18 January 2002

White House Report: Foreign Policy, Tours, Week Ahead

BUSH STRONGLY CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK ON ISRAEL

President Bush "strongly condemns the attack that took place on Israel yesterday which took innocent lives," Fleischer said.

"The President condemns, once again, another terrorist attack on our friend Israel. The President believes that (Palestinian Authority) Chairman Arafat needs to continue and must demonstrate that he has the desire and the willingness and the ability to dismantle terrorist organizations, and that is a vital precursor in order for peace to be achieved in the Middle East, in the President's opinion," Fleischer said.

President Bush "is committed to achieving peace in the Middle East through whatever means are the most likely to achieve" that goal, said Fleischer. "So the President will continue the involvement, but it's a very difficult situation."

WHITE HOUSE COMMENTS ON WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE ON SAUDI ARABIA

Asked about the front page article in the January 18 edition of the Washington Post reporting that the government of Saudi Arabia, for internal political reasons, would like to reduce the presence of the U.S. military there, Fleischer noted that the article quoted unnamed Saudi officials, and said he could not comment on anonymous conversations.

"But I'm not aware of any contacts that anybody named 'anonymous' has had with the United States government, let alone anybody who has a Saudi name, with the United States government suggesting that it's time for the United States to leave. I'm not aware," he said.

The Press Secretary reminded reporters that earlier this week Bush had spoken by phone with Saudia Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah. In that conversation, Fleischer said, Bush, "as he has done throughout his presidency, expressed his thanks to the government of Saudi Arabia for their strong support in the war on terrorism."

Fleischer noted that a conference is taking place this weekend in Tokyo on the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia is a co-sponsor of the meeting. Bush "is very pleased with the actions the Saudis have taken," he said.

WHITE HOUSE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF BIN LADEN'S WHEREABOUTS

Asked if the White House had any reaction to the opinion of the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, that bin Laden is probably dead for lack of dialysis treatment, Fleischer said: "We just don't know. I don't think the President would view that as a(n) unwelcome event. But the fact of the matter is, we do not know."

BUSH PHONES ARGENTINA'S PRESIDENT

President Bush phoned Argentina's President Eduardo Duhalde January 18 to discuss the economic challenges that country is facing, and the U.S. commitment to help Argentina, working with the international financial institutions, once Argentina has committed to a sound and sustainable economic plan, Fleischer told reporters.

The two leaders "had a good conversation," Fleischer said.

Bush reaffirmed America's strong bilateral relations with Argentina and stressed the U.S. commitment to the Argentinian people and the heartfelt appreciation for the difficulties that the people of Argentina are facing, said Fleischer.

Bush expressed his willingness to work with the Argentinian government as it confronts Argentina's serious economic challenges, the Press Secretary said.

The key, Fleischer said, is for Argentina "to internally come up with a plan that can demonstrate sustained economic growth. And the world community does stand ready to help Argentina, to work with Argentina. But the President believes that that's the prerequisite."

President Duhalde, for his part, thanked President Bush "for his strong support during these difficult times and expressed his administration's commitment to maintaining strong relations with the United States," Fleischer said.

FLEISCHER COMMENTS ON HAITI

"The United States has expressed concerns about the election process in Haiti, particularly with regard to the legislative elections," the Press Secretary said.

"The administration considers that the solution is in the hands of Haitians themselves. The administration supports efforts by the Organization of American States to bring all parties together to resolve what is an electoral impasse there, said Fleischer.

"Currently, the United States provides Haiti with $70 million through nongovernmental organizations for developmental assistance directly to the Haiti people. Direct assistance to Haiti will be reviewed once all parties involved reach a political agreement."

GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR TO VISIT WASHINGTON

President Bush will welcome German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to Washington on January 31st, Fleischer announced.

WHITE HOUSE TO REOPEN ON A LIMITED BASIS TO TOURISTS

Beginning in early February the White House will reopen on a limited basis to tourists, the Press Secretary announced.

The tours, he said, at first will be limited to domestic school groups coming to Washington. Those visits will be arranged through the congressional offices of the visitors.

The procedure for any school groups that want to come visit the White House, he said, is to get in contact with their member of Congress, with their Senator, and then those offices will work with the groups to obtain all necessary information to get them cleared into the White House, so that school visits can begin.

"The President and Mrs. Bush are very pleased to be able to take that limited step as part of reopening the White House," Fleischer said.

Public tours of the White House were closed for security reasons following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Previously, tourists did not have to receive security clearances to enter the White House.

WEEK AHEAD:

Fleischer said President and Mrs. Bush will spend the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin mountains.

On Monday, the President and Mrs. Bush will join in a celebration honoring slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the East Room of the White House. The President will sign a proclamation observing Monday, January 21st, 2002, as a national holiday in Dr. King's honor. Also on Monday morning, Mrs. Bush will fly to Atlanta, Georgia to make remarks at an annual commemorative service honoring Dr. King.

On Tuesday, the President will travel to Charleston, West Virginia to tour a factory and to talk about ways to create more jobs for Americans.

On Wednesday, the President will meet with bipartisan leaders from the House and the Senate in the Oval Office. And that afternoon, he will make remarks on the war effort to the Reserve Officers Association here in Washington, D.C.

On Thursday afternoon the President will hold a meeting with his Cabinet.

And finally, on Friday the President will travel to the Northeast, where he will talk about homeland security.

Throughout the week, the President will continue to focus on creating jobs for Americans and on homeland security, Fleischer said. The President will highlight the fact that economic security for America begins with economic security for each of its families, and that the President believes the single, most important way to protect the economy is to prevent another terrorist attack on the United States.

Fleischer noted that the President's first State of the Union address to Congress will take place on the evening of January 29.