Dean Acheson Auditorium, Washington, DC
SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL: Thank you very much, Aaron, for that kind introduction, and it’s a great pleasure to, once again, be with Seeds of Peace. I always look forward to these opportunities. I enjoy, especially, having groups of young people visit the State Department, so we can not only talk to the next generation of leaders but learn, as well, from the next generation of leaders.
It’s always so inspiring to see how passionate young people can be about finding solutions to some of the most difficult problems that we face in the world, especially foreign policy problems. It’s exciting to see all of your enthusiasm poured into an outstanding program such as Seeds of Peace, a program that empowers all of you to take the important step from interest to action, not just talking about something, but doing something, from having a concern about something to committing yourselves to make a difference, to change something.
Meeting with young people is one of the most important and one of the most enjoyable parts of my job and I take it very seriously. When I was overseas, a week or so ago, I had the opportunity to meet with young people in Kuwait and Iraq and Bosnia and Saudi Arabia and in Hungary. And last week, I had a chance to meet with wonderful youngsters who were here from all across America, as Congressional interns, and I spoke to about 800 of them. It’s always, always exciting. It’s always fun because I’m sort of on the backside. I’m a kind of old gentleman and all I can do really now is to encourage the new generation of leaders coming up to take their responsibilities seriously, to recognize that a legacy is about to be passed to you, no matter what country you’re from, no matter what religion you hold dear, you are being passed a legacy from the past—good elements of the legacy, not-so-good elements of the legacy. The one thing that we’re sure about is that you are the ones who will take this legacy into the future and make things better.
In all of my conversations with young people, we talk about families, we talk about histories, we talk about hopes and dreams, we talk about fears and doubts, and in all these conversations we come away with a richer appreciation of one another as fellow human beings and Seeds of Peace is dedicated to the same essential mission. It is committed to the proposition that if only people could sit down together and look one another in the eye, then they can acknowledge their basic humanity, that they are all one. It would not solve every problem in the world. But when people share the ideas and feelings that make them human, when they laugh together, even when they argue face to face, then peace has a chance because dialogue is underway. Peace has a chance to take root in their hearts. It sounds so simple and sounds so possible, and it is, all of the young people who make up Seeds of Peace are living proof that people can change, that peace is possible, that attitudes can be changed.
All of you are examples for others to follow, standards for others to reach. Seeds of Peace has given you a rare opportunity, a chance to challenge the stereotypes of your societies, to throw off old prejudices for acquiring new understandings to replace old opinions about enemies with new knowledge, about friends. This change of heart is the foundation of peace. And as all of you begin working to build a better future for yourselves and your countries, you will need support, you will need partners and allies in government, and you have them.
The United States and all of the men and women of the State Department are working tirelessly to help resolve some of the world’s most tragic and longstanding conflicts. In the Middle East, we are committed to realizing President Bush’s vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. We believe that Israel’s plan to withdraw from Gaza, and to begin the withdrawal from the West Bank, with four settlements withdrawn from, represents a valuable opportunity to move forward. This initiative could help to bring both sides, both sides together to resume negotiations under the path, under the direction of the elements of the roadmap. We will continue working with our partners in the Quartet and with our friends in the region to bring about the triumph of peace. In Cyprus, the United States has shown its strong support for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s comprehensive settlement plan. We are working to achieve a secure and prosperous Cyprus, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots live together in a federated society. Our goal is a Cyprus where both peoples enjoy the benefits of EU membership and where every citizen is assured the blessings of peace. The United States will continue to work for peace in every region of the world, and we have a lot of important work to do.
Government’s role in making peace is certainly essential. It’s valuable, it is necessary, but it is not enough, it is not sufficient. We aim to convince other governments to change their behavior. We can try to bring two parties in conflict together and help them agree about how they can move forward toward peace. We can lend our good offices to help others put an end to violence and build trust, and the United States is doing all of these things. But real, lasting peace will not be found on a parchment treaty between governments. Real, lasting peace will spring from the transformed hearts of human beings. Generating this kind of change is not within the powers of government, one government or many governments. It is the jobs of programs like Seeds of Peace. It is the job of young people like you, people whose hearts have been transformed already, people who have the power to help others embrace the thoughts and feelings that make peace possible.
We have all heard the testimonies of Seeds of Peace campers today, and I know that each and every one of you has a similar story of personal transformation. Your time with Seeds of Peace has been a life-changing experience, and it also sounds like it’s been quite a bit of fun, too. But I have to warn you, the months and years ahead will not always be so easy and fun. Your hope for the future will be challenged by many who cling to the past. You will encounter many people who do not believe that hatred can give way to toleration, or that peace is a realizable goal. You must summon the courage to change the minds of these cynics and critics. You must steel yourself to the shrill voices of despair that say people cannot change, that people will never change, that you and your neighbors are forever doomed to live with war and violence.
