President Bush said Tuesday he will not act precipitously in the Middle East just to match the current visit to the region by Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze.
“I don’t want to be rushing out because Mr. Shevardnadze went to the Middle East,” Bush said at a White House news conference. “I’d like to have for the first step we take of that nature to be a prudent step.”
Secretary of State James Baker during his visit to Europe last week rejected the urging of the West Europeans that he go to the Middle East as soon as possible.
Bush insisted that his policy in the region is clear and was enunciated during the presidential campaign last year.
This policy is “to encourage discussions between King Hussein (of Jordan) and the Israelis and to build on the progress that has been made already,” the president explained.
He said he also wants to see how the talks with the Palestine Liberation Organization develop.
“The principles are there,” Bush said, and the United States must “now flesh them out and figure out what we do specifically.”
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