17 December 2001
White House Report, 12/17: Arafat, Afghanistan, India/Pak, Cuba, Bush
(White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed reporters) (890)
ARAFAT'S "CONSTRUCTIVE" WORDS MUST BE MATCHED BY DEEDS, WHITE HOUSE
SAYS
The weekend speech by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat
urging cessation of violence against Israel was constructive, White
House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters December 17.
While President Bush "viewed Chairman Arafat's words as constructive"
Fleischer said, "the President is also most interested in making
certain that the constructive words are matched by concrete actions.
And only time will tell."
Asked if Arafat has done enough to arrest the people he's been asked
to arrest, Fleischer said: "The President will watch to make certain
that the concrete actions result in a diminution of the violence that
is plaguing Israel. And that will be the real measure of Chairman
Arafat's leadership."
PRESIDENT SATISFIED WITH PROGRESS OF WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
President Bush "is very satisfied with the progress of the war in
Afghanistan," said Fleischer. "He's pleased with the results. He's
pleased with the military successes and the victories, as well as the
political progress in helping Afghanistan to have a government that
will represent the people of that nation."
The Press Secretary made clear, however, that "the military is still
engaged in significant bombing in Afghanistan... the war remains an
engaged war, a shooting war.
"And the President's focus is on the long term, and that means that he
has said repeatedly in private and in public that he remains committed
and resolved and will not leave Afghanistan militarily until the
objectives are achieved. And those objectives are the destruction of
the al Qaeda network, including bringing to justice not only Osama bin
Laden, but his top lieutenants, as well as the government and the
leadership of the Taliban."
Bush, Fleischer said, "continues to be patient and urges the American
people to be patient. As I said, the President is very satisfied with
the pace of the war, but there's a lot of work ahead."
Fleischer refused to speculate what may come after Afghanistan. He
pointed out, however, that Bush "has made clear that this is a war
against terrorism, (against) those who would do harm to us around the
world, and that there are multiple fronts in that war."
Those fronts, Fleischer said, include political, economic, and
military.
BUSH URGES INDIA, PAKISTAN WORK TOGETHER ON WAR AGAINST TERRORISM
Asked about the recent terrorist attack on India's Parliament, and
whether India had a right to attack terrorist training camps just over
the border in Pakistan, Fleischer said:
"India has a legitimate right to self-defense. And at the same time,
the President counsels that this is a very difficult situation in the
region and one that could spiral out of control. And so, therefore, he
urges that both sides share information, work with each other, and
take no action that would in any way hinder the war against terrorism,
to which both India and Pakistan have committed themselves."
Fleischer noted that President Bush spoke with India's Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee the day of the attack, but does not think he
spoke directly with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf.
"The Indians, as we understand it, have arrested two individuals that
are suspected in the attack, and the investigation is ongoing, being
conducted by the Indian government to bring to justice all those who
were responsible for this," Fleischer said, adding that the United
States has offered its assistance to India.
ALL MEMBERS OF U.S. MISSION IN HAITI ARE SAFE, FLEISCHER SAYS
Asked to comment on the assault by two armed men on the presidential
palace in Port-au-Prince Haiti early December 17, Fleischer said:
"The White House received a report, of course, from the ambassador,
and the ambassador reported that all members of the U.S. Mission in
Haiti are safe and accounted for. The ambassador requested additional
police protection for the embassy and the consulate, and the
government of Haiti responded quickly to that request. The embassy is
closed to the public today, following the attack, and the United
States urges all citizens in Haiti to remain in their homes today."
BUSH POSITION ON MAINTAINING SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA UNCHANGED
Asked to comment on the significance of the arrival in Havana December
17 of the first shipment of foodstuff paid for in cash by the Cuban
government since the U.S. began its economic embargo against Cuba in
1963, and whether it signifies an indirect easing of the sanctions,
Fleischer responded:
"No. No, the President's position remains unchanged on maintaining the
sanctions against Cuba until it is free and until democratic elections
are held. This was an action taken privately and in accordance with
the law that was passed by Congress previously and signed into law. So
the law has been obeyed in this case."
BUSH HOLDS EID AL-FITR WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION TO MARK END OF RAMADAN
President Bush held a reception at the White House December 17 in
honor of Eid al-Fitr -- the Muslim holiday to mark the end of Ramadan.
Attending the event were a group of 20 Muslim children between the
ages of eight and 10, and their families or chaperons. The children
all go to school in the Washington, D.C. area.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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