For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 28, 2003
Press Gaggle by Claire Buchan
Crawford Elementary School
Crawford, Texas
1:12 P.M. CDT
MS. BUCHAN: Good afternoon, everyone. The President had his usual
briefings today. He's been working out on the ranch since then. And I
will take your questions, and if someone will remind me at the end, I
have your week ahead.
Q Does that mean you'll gaggle tomorrow?
MS. BUCHAN: It does not mean I'll gaggle tomorrow. It means that
we're going to give you a long weekend.
Q What is the President doing to recognize the 40th anniversary of
the March on Washington?
MS. BUCHAN: I expect you'll see a statement later today, so look
for that.
Q What was the question?
MS. BUCHAN: What is the President doing to recognize the
anniversary of the march on Washington. Expect a statement.
Q What about reaction to North Korea's position at the talks
today?
MS. BUCHAN: As you know, the talks were held in North Korea today.
It's now night in North Korea. And we expect there to be additional
talks tomorrow. We believe there's been excellent cooperation in the
talks among the five partners of the United States, including China,
Japan, South Korea and Russia. And the only way to -- only through
common effort and purpose can the U.S. and our friends and allies hope
to convince North Korea to peacefully abandon its nuclear ambitions.
And our position is clear, which is that North Korea must completely,
verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear program.
Q Well, they basically thumbed their nose at that demand today and
called their partners, liars on behalf of the United States. So what is
the reaction to what happened? You described it as an excellent opening
session -- it doesn't sound --
MS. BUCHAN: Well, the assessment from our team who was on the
ground in North Korea -- or in Beijing, rather, in these discussions,
is that this is a positive session that they have been having. The
President has longed believed that this is an issue that must be
addressed in a multilateral forum. And the fact that we are meeting in
a multilateral forum to talk about the importance of North Korea
completely and irreversibly dismantling its nuclear program is an
important step. And we're receiving excellent cooperation from our
partners.
Q But what's the basis of saying it was an excellent session?
MS. BUCHAN: This is the assessment, David, of the people who are in
the negotiations.
Q Right, but what's the basis for that? We know --
MS. BUCHAN: You would have to talk to the people who are in the
negotiations. I don't think they're probably going to get into all of
the specifics of their conversations. But they are the ones who are on
the ground and this is their assessment.
Q Claire, you're talking about --
MS. BUCHAN: I'm sorry, John, I can't here you.
Q I'm sorry. You're talking about excellent cooperation there.
You're talking about excellent cooperation -- countries who are not
cooperating --
MS. BUCHAN: That's correct. Among our friends and allies who join
with us in believing that North Korea must dismantle its nuclear
program, that we need to have a nuclear-free peninsula.
Q -- into North Korea, itself, as opposed to the fine progress you
spoke of. Are we disappointed -- is the United States disappointed with
the reaction of North Koreans? Or does the United States feel we've
heard this kind of thing before, its the opening of -- It's all about
negotiating, but we're not too concerned. Is that --
MS. BUCHAN: What --
Q Should we take your comments to mean that the very negative
comments by the North Koreans at the talks is only, like, the opening
-- negotiations. And the talks continue, the talks -- therefore, the
United States is not terribly concerned.>
MS. BUCHAN: Well, North Korea has a long history of making
inflammatory comments that serve to isolate it from the rest of the
world. And that is why this is an issue that the world and other
nations, in addition to the United States, are addressing together.
Q So the fact that they made inflammatory comments this time is of
no great concern, because you've heard it before and the talks continue
and --
MS. BUCHAN: The talks are continuing, John, and they're going to
continue tomorrow.
Q On the same point, Claire, AP, as you've probably seen, is
reporting that North Korea --
MS. BUCHAN: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over Dana.
Q AP is reporting that North Korea has --
MS. BUCHAN: I'm sorry?
Q AP is saying that North Korea has both warned that it will
declare itself a nuclear state and that it will conduct a nuclear test.
