Bush, Blair hold news conference after talks

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush said Friday the death of Yasser Arafat provides ``a great chance to establish a Palestinian state'' and a broader Middle East peace. <br/><br/>At a joint White

Friday, November 12th 2004, 11:14 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush said Friday the death of Yasser Arafat provides ``a great chance to establish a Palestinian state'' and a broader Middle East peace.

At a joint White House news conference, Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged their support for a fresh stab at Israeli-Palestinians peace negotiations.

``We'll hold their feet to the fire to make sure that democracy prevails,'' Bush said.

``We're going to work flat out to deliver this,'' Blair said.

The president said it was up to Palestinians to elect a democratic government and Arafat's successors to allow freedoms to take root.

Bush, whose policy in Iraq frayed relations with France, Germany and other traditional allies, also said he intends to travel to Europe as soon as possible after his second inaugural, on Jan. 20.

He said he looked forward to using the ``combined strength of Europe and America'' to advance freedom.

The leaders spoke from the stately East Room shortly after the Palestinian leader was laid to rest in a chaotic scene in Ramallah. The Bush and Blair governments hope a change in Palestinian leadership might open new avenues toward peace.

There was fresh news, too, in Iraq, a chilling reminder of the perilous life of the Middle East: Insurgents downed a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter north of Baghdad, wounding three crew members. In their two days of meetings, Blair had hoped to shift Bush's attention from Iraq to the stalled Mideast peace process.

While the president coupled his call for a Palestinian state with his unwavering support of Israeli security, Blair stressed the need to bolster Palestinians.

``If we want a viable Palestinian state, we want to make sure the political, the economic and the security infrastructure of that state is shaped and comes into being,'' the British prime minister said.

``We've got the chance over the next few months, with the election of a new Palestinian president, to put the first marker down,'' Blair said.

Bush didn't commit to a Mideast conference or sending a U.S. envoy to the region _ two items sought by Europeans. But he did talk more optimistically than usual about the prospects for a Palestinian state.

``I intend to use the next four years to spend the capital of the United States on such a state,'' Bush said. ``I believe it is in the interests of the world that such a truly free state develop. I know it is in the interest of the Palestinian people.''

He said there was a ``new opportunity'' for resolving the decades-old stalemate and put the onus on the new Palestinian leadership.

The United States is ``looking forward to working with Palestinian leaders who are committed to fighting terrorism and committed to democratic reform,'' Bush said.

Israel endorsed Bush's message.

``There is a two-state solution based on the fact that they have to first stop terrorism before there is a state,'' said Raanan Gissin, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. ``Bush is putting it as a challenge to the future Palestinian leadership. ... He says `It's up to you and you have a new situation.' ... The fact is that there is a new era now. He is urging them to drop the Yasser Arafat legacy.''

Arafat was viewed as a hero by Palestinians, a terrorist by Israel. Bush refused to deal with the Palestinian leader in his final years.

The president sounded cool about the prospects of attending an international conference on Middle East peace. ``I'm all for conferences,'' he said, ``just as long as a conference produces something.''

Blair lost political ground at home for being Bush's steadfast comrade in the U.S.-led war in Iraq that was unpopular in Europe.

Bush dismissed critics of Blair who call the British prime minister a lackey of the United States. ``He's plenty capable of making up his own mind'' on Iraq and other issues, Bush said. ``When times get tough, he doesn't wilt.''

Bush and Blair said the prime minister's motives are pure _ protecting the British people.

``We are not fighting the war against terrorism because we are an ally of the United States,'' Blair said. ``We are an ally of the United States because we believe in fighting this war on terrorism. ... We share the same objectives, we share the same values.''

Bush opened the news conference by calling Blair ``a statesman and a friend'' and said U.S.-British relations have never been stronger. He listed accomplishments by the nations' forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He warned that with upcoming Iraqi elections, ``the desperation of the killers will grow and the violence could escalate.'' But he said victory in Iraq would be a blow to terrorists everywhere.

Bush and Blair both said they oppose any attempt by Iran to develop nuclear weapons. ``There's an agreement in the international community'' on that, said the British leader.