Mitchell Returning to Middle East This Month
EmailABC News’ Jennifer Duck Reports: Middle East Envoy George Mitchell will travel again to the region this month. Mitchell just returned yesterday from his first trip to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Europe.
"This is the first of what will be an ongoing high level of engagement by Senator Mitchell," Secretary Clinton said after a meeting with Mitchell at the State Department.
Clinton thanked Mitchell saying he "quickly sprang into action" and has spoken with leaders on "steps to attain a durable and sustainable ceasefire."
"I plan to establish a regular and sustained presence in the region," Mitchell said, explaining the situation is "complex and difficult" and there are "no easy or risk free courses of action."
Clinton was asked if there was a diplomatic path with Hamas. She responded that Hamas must renounce violence, recognize Israel and abide by past peace agreements.
"Hamas knows the conditions," Clinton said. "They must renounce violence, they must recognize Israel, they must agree to abide by prior agreements."
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From The Telegraph (UK):
—“You were standing against the Iranian people in the past 60 years,” Mr Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah that was broadcast by state television.
“Those who speak of change must apologize to the Iranian people and try to repair their past bad acts and the crimes they committed against Iran.”
As to the troops, he said he expected two kinds of “deep and fundamental” change.
“Meet people, talk to them with respect and put an end to the expansionist policies. If you talk about change it must put an end to the US military presence in the world, withdraw your troops and take them back inside your borders.”
Mr Ahmadinejad said the advocates of change must “stop supporting the Zionists, outlaws and criminals”.—
Posted by: Ahmadinejad has His Own Pre-conditions | February 3, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Duck # 2 – “…Visits Egypt, Israel…and Europe”. Big place Europe – and was it just airport stopover?? City – nation dissonance yesterday, nation – continent.
“Hamas knows the conditions,” Clinton said. “They must renounce violence, they must recognize Israel, they must agree to abide by prior agreements.”
(Yes they know the conditions, can they – would they – ever submit to them?)
Posted by: robert b | February 3, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
He also visited Saudi Arabia. In Europe he visited Paris and London.
Posted by: hisham | February 3, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
Thanks, Hisham. That would make sense in meeting with Western leaders.
Did he connect with Tony Blair, he’s the big cheese Special Envoy of the Quartet (US, Russia and then the EU and the UN) so he technically outranks Mitchell?
Posted by: robert b | February 3, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
Yes, maybe they can clone Saddam and put him back in charge since things were so much better in Iraq and the Middle East before Adolf Bush and his goose-stepping storm troopers marched in and murdered 10 million innocent Iraqis!
Posted by: Grand Old Party | February 3, 2009, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm