ARAB-US RELATIONS - June 2 - Bush Holds Talks In Sharm El Shaikh With 5 Leaders.

Pres. Bush arrives at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Shaikh to hold talks with Egyptian Pres. Hosni Mubarak, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Bahraini King Hamad, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas. The topics discussed include the Middle East "road map", setting out steps towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; co-operation in the war against terror; and a potential US free trade agreement with the Arab World. Five leaders pledged to Bush that they would actively fight "the culture of extremism and violence" that has undercut peace efforts in the Middle East. They also said they would act to control the flow of money to the terrorists groups that have engineered the suicide bombings intended to drive Israel out of the occupied territories. At the beginning of the session with 5 Arab leaders, Bush said: "Israel must deal with the settlements. Israel must make sure there's a continuous territory that the Palestinians can call home". Later, Bush's press secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush had meant to use the word "contiguous", a significant statement because it underscores Bush's determination that a new Palestinian state should not be splintered into two or more parts. At the same time, the microphone caught Bush turning to Abbas and the other Arab leaders, exhorting them to "fight off any source of funding to terror" and "to prevent the terrorists from gaining a foothold". Bush and the Arab leaders also issued two carefully worded statements that included the strongest words yet by the Arab states committing themselves to end any aid to Hamas, Hizbollah and other terror organisations. Mubarak said: "We will ensure that our assistance to the Palestinians goes solely to the Palestinian Authority." He added later that the Arab states "reject the culture of extremism and violence in any form or shape, from whatever source or place, regardless of justifications or motives". Later, Jordanian Finance Minister Marwan Muasher said Arab states were heartened by Bush's personal commitment to the road map and hoped it would be long lasting. He said: "We're very encouraged by the signals he's been sending and we want to make sure that the engagement continues". The Arabs, he added, "will express our willingness to do our part". Another senior Arab official said that, by putting his personal prestige on the line, Bush was also sending a message to Arab public opinion. "There is cynicism in the Arab World about America's commitment. [Bush] wants to come to the region to show people 'I'm here, I'm serious'", said the official, adding: "It's a nice gesture but let's see what happens in two weeks when there's a snag in the implementation of the road map. Will he put the right pressure on Israel?" On June 4, Bush headed to the Jordanian resort of Aqaba for a summit meeting with Israeli PM Sharon and Palestinian PM Abbas (see Arabs-Israel). From the summit, Bush flew to Doha, Qatar, visiting US troops in the forward US command post the Iraq war was managed.