The administration's position has been, there is no crisis here. If
North Korea conducts a nuclear test or it declares itself a nuclear
power, does that change the administration's assessment about whether
we have a crisis?
MS. BUCHAN: I'm not going to speculate about things that haven't
happened, David, but we've made very clear that North Korea must
completely, irreversibly dismantle its nuclear program. And discussions
are underway in Beijing. And that, in itself, is a very positive
development because it has been something that the President has long
believed is part of the solution there, a diplomatic solution, and that
is what we are in the process of doing.
Q One quick follow up. In March or April, when the South Korean
President was here, there was a joint statement issued in which both
countries, South Korea and the United States, said they would not
tolerate a nuclear North Korea. Does that statement remain in effect?
MS. BUCHAN: Well, the President has indicated many, many times that
the Korean Peninsula must -- should be de-nuclearized.
Q Claire, is the U.S. trying to get the U.N. to send a
multi-national force to Iraq?
MS. BUCHAN: I've seen the stories that you're talking about. This
is one of many ideas. It's an idea that was presented by Secretary
General Annan a number of days ago. So it's one of a number of ideas.
The President believes, and we have always pursued a strategy in Iraq
that calls for international cooperation. And, indeed, there are some
30 countries participating in Iraq. More would be welcome.
Q Will the U.S. be willing to concede more political authority to
the United Nations in order to get this multi-national force?
MS. BUCHAN: Well, the U.N. has a vital role to play. And evidence
of that is the bombing that took place last week, attacking the very
people who are distributing food and who are distributing medicine to
the people of Iraq. So we'll continue to work with the U.N., as we have
done. But this is an international issue. The world will be better off
if Iraq is free and democratic. And terrorism is an international
enemy, so we've been pursuing this on an international level, and as a
broad coalition.
Q But it remains the President's view that the United States and
the Coalition Provisional Authority ought to remain in charge in Iraq?
MS. BUCHAN: The story that you're talking about, or the issue that
you're talking about, that's one of many ideas that are floating
around, and no decisions have been made on any of those ideas.
Q Yesterday, you guys put out a statement on the Rwandan elections
that did not mention -- make mention of any irregularities. The EU
mission that was there observing the elections says there were
irregularities. Does yesterday's statement on the Rwandan elections
stand, or would you like to add anything to it today?
MS. BUCHAN: I'll let you know if there's anything to add on that.
I'll get back to you.
Q On the economy -- this, today, was one of the better reports that
you've all seen that the second quarter growth was, what, 3.1 percent.
But how long does the White House anticipate that the job -- it will
take before the job market turns around?>
MS. BUCHAN: Today's report on the upward revision of GDB -- GDP was
welcomed. The President is pleased to see that the recovery appears to
be taking hold, but he isn't satisfied. And he won't be satisfied until
every American who wants to find a job can do so. And there are more
that we can do on the economy. And you've heard the President talk
about some of those specific initiatives, including energy legislation,
comprehensive energy legislation, including tort reforms, prescription
drugs for seniors. So there are a broad range of issues that will help
strengthen our economy for American workers.
Q Claire, can you give us some guidance on what is and what is not
on the record in terms of last night's dinner? The fact that it
occurred you put on the record -- but can we say, like, various things
that happened there? Or is it just the content of the conversations?
How should we do that?
MS. BUCHAN: The conversations that you had with the President or
any senior officials who were there, that would all be off the record.
The fact that the President hosted you is certainly something you're
welcome to report.
Q Claire, can I just revisit the North Korean thing one more time,
because the impression -- at least, I'm getting, maybe others can speak
for themselves -- I'm getting, is that the administration, even though
that North Koreans could not have been more antagonistic at this
session --
MS. BUCHAN: Could not what?
Q Even though the North Koreans could not have been more
antagonistic at this session, been more negative in their remarks,
there to be a certain Pollyanna-ish attitude at the administration. And
maybe I'm misinterpreting remarks -- is the United States disappointed
at all in these North Korean remarks, which were pretty harsh at this
opening rally?
