*EPF103 05/10/2004
White House Report: Iraqi Prisoner Abuse, E.U./NATO Summit, Italy
(Bush discusses Iraq with top officials, Bush to attend an E.U. and a NATO Summit, Bush to meet with Italian leaders and pope, Bush calls Panama's president-elect, upcoming meeting with Angola's president) (790)

BUSH MEETS WITH TOP OFFICIALS ON IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters May 10 that President Bush attended a briefing at the Pentagon on Iraq and the global war on terrorism.

McClellan said that following the briefing the president gave an interview to Armed Forces Radio and Television Service and then went to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's office to view more than a dozen photographs of prisoner abuse in Iraq.

"The president's reaction was one of deep disgust and disbelief that anyone who wears our uniform would engage in such shameful and appalling acts, the spokesman said. "It does not represent our United States military and it does not represent the United States of America."

When asked about current investigations on the abuse, McClellan said, "The president believes that that process should be open and transparent, and it's important for the world to see by our actions that the United States takes these matters very seriously and that we work to hold people responsible, and that we work to make sure that this doesn't happen ever again."

The spokesman also said that one of the Defense Department's priorities is to keep Congress informed.

According to news reports, Secretary Rumsfeld will show Congress the unreleased photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by U.S. soldiers.

The press secretary emphasized U.S. cooperation with the International Red Cross, "We believe in cooperating closely with the Red Cross, and the military has worked to address some of the issues that they raised."

"Detainee treatment is something that we always are looking at and talking about. It's important that we make sure we adhere to high standards of conduct," McClellan said, "and that we are the United States of America and we stand for the rule of law and we stand for justice and we stand for treating everyone with dignity and respect, and we believe in treating prisoners humanely.
"When something like this comes to light, the United States acts quickly and swiftly to bring people to justice and to take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again," the spokesman said.
BUSH TO MEET WITH ITALIAN LEADERS AND POPE

The White House spokesman told reporters President Bush will travel to Rome, Italy on June 4 for meetings with President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"June 4 marks the 60th anniversary of the World War II liberation of Rome by American and allied forces," McClellan said. "Today, Italy stands as a NATO ally, and is a major contributor to international efforts to strengthen security and democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans."

The spokesman said that the president will also go to the Vatican to meet with Pope John Paul II and noted that this would be Bush's third meeting with the pope during his term in office.

"His holiness has been a symbol of moral courage and of human freedom and dignity," he said.

McClellan said that Bush would depart Rome on June 5 en route Paris and Normandy.

BUSH TO PARTICIPATE IN U.S./E.U. and NATO SUMMIT

"The president will travel to Country Clare, Ireland on June 25. He will participate in the U.S.-EU summit on June 26, and then travel to Ankara, Turkey for bilateral meetings on June 27 before departing for the NATO summit in Istanbul June 27 through 29," McClellan said.

He noted that the trip would underscore the importance of the relationship with all of our European partners in an undivided transatlantic community.

BUSH CONGRATULATES PANAMA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT

The White House spokesman said Bush called Panamanian President-elect Martin Torrijos to congratulate him on his election.

"The president underscored the importance of our relationship with Panama, and said that he looked forward to working with President Torrijos once he is inaugurated on September 1," McClellan said. "They promised to stay in touch on important initiatives as they move forward, including such issues as expanding free trade in our hemisphere."

BUSH TO MEET WITH ANGOLA'S PRESIDENT

The press secretary said that President Bush would meet with Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos May 12.

"President Bush looks forward to discussing issues affecting the common interests of the United States and the Republic of Angola, particularly Angola's postwar reconstruction and transition to democracy, trade and development, regional stability, HIV/AIDS and the global war on terrorism," McClellan said.

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

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