Iraq's foreign debt could be as high as $125 billion. The Associated Press reports that:
Bush said he made the appointment in response to a request by the Iraqi Governing Council.
"The future of the Iraqi people should not be mortgaged to the enormous burden of debt incurred to enrich Saddam Hussein's regime," Bush said.
With experience in diplomacy and world finance, Baker "will help to forge an international consensus for an equitable and effective resolution of this issue," Bush said.
Baker will serve as a volunteer, working out of an office at the White House and traveling to other countries.
Of the total Iraqi foreign debt, some $40 billion is owed to the United States, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and other countries who are among 19 nations belonging to the Paris Club, an umbrella organization that conducts debt negotiations.
Bush to meet Fox
President Bush will meet Mexico’s President Vicente Fox in the Western Hemisphere at an Organization of American States summit in Monterrey, northern Mexico on Jan. 12-13. The two are expected to discuss immigration and trade issues.
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this page was last updated: 12/05/03