*EPF401 05/03/01
White House Report, May 3: U.S.-China Ties, Meeting with Peres
(Fleischer briefed at morning and afternoon sessions) (640)

MILITARY TO MILITARY CONTACTS WITH CHINA

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters at both his early morning and early afternoon sessions with them that military contacts between the United States and China "will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis."

Fleischer said that was the policy determined earlier by the Bush administration and announced by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld late May 2.

The "only decision is what the Secretary announced last night that he will review on a case-by-case basis military contacts with China," Fleischer said. "That was the White House understanding all along."

An earlier memo went out from the Department of Defense "that was not consistent with the guidance that the Secretary gave," Fleischer said, and the Department of Defense "very quickly, last night, explained what the Secretary's position was."

Rumsfeld "couldn't have made it any plainer yesterday when he said" the initial memo that went out "was a misinterpretation of his guidance," the Press Secretary added.

Asked if there was some concern within the Administration that the initial memo might send the wrong signal to China and could interfere with negotiations over return of the U.S. reconnaissance plane still sitting on China's Hainan Island, Fleischer said: "There was only one intention, and that was to make clear that the military-to-military contacts will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. And that was the only signal the President believed should be sent, and that's the signal that's been sent."

The President, he added, decided on the case-by-case review of military contacts with China after meeting with his national security team and "well before" the first memo was issued.

BUSH MEETS WITH ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER

President Bush and Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres discussed the situation in the Middle East at a May 3 meeting in the Oval Office of the White House that lasted about 45 minutes.

"They had a good exchange, reflecting our strong relationship with Israel and our long association with Foreign Minister Peres, who has been a tireless advocate for peace in the Middle East," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters.

"The President and the Foreign Minister discussed the situation in the region. They focused on efforts that are underway to end the violence, to rebuild trust and confidence and to return to a dialogue in the region," Fleischer said.

They "agreed on the need to work very closely with Egypt and with Jordan, Israel's neighbors and partners in peace. The President noted the constructive role that both Jordan and Egypt continue to play in the region, and he emphasized to Foreign Minister Peres the importance he places on strengthening relations between Israel and those countries," the Press Secretary said.

Bush also stated that the violence in the Middle East "must be reduced immediately and that the parties should continue their security discussions. And the President, finally, pledged that he'll continue his active efforts to assist the parties in their efforts to move forward," Fleischer said.

As he left the White House, Peres told reporters that he had had "a very rewarding discussion with the President" and found him "totally devoted to the peace process; informed, decisive, and I think we see eye-to-eye how to handle the situation in the future."

"He doesn't want to impose; he wants to help," Peres said of Bush.

BUSH CALLS PRESIDENTS OF MADAGASCAR, CZECH REPUBLIC

President Bush the morning of May 3 made phone calls to introduce himself to Didier Ratsiraka, the President of Madagascar and to Vaclav Havel, the President of the Czech Republic, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer reported.

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