04 July 2003
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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