*EPF201 05/01/01
White House Report, Tuesday, May 1, 2001
(Bush talks to Putin, defense, immigration, Japan, foreign affairs) (980)

BUSH PHONES RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT ON MISSILE DEFENSE

The President May 1, in advance of his major speech on missile defense later in the day, phoned Russia's President Vladimir Putin, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters at his early morning meeting with them.

President Bush shared with the Russian President "the reasons why he is moving forward with his missile defense system to preserve the peace. They talked for twelve minutes and the President told me that he thought President Putin was very appreciative of the fact that the United States' President reached out and called" him, said Fleischer.

The call to Putin was part of Bush's "plan to consult. He's interested in what the Russians think, that's why he called," the Press Secretary said.

The day before, April 30, Bush had discussed his missile defense plans in phone calls to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as Lord Robertson, the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"The President has made it clear to all our allies and to others that he believes strongly the best way to protect the peace is to develop a missile defense system, as he said throughout the campaign," Fleischer said.

"The President has also said that he is going to listen, and listen carefully, to our allies. He is interested in their opinions and their thoughts and will take them into consideration. This is not a fait accompli, but the President will demonstrate leadership on this issue."

Fleischer said that U.S. officials are about to leave for Asia and Europe to discuss missile defense with governments there.

Leading the team to Asia will be Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, he said. The team going to Europe will include Deputy National Security Advisor Seve Hadley, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman, Fleischer reported.

The President's speech at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. was expected to last about 30 minutes, the Press Secretary said.

PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY VISITS WHITE HOUSE

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban met in the Roosevelt Room of the White House May 1 with Vice President Dick Cheney, and President Bush joined the meeting briefly, the White House said.

BUSH URGING CONGRESS TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

President Bush is urging Congress to extend a deadline for illegal immigrants to remain in the United States while they pursue legal residency, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said.

A law permitting them to apply for residency expired at midnight.

President Bush would send a letter May 1 to House and Senate leaders expressing his support for extending the deadline, Fleischer said. The White House, he said, estimates that about 200,000 people would be affected by the extension.

"The President is very concerned about what would happen to families of immigrants who would be forced to separate from their loved ones as a result of a law that expired yesterday," Fleischer said.

"He will in this letter express his support for extending the deadline so that these citizens may remain in this country safe with their families without having to return to their homelands."

Bush plans to work with lawmakers to determine how long the extension should last, said Fleischer. "This does require legislation. It's a statutory requirement that expired yesterday."

Bush was sending letters to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, the White House Press Secretary said.

BUSH PHONES NEW PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN

President Bush phoned the new Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, and congratulated him on his election, Fleischer reported.

WHITE HOUSE SENDS 12 FOREIGN AFFAIRS NOMINATIONS TO U.S. SENATE

Following are foreign affairs-related nominations that the White House late April 30 formally sent to the Senate for confirmation.

William J. Burns, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs), vice Edward S. Walker, Jr.

Christina B. Rocca, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, vice Karl Frederick Inderfurth.

Lorne W. Craner, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, vice Harold Hongju Koh.

Ruth A. Davis, of Georgia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Director General of the Foreign Service, vice Marc Grossman.

Carl W. Ford, Jr., of Arkansas, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Intelligence and Research), vice J. Stapleton Roy, resigned.

Linnet F. Deily, of California, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, vice Rita D. Hayes, resigned.

Douglas Jay Feith, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, vice Walter Becker Slocombe.

David S. C. Chu, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, vice Bernard Daniel Rostker.

Linda J. Fisher, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, vice W. Michael McCabe, resigned.

Peter R. Fisher, of New Jersey, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury, vice Gary Gensler, resigned.

Gordon England, of Texas, to be Secretary of the Navy, vice Richard Danzig.

John E. Robson, of California, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a term expiring January 20, 2005, vice James A. Harmon, resigned.

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