*EPF302 05/14/2003
Bush Welcomes South Korea's New President to White House
(White House Report, May 14: Riyadh bombings, Bush phone calls) (840)

President Bush was to welcome South Korea's new President Roh Moo-hyun to the White House late May 14 for their first face-to-face encounter.

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters that he expected the two leaders to discuss strengthening the "already strong" alliance between the U.S. and South Korea and "North Korea's attempt to blackmail the region through its development of a nuclear weapons program." They would also talk about bilateral economic ties that unite the United States and South Korea, Fleischer said.

Following their talks in the Oval Office, the two leaders were expected to make remarks to the press in the Rose Garden and issue a joint statement that Fleischer said would mention "the strong ties that exist between the United States and South Korea, the determination to make certain that there is a denuclearized Peninsula, and the strength of our economic ties."

President Bush and President Roh were then to have dinner together at the White House.

AL QAEDA STILL SUSPECTED IN SAUDI ARABIA BOMBINGS

"We continue to have strong suspicions about al Qaeda's involvement" in the recent terrorist attacks at three housing compounds for foreigners in Saudi Arabia, Fleischer told reporters May 14, "but we have not reached any conclusions. We continue to investigate."

Saudi officials said May 14 the attacks in the nation's capital, Riyadh, killed 34 people, including seven Americans, and injured 194.

The attacks, Fleischer said, are "a reminder that the war on terrorism continues, that we continue to have people who want to bring harm to our country and attack us.

"If you look who the victims are in this attack, it's not just Americans, there are people from other countries. There are Saudis who have been injured or killed, and (citizens of) other nations. But this is the wanton taking of life of people of many nations by terrorists with nothing but hatred in their heart."

"An FBI team is en route to Saudi Arabia" to help in the investigation, Fleischer said.

"We continue to be pleased with the cooperation we have had from Saudi Arabia in the ongoing war against terrorism and the actions they have taken, particularly since September 11th," Fleischer said. "Saudi Arabia is working well with us and we will continue to work with the Saudis."

But, he said, "we do make the point that it is important for Saudi Arabia to recognize that there is terrorism inside" that country that needs to be confronted. "And we stand there as their allies to help them confront it," Fleischer said.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal, at a May 14 news conference, acknowledged that more work has to be done to combat terrorism in his country. He said "the fact that the terrorism happened is an indication of shortcomings, and we have to learn from our mistakes and seek to improve our performance in this respect."

SAUDI CROWN PRINCE, BUSH DISCUSS TERRORIST ATTACKS

As President Bush returned to Washington May 13 on Air Force One from a visit to several Midwestern states, he talked on the phone with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, a senior administration official told reporters.

The prince expressed condolences for the lost American lives, said he was intent on capturing those responsible, noted that Saudi lives were also lost, and said the two governments should work closely on the investigation, according to the senior administration official.

BUSH, KING OF BAHRAIN DISCUSS IRAQ, JUDICIAL REFORM

President Bush began his day back at the White House May 14 with a phone call to King Hamad Khalifa of Bahrain, Fleischer said. "The king and the president discussed events in Iraq since the end of the combat phase, and they talked about efforts to bring stability to Iraq. The two also discussed the reform efforts that are under way in Bahrain, including giving women the right to vote, and working on the Bahrainian constitution. The president mentioned his high regard for the reforms that are under way in Bahrain. And the king said Bahrain was looking forward to hosting the judicial reform forum that (U.S. Supreme Court) Justice (Sandra Day) O'Connor will be attending. The president thanked him for hosting it," Fleischer said.

BUSH, TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER DISCUSS TERRORIST ATTACKS, CYPRUS

President Bush spoke by phone May 14 with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ervogan of Turkey, Fleischer said.

The prime minister expressed his condolences for the May 12th terrorist attacks in Riyadh, Fleischer said, and Bush expressed thanks to the prime minister for Turkey's strong counter-terrorist cooperation, particularly in Afghanistan.

"Both leaders welcomed unprecedented freedom of movement between the Turkish and Greek sectors of Cyprus in recent weeks, and noted their hope for a lasting Cyprus settlement. President Bush reiterated the United States' support for a Cyprus settlement, based on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's fair and balanced plan," Fleischer said.

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

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