Aide says Bush's Mideast trip a mix of symbolism, substance

AFP - Thursday, May 8 12:37 am

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush will "reaffirm his personal commitment to peace" between Israel and the Palestinians during his strongly symbolic visit next week to the Middle East, a top White House aide said Wednesday.

Bush also plans to talk about the rising price of oil when he visits Saudi Arabia, and will meet with Iraqi and Afghan leaders in Egypt, said US national security advisor Stephen Hadley.

During his May 13-18 trip to the region, Bush will attend celebrations for Israel's 60th anniversary and "reaffirm his personal commitment to peace between Israelis and Palestinians," Hadley said, adding that "our hope" is for an agreement by the end of the year.

Asked whether the president's trip would be symbolic or substantive on the issue of the stalled Mideast peace talks, Hadley said: "I think it's going to be a mix."

"Obviously coming to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary is both symbolism and substance," he said, adding that Bush is "not just going to Israel and returning home."

Hadley said Bush would meet in his trip with Israel's President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on May 14, and with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and prime minister Salam Fayyad in Egypt on May 18.

He will also meet with Saudi King Abdullah -- a key player in the Mideast peace process -- on May 16 in Saudi Arabia, and with former British prime minister Tony Blair, the Mideast Quartet representative, on May 15 in Israel.

Hadley stressed Bush would not travel to the Palestinian territories and that there was no three-way meeting scheduled between Bush, Abbas and Olmert.

"At this point, we think the bilateral negotiations are key. We can be encouraging those negotiations to go forward. A lot of it is better done, quite frankly, in private than in public," he added.

Hadley said he was "confident" Bush would once again press the Saudis to boost their oil production as a way of curbing the spiraling prices.

Bush will also attend the World Economic Forum on the Middle East at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

On May 17 in Sharm el-Sheikh, he will have breakfast with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and meet separately with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The following day, Bush will meet with Iraq's Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Ahmed Saleh.

Also on May 18, Bush will hold separate meetings with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Hadley said.

During his visit to the Middle East, Bush will also show his "steadfast opposition to extremists and their state sponsors, Iran and Syria," he added.

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