Bush Offers Mideast Help, but U.S. Knows of No Talks

Vice President George Bush, ending his 10-day Middle East tour, issued six common principles today to guide negotiation efforts but U.S. officials conceded they know of no new peace initiatives by countries in the troubled region.

Bush, reviewing the talks he held with the leaders of Israel, Jordan and Egypt, told reporters he was “able to discuss the common elements that unite those committed to making peace in the area.”

“While much still divides those in the region,” he said, “I am convinced after my talks that there is enough common ground for progress to be made in the peace process.”

Bush delayed his return to Washington by more than three hours as U.S. officials engaged in intensive behind-the-scenes efforts to draft a set of “common themes” acceptable to the United States, Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

While the final “areas of commonality” delineated by Bush represented little more than a compilation and distillation of previously stated views, a senior U.S. official contended that the six principles laid down “a benchmark, a bottom line” to guide future peace efforts by the United States and the countries in the region.

With the official portion of his trip over, Bush later journeyed to Giza, a short drive beyond Cairo, to tour the Pyramids before returning home to Washington.