MIDDLE EAST Arab leaders pledge work for harmony

The leaders called on Israel to also hold up its end of the peace plan.
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) -- Arab leaders, meeting with President Bush as he plunged into the labyrinth of Mideast peace talks, pledged to fight terror and violence and called on Israel to "rebuild trust and restore normal Palestinian life."
"We shall continue to work for a Middle East that is free of strife and violence, living in harmony without the threat of terrorism or dangers of weapons of mass destruction," Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said today, reading a statement on behalf of the leaders of Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority -- all friendly U.S. allies.
Bush called on the Arab leaders to fight terror at every turn on the road to peace.
"We meet in Sinai at a moment of promise for the cause of peace in the Middle East," Bush said, standing at the edge of the Red Sea, with Mubarak at his side.
Terror threatens the United States, Israel and the emergence of a Palestinian state, he said.
"Terror must be opposed, and it must be defeated," Bush said.
Today's meeting served as a prelude to talks Wednesday in Jordan involving Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his counterpart, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
The road map
The Arab leaders embraced the internationally crafted road map for peace, which calls for an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
"We support the determination of the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its responsibilities to end violence and to restore law and order," Mubarak said as Abbas looked on.
At the same time, Mubarak added: "Israel must fulfill its own responsibilities to rebuild trust and restore normal Palestinian life, and carry out other obligations under the road map."
Bush, in his first major foray into Middle East peacemaking, emphasized that both sides must make concessions to build a lasting peace.
"If all sides fulfill their obligations, we can make steady progress on the road toward Palestinian statehood, a secure Israel and a just and comprehensive peace," Bush said. "We seek true peace, not just a pause between more wars and intefadahs, but a permanent reconciliation among the peoples of the Middle East."
Addressing terrorism
The Arab leaders firmly rejected terrorism "in any form or shape, from whatever source or place, regardless of justifications or motives," Mubarak said.
"We will use all the power of the law to prevent support from reaching illegal organizations, including terrorist groups," Mubarak said.
He said the leaders would help the Palestinian Authority fight terrorists "to allow it to consolidate its authority in democratic and accountable institutions" and would make sure that all aid to Palestinians goes solely to their official leadership.
They also pledged their support of Iraqi citizens in the aftermath of the war there, and for "a government that represents the Iraqi people," Mubarak said.
The setting
Bush, who initiated the summit here, was in the driver's seat -- literally. He took the wheel of a large golf cart to ferry the leaders to their joint appearance at podiums set up with the sea as their backdrop. Mubarak, his eyes hidden by sunglasses, was his co-pilot.
"Achieving these goals will require courage and moral vision from every side, from every leader," Bush said. "America is committed, and I am committed, in helping all the parties to reach the hard and heroic decisions that will lead to peace."
Also attending were Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Jordan's King Abdullah II. Egypt and Jordan have peace treaties with Israel.
The leaders first talked privately, without staff members, before beginning a more formal session. Bush shook hands with the leaders and then joined them at a large octagonal table in front of a stand of flags of participating nations.
Joint responsibility
Bush also made clear that both Arabs and Israelis bear responsibility for achieving peace.
"Israel must deal with the settlements," he said. "Israel must make sure there's a continuous territory that the Palestinians can call home."
He said the Arab leaders must close off sources of funding to terrorists and prevent "the terror from gaining a foothold," as he said they have promised.
"It's in their own self-interest to enable a Palestinian state to emerge," he said.
Pointing directly at Abbas, Bush said, "You, sir, have got a responsibility, and you've assumed it. I want to work with you, and so do the other leaders here."
U.S. officials had said they expected the Arab leaders to express support for Abbas, not longtime Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, as the Palestinian representative in negotiations with Israel.
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