White House Report: Blair, UN, Afghanistan, Uruguay

(White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed reporters) (450)

BUSH DISCUSSES WAR ON TERRORISM, SOUTH ASIA WITH BRITAIN'S PRIME
MINISTER

President Bush the morning of January 17 phoned Britain's Prime
Minister Tony Blair to discuss the war on terrorism, White House Press
Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters. The two leaders also spoke
about developments in South Asia, Fleischer said.

Bush "noted and praised" the speech over the weekend by Pakistan's
President Pervez Musharraf, "which has succeeded thus far in reducing
tensions. And they also discussed Prime Minister Blair's visit to the
region last week and Secretary Powell's current meetings in India and
Pakistan," the White House Press Secretary said.

BUSH THANKS UN FOR UPDATING SANCTIONS AGAINST AL QAEDA, TALIBAN

President Bush "wants to express his appreciation to the United
Nations" for the vote January 16 in the Security Council which
extended and expanded the sanctions against Osama bin Laden and al
Qaeda and the Taliban, Fleischer said.

"The resolution requires United Nations states to expand financial
sanctions or to impose asset freezes, and to impose a travel
restriction and an arms embargo," on those groups, Fleischer said.
"The resolution also has the effect of lifting the ban on Ariana
Airlines, the Afghan national airline," the Press Secretary explained.

The United States, Fleischer said, "worked hard for the passage of the
resolution, and the president is very pleased that the United Nations
has taken a strong vote once again with the United States and the rest
of the world against terrorism."

AFGHANISTAN'S INTERIM LEADER TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE LATER IN JANUARY

President Bush will welcome Afghanistan's Interim Authority Chairman
Hamid Karzai to Washington on January 28, Fleischer announced in a
January 17 statement.

"This visit provides an opportunity to develop the U.S. partnership
with Afghanistan to eliminate terrorism and build a stable Afghanistan
which will not again become a base for terrorist activity.

"We look forward to an Afghanistan that is prosperous, accountable to
its citizens, and at peace with its neighbors and the international
community," the statement said.

URUGUAY'S PRESIDENT TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE IN FEBRUARY

President Bush will welcome Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle to
Washington on February 15, Fleischer said in a January 17 statement.

"This visit provides the opportunity to deepen United States
cooperation with Uruguay, a strong ally on counterterrorism and on
advancing hemispheric free trade.

"The United States appreciates Uruguay's support in the war on
terrorism. President Bush looks forward to discussing with President
Batlle ways to advance negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the
Americas," the statement said.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)