07 May 2003
Bush Thanks Spain's Aznar for His Support on Iraq
(White House Report, May 7: Bush/Aznar, Cheney, coming events) (680) Bush met with President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain late May 7 in the White House Oval Office, and thanked Spain for its support before and during the war on Iraq. The two leaders also discussed the reconstruction of Iraq. At a joint press availability following their meeting, Bush announced that he had suspended U.S. sanctions against Iraq and said he had directed U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow to relax administrative sanctions on American companies and citizens conducting business with Iraq that contributes to humanitarian relief and reconstruction. Now that the Saddam Hussein regime has been removed in Iraq, "no country in good conscience should support using sanctions to hold back the hopes of the Iraqi people," Bush said. And he said that the United States, Great Britain and Spain will soon introduce a new resolution at the United Nations to lift the sanctions against Iraq imposed by that international body. Bush said he senses there is now "a mood to work together" at the United Nations on a sanctions resolution, despite earlier objections that divided the Security Council over whether to go war in Iraq. Spain and the United States, Bush said, will continue as strong allies across the globe in the war against terror and are committed to expanding trade and to addressing global poverty and HIV/AIDS. Bush said Spain and the United States are also "determined to help build peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians." Bush praised Aznar as an important friend of America, calling him a man of principle and courage. He thanked Aznar for providing diplomatic support before the Iraq war and for allowing U.S. planes to fly over Spanish airspace and use Spanish air bases. Aznar said, "When you give your word and you keep it, that gives rise to trust. And that actually is what serious countries and serious governments must do." Bush expressed regret over the deaths of two Spanish journalists in Iraq, one of whom died when U.S. forces fired on a Baghdad hotel where foreign reporters were working. Prime Minister Aznar thanked President Bush for inviting him to the White House and said he and Bush share "deep convictions" against terrorism. Following the joint news conference, Bush and Aznar were to dine together at the White House. CHENEY TO BE BUSH'S RUNNING MATE IN 2004 RE-ELECTION RACE Vice President Dick Cheney will be President Bush's running mate in 2004, according to a published report in the Dallas Morning News. "The president has asked me if I would serve again as his running mate. I've agreed to do that," Cheney said May 6 in an interview with the Dallas paper. Cheney, 61, has said in the past he would relish a chance to join Bush for any 2004 re-election run. In November, 2002, Bush indicated he wanted his vice president to reprise his role, saying "there's no reason for me to change." BUSH COMING EVENTS Thursday, May 8: Bush will welcome Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark to the White House. "The President and Prime Minister Rasmussen will discuss key global issues, including post-conflict issues in Iraq, the global war on terrorism, and trans-Atlantic relations," Fleischer said. Bush also will meet at the White House with foreign ministers from the seven NATO candidate countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Friday, May 9: Bush will depart for South Carolina, where he will make the commencement address at the University of South Carolina. Bush will then depart for Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he and Mrs. Bush will spend the weekend at a private residence. Monday, May 12: Bush will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Omaha, Nebraska, to discuss his economic jobs and growth plan. He will arrive Monday night in Indianapolis, where he will spend the night. Tuesday, May 13: Bush will speak in Indianapolis on his jobs and growth plan before returning to Washington. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
