14 May 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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