Working for peace, no, will not be easy. At times, you will get frustrated and angry, as I do, but you must always remember that you are not alone in the pursuit of peace. You have friends and partners who will help you, help you resound your message of peace as far as your voices will carry. President Bush and all of my colleagues here in the Department are your allies, and you have millions of allies among the American people. We all dream of peace, we all pray for peace, and we will always reach out to offer our support, as you work to make a difference in your societies. All of you are seeds of peace, and over time, with courage and with the support of your many friends and allies, you will blossom into ambassadors of peace. It is up to each and every one of you to teach others what you have learned. Tell your friends and neighbors that peace is possible. Show your brothers and sisters the hope that you now hold in your hearts.
Seeds of Peace has given to each and every one of you an invaluable gift, and now you must give that gift to others. You are the future, the future is yours. May God bless all of you. May God bless you in your efforts to achieve peace between peoples, between nations, between cultures. And it begins with you, each and every one of you with each other as seeds of peace. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you. Thank you.
MODERATOR: The Secretary has agreed to take a few questions.
SECRETARY POWELL: I’ve got time just for a couple of questions, if anyone has any questions. Somebody has to have a question or we’re not leaving.
(Laughter.)
Yes, I have a young lady.
QUESTION: Hello, my name is (inaudible) from Cyprus. I would like to say, to ask you, if you see the possibility of a second referendum in Cyprus, and when will be that?
SECRETARY POWELL: I can’t answer that question. I regret that the referendum that was held a few months ago was not successful. We were encouraging both sides to vote for it, and we are now taking some actions with our European colleagues that provide some benefits to the northern part of Cyprus, the Turkish part of Cyprus, and we hope that, with continued dialogue and efforts, it may be possible to get the process back on track. But I cannot give you a date as to when it will happen, but I think it’s the right thing and we want to see a federated island, the whole island as part of the European Union, and we’ll continue toward that end. Yes, young man.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)?
SECRETARY POWELL: Yeah, his question is, from his perspective, the challenge of working with the Palestinians and Israelis, it sometimes seems that we favor one side over the other. And I think you’re referring to the fact that you think, or at least you think, that we always are favoring the Israeli side, but, in fact, we work with both sides. We have tried very hard, over many years, to find a solution to this problem. President Bush, in the early part of his Administration, worked with both sides. We brought the sides together at Aqaba last year and got both sides to make a commitment that they would follow the roadmap. The roadmap is something that was designed by President Bush that imposes obligations on both sides and shows both sides what will be gained if they move forward toward peace. And so, we will continue to work with both sides. We have been doing everything we can to see if we can get the Palestinian Prime Minister empowered so that he has better control over security forces and will be better positioned to take advantage of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and some of the settlements in the West Bank. And so, the United States believes that terror must end. We believe in the roadmap. We believe that the ultimate answer is for both sides to get together and to negotiate all issues, to include all final status issues, and it has to be an agreement between the parties, not something that is imposed from outside. And the United States stands willing to assist both sides and to hold each side responsible for the obligations that it has under the roadmap. I’ve got time for one more, and then I’ve got a meeting.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
SECRETARY POWELL: Do you want to use the microphone so that we can hear you?
(Laughter.)
QUESTION: Just one thing that, what the—why the American’s government stopped talking or making conversation with Yasser Arafat. Don’t you think that he tried to make peace with the other side? And one other thing that, don’t you think talking with leaders from Hamas and Jihad Islamic that may help you get situation better in the future? Thanks.
SECRETARY POWELL: We talked to Chairman Arafat for the first year, close to a year and a half of the Administration, trying to find a way forward. Mr. Miller spent many years talking to Chairman Arafat as well. I’ve known him for many years. But we finally came to the conclusion that we needed new leadership on the Palestinian side, and we encouraged the Palestinians to come up with a prime minister position and somebody for that position who would be empowered and would be able to represent the Palestinian people. We know that Chairman Arafat occupies a unique place in the minds and hearts of his people. He is the embodiment of their desires and wishes. But we do not think he has been an effective interlocutor toward peace, and therefore we thought the world would be better served, the region would be better served, the Palestinians would be better served if we can empower a prime minister who was operating with authority. That was agreed to by the Palestinian side, and the Israeli side acknowledged that there was now a prime minister that they could work with, in the case of Mr. Abu Mazen last year, and that’s what was accomplished at Aqaba. But unfortunately, he was not able to gain that much authority in order to move forward as a regional interlocutor, either with us or with the Israeli side, and after a while, he stepped down. And now we’re trying to accomplish the same thing with Prime Minister Qurei.
Mr. Arafat has this place with the Palestinian people; we do not deny that. But we have been disappointed by his actions over the years, and therefore we believe that we can only move forward if there is an empowered prime minister who will be seen by the international community, by the Israelis, by the United States, by the Quartet, as a responsible partner for peace. It is difficult, at the same time, to have dialogue or conversations with those organizations that continue to espouse terror as a political tool that can be used to achieve their purposes. I think that would be difficult for us to do.
I’m sorry that I have to leave for another meeting, but I did want to have the opportunity to welcome you all to the Department. I hope you have a good day and congratulations for being members of Seeds of Peace. And just remember everything you have learned here in this program and of all the expectations that we have for each and every one of you.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)