*EPF104 07/07/2003
Transcript: U.S. Team to Assess Peacekeeping Needs in Liberia
(Military team will consult on ways to achieve stability and peace) (640)

The United States is sending a military assessment team to West Africa to consult with regional leaders and international officials on the best ways to achieve peace and stability in Liberia, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in a brief interview on July 4.

Fleischer said that the President would be encouraged if reports are true that Liberian leader Charles Taylor has agreed to step down. "But it's important that it's more than words," Fleischer warned. "It has to be deeds. He needs to leave, so that peace can be achieved."

President Bush has made no decision yet on sending U.S. peacekeeping troops to Liberia, said Fleischer in Ohio, where the President spoke at July 4 Independence Day celebrations.

"The President has directed the Pentagon to send an assessment team to the region to meet with leaders of ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], to meet with the United Nations officials, to meet bilaterally with other nations that are in the region, all of whom are working to achieve stability in the region," Fleischer said.

Following is a transcript of the TV Pool interview of White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer in Ohio on July 4:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio)
July 4, 2003

INTERVIEW OF THE PRESS SECRETARY BY TV POOL

United States Air Force Museum
Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

Q: Ari, Charles Taylor today made a statement to Liberia saying that he would leave the country if peacekeeping forces came in. What's the White House reaction to that?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President has called for Charles Taylor to leave Liberia so that peace and stability can take root. If this report of Charles Taylor leaving is true, the President would be encouraged by it. But it's important that it's more than words; it has to be deeds. He needs to leave, so that peace can be achieved.

Q: Is there any timetable? The trip to Africa is coming up soon. How soon can we expect the President -- the President's decision on troops?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has still not made a decision yet about whether or not he will send troops to Liberia to help maintain stability. This is an important matter and a careful matter that he will review thoroughly. He has not made a determination at this time, and he's not going to be guided by an artificial timetable in making as important a decision as whether or not to send America's forces abroad.

Q: Ari, there is an assessment team that is about to go over. Can you tell us about that?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has directed the Pentagon to send an assessment team to the region to meet with leaders of ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], to meet with the United Nations officials, to meet bilaterally with other nations that are in the region, all of whom are working to achieve stability in the region. The assessment team will work with these nations to ascertain what their capabilities are, to determine how best to most effectively keep peace.

Q: And finally, can I ask you what the White House reaction is to the Saddam audiotape that was released today?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the CIA will do an analysis of the purported audiotape of Saddam Hussein. They'll review it to see if indeed it is him or not. Regardless of whether it is him or not, regardless of whether he's dead or alive, the mission, in terms of getting rid of the regime, has been achieved. Iraq, however, still is a dangerous place. But we're going to do a careful analysis of this tape.

Q: Thank you.

(end transcript)

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

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