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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Washington File

14 April 2003

White House Warns "Syria Needs to Cooperate"

(White House Report: Syria, Calls to Leaders, Canada trip, Aussie PM)
(750)
The White House April 14 called Syria a "rogue nation" and a
"terrorist state," and White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer
reiterated President Bush's warning that "Syria needs to cooperate."
He said the White House has two major concerns: that Iraq's arsenal of
weapons of mass destruction may have been moved across the border to
Syria, and that Syria may be harboring Baath party leaders who fled
Iraq during the U.S.-led attack.
President Bush, upon his arrival at the White House from Camp David
April 13, said "we believe there are chemical weapons in Syria." He
acknowledged that "each situation will require a different response,"
and said he was still focused on Iraq, but when it comes to Syria, "we
expect cooperation, and I'm hopeful we'll receive cooperation."
In response to questions about whether the United States is now
focused on Syria as the next stage in the war on terror, Fleischer
responded with his own questions. "Do you think the White House and
President Bush should look the other way at the fact that Syria is
taking in Iraqi leaders? Do you think we should just ignore it?"
"Nations that are interested in peaceful outcomes to world affairs ...
when you talk about having peace in the Middle East, broadly speaking,
nations should not pursue policies meant to encourage or harbor
terrorism," Fleischer said. He cautioned reporters against concluding
that the United States has decided to act.
He referred to a 2002 CIA report to Congress on Syrian chemical and
biological weapons programs. The report covered a period from January
1 to June 30, 2002.
He read the following excerpt from the report to reporters in his
morning briefing: "Syria sought chemical weapon-related precursors and
expertise from foreign sources during the recorded period. Damascus
already held a stockpile of nerve agent serin, but apparently is
trying to develop more toxic and persistent nerve agents. Syria
remained dependent on foreign sources for key elements of its CW
(chemical weapons) program including precursor chemicals and key
production equipment. It is highly probable that Syria also is
continuing to develop an offensive BW (biological weapons)
capability."
BUSH CALLS LEADERS OF SPAIN, EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA
President Bush spoke by phone the morning of April 14 with President
Jose Maria Aznar of Spain. The two leaders regularly consult on the
situation in Iraq, and discussed post-Saddam Iraq, said White House
Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. They pledged to work together to
closely assist the people of Iraq. They also discussed the peace
process in the Middle East.
Bush discussed prospects for Middle East peace in separate phone calls
with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Crown Prince Abdullah of
Saudi Arabia. With the Crown Prince, Bush also discussed the
importance of providing humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq.
BUSH STATE VISIT TO CANADA POSTPONED
After consultations, the U.S. and Canadian Governments have decided to
postpone President Bush's May 5 state visit to Ottawa. The White House
says the postponement is due to Bush's ongoing obligations to help the
people of Iraq build a nation that is whole, free and at peace.
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER TO BE GUEST AT CRAWFORD RANCH
President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will welcome Prime Minister
John Howard of Australia to their ranch in Crawford, Texas, May 2-3.
BUSH SENDS TV MESSAGE THANKING U.S. MILITARY AND FAMILIES
President Bush sent a videotaped message thanking the men and women of
the U.S. military and their families for their service and sacrifices.
The message began running April 14 over broadcasting facilities around
the world on closed-circuit armed services television networks. "All
of America is grateful for your sacrifice," Bush said. "I am proud to
be your commander-in-chief." The president recorded the message at the
White House April 11.
THE WEEK AHEAD
April 15 -- Bush will make remarks on the U.S. economy in the Rose
Garden of the White House.
April 16 -- Bush will sign the supplemental appropriations bill at the
White House in the morning. In the afternoon, he will visit St. Louis,
Missouri, where he will make remarks and tour Boeing's integrated
defense systems headquarters. Later in the day, the president and
first lady will travel to their ranch in Crawford, Texas, where they
will spend the rest of the week through Easter Sunday.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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