Secretary of State Colin L. Powell´s Joint Press Availability
With Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon

Jerusalem
February 25, 2001

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PRIME MINISTER-ELECT SHARON: (In Hebrew followed by English.) Good morning to all of you. I conducted today a meeting with Secretary of State General Colin Powell. We discussed both bilateral as well as regional and international issues that are of importance to our two countries, and which are related to maintaining regional stability. I presented to Secretary Powell my commitment and plans to achieve security and peace. I stress the point that the Palestinian Authority must take immediate action to stop acts of terror and violence. I have outlined to General Powell the steps I will take, if calm is restored, in order to ease the economic conditions of the Palestinian population in the Palestinian Authority territories. As the Prime Minister, I will conduct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority following the cessation of hostilities. I look forward to continued close cooperation in the near future with the United States, and particularly with Secretary of State General Colin Powell. Thank you.

SECRETARY POWELL: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased to be back in Israel and to have the opportunity to meet and consult with Prime Minister-elect Sharon, and last night with Prime Minister Barak, and I welcome the statement that the Prime Minister-elect has just made.
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