23 April 2003
White House Warns Against Iranian Interference in Iraq
(Spokesman also welcomes advances towards new Palestinian cabinet) (1120) The White House said it has made it clear to Iran it would oppose any outside organization's interference in Iraq as that country embarks on its "road to democracy." White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer, briefing in Washington April 23, was asked about reports of movement of Iranian agents into Shiite areas of Iraq, and also about Syrian intervention. "The interests of Syria and the interests of Iran have not always proved to be the interest of peace or stability or freedom or democracy," Fleischer said. "And we have always said that one of the principles of the liberation and the government that would follow would be a government that is based not on an Iranian model or a Syrian model, but based on a model of freedom, democracy, tolerance, openness, rule of law." Fleischer said the goal of the United States is to see that the Iraqi people determine their own future. "They are capable of doing so and they will be able to do so," he said. "We have some concerns about outside interference in Iraq's road to democracy, and we have acted on those concerns and conveyed a message. I want to stress that people should not over-interpret the capability of the Shiite Iranians to influence the Shia Iraqis; they are not one and the same." Fleischer said "There is no love lost between the Iraqi people and the Iranian people. The Iraqi Shiite community is a very capable community, a very large community and a very diverse community. And I think that any efforts or anybody outside of Iraq to try to create an outsider's version of what should take place for the Iraqi people, by the Iraqi people, will not have much chance of success." Fleischer said there is much for the international community to do to help the Iraqis build a better future for themselves, and the United States hopes countries seize on the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the Iraqi people. U.S. SAYS TIME MAY BE RIGHT FOR MIDEAST ROADMAP The White House April 23 praised the Palestinian Authority for reaching an agreement between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Abu Mazen on a new cabinet, but said two more steps must be taken before a plan for Middle East peace will be introduced. "The next step," Fleischer said, is "the submission of the cabinet to the Palestinian legislature," and then "the PLC would need to quickly approve it," which Fleischer says should take place within days. "Those are the next two steps that would take place before this is actually certified and ratified. We see no need for that to take any length of time, period of time. When that happens, we will officially provide the road map to the parties soon thereafter." Once the "road map" is formally introduced to the Palestinian and Israeli leaders, contributions from both parties will be welcomed, Fleischer said. "In the end, is up to the Israelis and the Palestinians to work together on agreement about the terms of the road map to make it meaningful progress. And so we will welcome their contributions." Fleischer noted the absence of recent suicide or homicide attacks in the region, and suggested there may be increased willingness on the part of the parties to work together. "This very well may be the right time, the right moment, to do something new and different in the Middle East in terms of the parties working together to achieve peace in the Middle East," he said. "The road map, in the president's judgment, can help foster that climate to make that happen." "Make no mistake. It's always been a difficult process, but it's one that the president is committed to because peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the creation of a Palestinian state and an Israel that can live side by side in peace and security, with the United States helping with Israel's security, has always been our policy," Fleischer said. STRAINED RELATIONS WITH U.S. A "CONSEQUENCE" FOR FRANCE Fleischer said a "consequence" of France's decision not to support the United States' position on Iraq at the United Nations Security Council are strained bilateral relations between the two countries. Fleischer was asked by members of the White House press corps to elaborate on a comment by Secretary of State Colin Powell the day before in a television interview, in which Powell said there would be consequences for the French. "Clearly, we had a very major difference on an issue of tremendous importance to President Bush," Fleischer said. "Relations between the United States and France have been strained over this very issue. That's a consequence that we have to deal with in terms of the bilateral relationship between the United States and France." He added that "it's been the history of U.S. relations with France that on some issues we agree, on other issues we disagree. Typically, there are, indeed, more that we agree on than we disagree." Fleischer also said that the United States "noted with interest" France's official statement calling for U.N. sanctions on Iraq to be suspended. "It's important to note that France has recognized the Iraqi situation has changed as a result of Saddam Hussein's regime now being gone," he said. "We're pleased that France has made some moves in this direction. They've got a little more to go." PRIME MINISTER OF URUGUAY VISITS WHITE HOUSE President Bush met April 23 with President Jorge Batlle of Uruguay in the Oval Office. The two presidents reviewed the situation in Iraq, the war on terrorism, and the economic situation in Uruguay. Bush reaffirmed his continued support for Batlle's efforts, in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, to promote sustainable growth in Uruguay. Bush also told Batlle that the United States is committed to strengthening trade and investment ties with Uruguay. BUSH PRAISES TURKEY'S SUPPORT AND REFORM Bush spoke by phone April 23 with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to reaffirm the strong relations between the United States and Turkey. President Bush expressed appreciation for Turkey's "ongoing resupply of United States forces in northern Iraq" and welcomed Turkey's desire to work closely with the United States in support of Iraq's security, stability and reconstruction. Bush also welcomed Turkey's ongoing economic reforms and Turkey's cooperation with the International Monetary Fund. Prime Minister Erdogan expressed thanks to the United States for U.S. support of Turkey, including the $1,000 million of assistance included in recently passed supplemental budget legislation. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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