MS. BUCHAN: The United States position and our top priority has not
changed. It is very clear. And that is that we need the complete,
verifiable, and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear
weapons program. And that stands as it is, period.
Q So there's really no reaction to the North Korean statements, per
se, is that right?
MS. BUCHAN: Our reaction from our negotiators on the ground is as I
relayed it to you.
Q Will the U.N. General Assembly meeting next month provide a
deadline or a forum for resolving this issue on Iraq and the
international force? Do you hope to have something in place by then?
MS. BUCHAN: Well, we have an international force. There are 31
countries that are participating. And the Iraqis are also continuing to
step forward. We're training Iraqis to be police officers. We are
training Iraqis to participate in an Iraqi army. So the Iraqis are
increasingly stepping forward. We are talking to other nations about
coming forward and joining the international coalition. The President
believes that this needs to be a broad coalition. It is already a broad
coalition, but of course we would always welcome more members.
Q Okay. So my question is what role do you expect the General
Assembly to play in that process, the General Assembly meeting in
September?
MS. BUCHAN: Well, we won't have artificial deadlines, Randy, so I'm
not quite sure what you're getting at. We
continue --
Q But you won't have agreement on a new resolution by the time of a
meeting?
MS. BUCHAN: We want to have continued, increased participation from
members of the international community.
Q Since you put some stuff off the record from what we might have
gotten last night, can you tell us, does the President, as he prepares
to end his stay at his ranch, does he feel well rested? Is he looking
forward to going back to the White House? Does he dread it? (Laughter.)
MS. BUCHAN: The President looks forward to continuing to do the
people's business in Washington and as he travels around the country.
And he has appreciated the opportunity to be here, at his home in
Texas, and also to travel out and visit with people across America.>
Q Do you know yet what the President will do on the second
anniversary of the September 11th attacks?
MS. BUCHAN: We'll have more for you on that as we get a little
closer to it.
Q I'm going to make one more stab on North Korea, okay? What is the
President's reaction to North Korea saying it not only has nuclear
weapons, but that it plans to conduct a test? I know how the
administration -- what their stance is --
MS. BUCHAN: The President believes that North Korea must
completely, irreversibly dismantle its nuclear program. That is the
President's view. And that is also the view of our partners who are
joined with the United States in these talks with North Korea.
Q But when it says -- but when it says it's going to conduct a
test, does the administration view that as sabre rattling or does it
think it maybe is not really telling the truth there?
MS. BUCHAN: As I said, North Korea has a long history of making
inflammatory statements. And those statements further isolate North
Korea from the world.
Week ahead? Okay.
Saturday the President will depart his ranch. He will travel back
to Washington, where he will remain for the remainder of the weekend.
Monday the President will travel to Richfield, Ohio, where will address
members of the International Union of Operating Engineers and their
families at a Labor Day event.
On Tuesday, the President will participate in the presentation of
the first game football of the 2003 NFL season. The commissioner of the
NFL and representatives of the Washington Redskins and the New York
Jets will be on hand in the Oval Office to present him with the
traditional game ball of the first game.
On Wednesday, the President will meet with the Prime Minister of
the Netherlands. And that afternoon he will participate in the signing
ceremony of the U.S.-Chile and the U.S.-Singapore free trade
agreements.
Thursday, the President will travel to Kansas City, Missouri, to
make remarks to the Chamber of Commerce and other local officials on
the economy.
And Friday the President will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, to
talk about the economy at Langham Company, which is a warehousing
business. He'll be speaking with the company's workers and members of
the Indianapolis small business community. And that evening the
President will attend a Bush-Cheney 2004 reception.
Q Claire, how old is this tradition of the first game football of
the 2003 NFL season?
MS. BUCHAN: I don't know. I think it's been done before.
END 1:29 P.M. CDT
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