Ignored by Bush, Arafat greeted warmly at U.N.

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Ignored by Bush, Arafat greeted warmly at U.N. PLO leader bonored by leaders focused on terrorism and Afghanistan this year, many secretary general, cheered by delegates including Bush - made a point of mentioning the crisis in their speeches.

China's foreign minister, Tang By DAFNA LINZER Jiaxuan, said in his address Sun- The Associated Press UNITED NATIONS day that the unabated violence - not only poses a grave threat to Shunned by President Bush and the Middle East peace process under attack for not doing and regional stability, but also enough to combat terrorism, exerts an increasingly Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat found a warm audience at the impact on world peace« negative Much has changed for the 73- United Nations on Sunday and the ear of the secretary-general. year-old Arafat since he ad- dressed the assembly last year.

Arafat was escorted to the In September 2000, he spent podium at the General Assem- three days in New York meeting Diy's annual debate, an honor re with Israel's Ehud Barak and served for presidents and prime former President Clinton, who ministers, and many delegates made a last ditch effort to forge - although not the Israelis - a peace settlement ahead of the broke out in applause even be U.S. presidential election. fore he began his speech.

Even The sides were unable to Bush was not met with the same agree, however, and went home enthusiasm when he addressed without a deal. Two weeks later, the 189-nation assembly.

The Associated Press violence in Jerusalem sparked While many world leaders what has come to be known as PLO leader Yasser Arafat ad- who addressed this year's As the Palestinians' second uprising dresses the U.N. General As- sembly debate focused heavily against Israel.

Unable to offer sembly Sunday. on the terrorist attacks on the his people a way out, Barak lost United States, Arafat devoted his re-election.

The Bush adminis- Still, Bush told the General time to the current Mideast cri- tration kept a low profile on the Assembly on Saturday that sis and accused Israel of "state Middle East in its first months Washington "stands by its com- sponsored terrorism." in office and the president has mitment to a just peace in the refused to meet with Arafat dur- Middle East." Despite being unable to se ing his first year in office. cure a meeting with Bush, Ara- "We are working toward the Secretary-General Kofi Annan day when two states - Israel fat praised the president for his recognition Saturday of a future however, met with Arafat this and Palestine — live peacefully morning and dozens of world Palestinian state next to Israel. togetber within secure and rec- leaders turned out for a post- "We will exert every possible ognized borders as called for by effort to achieve these objectives speech reception in Arafat's hon- the Security Council resolutions or at the delegates' dining room and will continue to exert our Secretary of State Colin Pow- Deputy Israell Ambassador efforts to provide the best condi- ell, who has met several tires Aaron Jacob tions for this endeavor," Arafat praised Bush: with the Palestinian leader, was speech but not Arafat's "He did said, calling for the resumption holding another round of talks of peace negotiations as soon as not mention attacks against ls with him Sunday afternoon.

Last rael or refer to Bush's com possible. week, Bush's national security ments that Violence and terror The Middle Bast has dominat- adviser, Condoleerza Rice, said need to end before there can be ed the agenda here for nearly a Arafat was not taking seriously a state," Jacob told The Associ decade. However, while world enough the US. war on terror- ated Press

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"Ignored by Bush, Arafat greeted warmly at U.N.," Huntsville Times, 12 November 2001. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2001-021. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2001-021