*EPF101 04/19/2004
White House Report April 19: Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nominations
(Bush regrets Spain's troop withdrawal from Iraq; Saudi assurances on oil prices; election congratulations to South Africa) (840)

BUSH REGRETS SPAIN'S DECISION ON TROOP WITHDRAWAL

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters April 19 that President Bush spoke with Spain's new president of government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and expressed regrets at Zapatero's announcement that he intends to pull all Spanish troops out of Iraq.

According to news reports, Zapatero announced April 18 that he had ordered the withdrawal of Spain's 1,800 military personnel in Iraq. He had said previously he would pull out the troops if the United Nations did not take charge in Iraq by June 30.

"The president urged that the Spanish withdrawal take place in a coordinated manner that does not put at risk other coalition forces in Iraq," McClellan said. "The president stressed the importance of carefully considering future actions to avoid giving false comfort to the terrorists and enemies of freedom in Iraq."

A Spanish government official told reporters that the withdrawal should take a month to a month and a half to complete. The official did not speculate about when the withdrawal would begin.

Asked if the Bush administration was surprised by Zapatero's decision, the spokesman said, "We were aware of this decision given the recent elections, and we will continue to work with Spain in the war on terrorism."

Zapatero was sworn into office April 17 following his party's victory in a March 14 general election held in the aftermath of the Madrid train bombings.

"The coalition in Iraq is strong, and we appreciate recent statements by many coalition nations expressing their solidarity and resolve," McClellan said.

SAUDI ARABIA ASSURES BUSH OF STABLE OIL PRICES

"Prince Bandar has assured us that Saudi Arabia is committed to making sure the price of oil will remain in a range between $22 to $28 per barrel, and they do not want to do anything that will harm our consumers or our economy," the White House spokesman said.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan ibn Saud is the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

McClellan said "prices should be made by market forces, and we should always be in close contact with producers around the world, including our friends in OPEC, on these issues.

"Our views are very well known to Saudi Arabia. Prince Bandar spoke to the press and affirmed his commitment following meetings with senior U.S. administration officials."

According to news reports, on April 1 Bandar reassured the White House that the kingdom would not allow oil shortages to hurt world economic growth after Saudi Arabia led a push by OPEC to cut output by 1 million barrels a day beginning April 2.

BUSH CONGRATULATES MBEKI ON SOUTH AFRICA ELECTIONS

"President Bush called South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki April 19 and congratulated him on the outcome of parliamentary elections," the press secretary said. "He also congratulated him on the well-organized and peaceful conduct of the elections and the high voter turnout."

"President Bush noted that South Africa offers a model to countries moving toward democracy and demonstrates the universality of freedom among peoples of all races, religions, and nationalities," McClellan said. He noted that the president also briefed Mbeki on developments in the Middle East.

BUSH TO NOMINATE THREE TO DIPLOMATIC POSTS

Bush announced April 16 his intention to nominate three individuals to serve in his administration:

The president intends to nominate Thomas Fingar, of Virginia, to be assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research. Fingar currently serves as principal deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Earlier in his career, Fingar served as director of the bureau's Office of Analysis for East Asia and the Pacific. He earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his master's degree and doctorate from Stanford University.

The president intends to nominate Suzanne Hale, of Virginia, to be ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. A career member of the Foreign Agricultural Service, Hale currently serves as agricultural minister counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. She previously served in the same position at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Earlier in her career, Hale served as director of the Foreign Agricultural Service's AgExport Services Division at the Department of Agriculture. She earned her bachelor's degree from Beloit College and her master's degree from Columbia University.

The president intends to nominate Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, to be deputy representative to the United Nations, with the rank and status of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary; deputy representative to the U.N. Security Council; and representative to the sessions of the U.N. General Assembly during her tenure of service as deputy representative. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Patterson currently serves as deputy inspector general at the Department of State. She previously served as ambassador to Colombia and to El Salvador. Ambassador Patterson earned her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.

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

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