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Morning News

President Bush to Work With Ariel Sharon to Pursue Path for Peace in Middle East

Aired February 7, 2001 - 11:06 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush's proposed tax-cut plan goes to Congress tomorrow. At the White House this morning, Mr. Bush met with members of 21 families, some of the folks that he says deserve tax relief now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to play the hand we've been dealt. And we are going play it well, with one thing in mind: that we promote peace in the Middle East. And I have talked to leaders in the Middle East, urging calm. And so has the secretary of state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: That, obviously, was President Bush talking not about his tax-cut plan, but talking about the way he is going to deal with the results of the Israeli elections yesterday.

Let's go now to CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace. She is going to join us now to give us the latest now on how Mr. Bush is going to approach his new Israeli counterpart -- standing by now at the White House -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Leon.

First, though, a little bit of clarifying that's needed about just what the White House is going to do when it comes to an office on AIDS and race relations. Some confusion started because White House Chief of Staff Andy Card in an interview with "USA Today" that is out in today's paper indicated that the White House was going to scrap the current Office of Aids Policy and the also president's Office on One America.

Well, after trying to track down some information, it appears that Andy Card, according to White House officials, was incorrect. And there was some misunderstanding. What the White House says it is going to do is, it is going to keep the Office of National AIDS Policy. It is also going to name an AIDS coordinator who had worked here at the White House as part of the president's Domestic Policy Council.

As for race relations, we are told that that office will continue, although it will be broadened to include senior administration officials from Domestic Policy and other offices -- that new group being called the Working Group on Uniting America -- so a bit of confusion about that. We wanted to set the record straight.

Now, as for Middle East, President Bush told us just a short time ago that he did in fact call Prime Minister Barak this morning. He told him that he made a strong and valiant effort. He also said that Mr. Barak said that he would work with the Israeli government on trying to pursue a path for peace. Mr. Bush also called the president of Israel. And last night he made his first call to the new Israeli leader, Ariel Sharon -- that conversation about five minutes in length.

We understand that the president said that he would look forward to working with Ariel Sharon. He also pledged to work on getting stability and peace in the region. And as our viewers heard in that sound bite a short time ago, at the event on the South Lawn just a short time ago, we asked the president what would his approach be to Middle East peacemaking.

He said -- quote -- "We are going to deal with the hand that we've been dealt." Obviously, this administration is going to work on trying to bring about peace. He also said, though, that he believes the administration should give Ariel Sharon time to do what he says he plans to do. And that is form a unity government -- the president saying, though, that this administration would work to promote peace in the region -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much, Kelly White -- Kelly Wallace, rather -- reporting from the White House. Thanks much.

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