BRIEFINGS AND STATEMENTS 02/25/2001 Joint Press Availability Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Joint Press Availability With Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat CHAIRMAN ARAFAT (Interpreted from Arabic): I am very happy to extend a warm welcome to our guests and our friends: the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary Powell, who is the current Secretary of State and a former general. Of course the two of us are generals together. I would like to thank him for coming here as he promised me, and as President Bush promised me that the Secretary would be coming here in this important visit. We need this visit and the Secretary right now in order to advance the Peace Process and move it forward and in order to protect the Peace Process, especially since peace is not only a Palestinian interest. read more 02/25/2001 Comments by U.S. Secretary of State Colin L Powell during visit to Yad Vashem SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you. I am very deeply touched by this memorial and I wanted to finally have the opportunity to visit it. And I leave with the inspiration that it gives to all that we must never forget. We must never forget and always remember the spirit of those who perished during those terrible times. read more 02/25/2001 U.S. Secretary Of State Colin L. Powell´s Transcript In Guest Book During Visit To Yad Vashem At this place of honor for those who died, let us vow never to forget and always to remember. Their spirit will live with us all forever. read more 02/25/2001 Press Availability Secretary of State Colin L. Powell´s Joint Press Availability With Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon 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. read more 02/24/2001 Remarks by U.S. Secretary Of State Colin Powell & Foreign Minister of Egypt Amre Moussa FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSSA: I would like to welcome the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, on his first visit to Egypt, especially at this juncture when a lot of things are taking place and following the serious developments in this region. We welcome the Secretary of State as we welcome the role of the United States as the main sponsor of the peace process and as a friend of Egypt. read more 02/24/2001 Remarks by U.S. Secretary Of State Colin Powell & Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov SECRETARY POWELL: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Ivanov and I have just had a very, very excellent discussion of an hour and a half duration where we exchanged views on a number of issues and had an opportunity to convey to each other the best wishes of our respective Presidents. I think it was a very fine first meeting and I look forward to many such meetings in the future as we pursue our common agenda. read more 02/23/2001 Press Briefing U.S. Secretary Of State Colin Powell SECRETARY POWELL: Well good evening. Thank you all for joining me. You have more people than I’ve got. This is not part of your new trimmed down State Department when I see this group. Glad to have you aboard and look forward to the opportunity of speaking to you as we go around on our various trips, not only this one, but in the future. read more Secretary of State Colin Powell Travels to the Middle East Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit the Middle East region February 23-27. The secretary's itinerary includes Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Syria. read more