For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 6, 2005
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En route Riga, Latvia
9:57 A.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning, everybody. I hope everybody had a
good breakfast, maybe a little bit of a nap. This is the first gaggle
of our lengthy flight. I want to update you on a couple of things.
First of all, the President's morning. The President, early in the
flight, spoke with Prime Minister Blair. This was a congratulatory
call. The President looks forward to continuing to work with Prime
Minister Blair. And the President congratulated him on an historic
third victory.
Then, following that, the President had his intelligence briefing
onboard the flight. You all may not have seen -- probably haven't seen
it yet, but the latest employment numbers came out today, and they show
that 274,000 jobs -- new jobs were created in April, and they revised
previous months upward -- up an additional 93,000 jobs. So we have now
seen 3.5 million jobs created since May of 2003. Employment is at an
all-time high. More Americans are working than ever before. We are
seeing strong, sustained growth and job creation because of the
pro-growth policies of the President.
And we need to continue to build upon those economic policies,
while working to pass meaningful lawsuit reform, get the energy bill
passed, have a responsible budget that keeps us on track to cut the
deficit in half by 2009, and Social Security reform. And I think
that's all I had to begin with. Just wanted to bring your attention to
those -- and the unemployment rate stayed at 5.2 percent in this latest
report, as well. And as you all, I think, saw yesterday, productivity
is at a nine-month high, as well. We do remain concerned about high
energy prices, but those have come down some in recent weeks, as well.
Q Do you believe that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't want to get into discussing intelligence
matters, but what I would say is that if North Korea did take such a
step, that would just be another provocative act that would further
isolate it from the international community. All countries in the
region are committed to seeing a nuclear-free Peninsula. And we have
been working, through the six-party process, to make sure that that
objective is met. And so we want to see North Korea come back to the
six-party talks and discuss, in a serious way, how to move forward on
the proposal we've outlined.
Q Scott, did Putin make comments today where he denounced the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, which is not something you get to weave into a question at the White House very often. There were remarks he apparently made today where he denounced the pact as, I think, the administration wanted him to do.
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me double check that. I haven't seen any
updated news reports on the flight. You heard that --
Q It would be that he said -- he was referring to the 1989
denunciation by then Soviet Union parliament. And I think he said it
was done then, and as the successor state, we --that applies to us, as
well. So it was kind of a back-door way of saying --
MR. McCLELLAN: This morning?
Q I don't know the exact timing of when he said it, but I saw
the news reports this morning.
M. MRCLELLN: I didn't see any of the news coverage.
Q If you could comment on that, that would be --
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, let me take a look at what he said.
Q The Soviet action applies to Russia, as well.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q That what the Soviets did applies to Russia.
MR. McCLELLAN: I saw some of his comments yesterday, but I haven't
seen his comments today.
Q What does the President think about the fact that the Russians
were protesting his trip to the Baltics in a former letter to the Secretary of State? How does he feel about the Russians trying to tell the U.S. President where he can and can't go?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't know that I'd necessarily look at it
that way, first of all. But the President looks forward to going to
Latvia and visiting with the Baltic leaders of Latvia, Lithuania and
Estonia. He's previously been to Lithuania, as you are aware. And
again, the purpose of this trip is to honor the sacrifice of Americans,
Europeans, Russians who helped bring about victory over the Nazis and
end fascism in Europe during World War II, and to mark the growth of
democracy and freedom in the region. And it's also an opportunity just
to really underscore the President's commitment to continuing to work
with countries in Europe and beyond to advance freedom and democracy
and tolerance around the world.
But the President looks forward to going to Russia and celebrating
victory in World War II. And he also looks forward to going to Latvia
and using that to mark the mark the occasion of the end of the Cold
War, as well, because the end of the Cold War led to the growth of
freedom and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, and it was a
significant moment. And it also helped to advance freedom in other
parts of the world, as well.
But I just -- I don't know that I'd look at it the same way as you
do, David, in terms of what you're saying.
Q The Russians have protested the fact that he's going to the
Baltic States. What is the President's response to the fact that they
communicated that protest to the Secretary of State?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think the President's response is that he looks
forward to the trip, going to both Latvia and Russia. That's the
President's response -- and Georgia, and The Netherlands, as well. One
thing he's talked about in his letter to the Baltic leaders was that he
understands and respects the decisions each of them came to when
deciding whether or not to attend the ceremony in Russia. And he also
has stated that we have to remember the past as we look ahead, to work
together on advancing our shared ideals and values that are based on
democracy and freedom, and that the end of World War II marked the
beginning of a painful period for the Baltic States. And we must
remember that as we look to the future.
Q Any reaction to Senate Democrats seeking even more documents
now on John Bolton?
MR. McCLELLAN: I reacted to it yesterday. The State Department
has been very responsive to make sure the committee has the information
that it needs. John Bolton has been very responsive in addressing the
issues that have been raised, both in the hearing, as well -- in the
hearing before the committee, as well as in written testimony following
that hearing. We want to see John Bolton confirmed as soon as
possible, so that he can get to the United Nations and get about the
work of reform.
Q Is this a delaying tactic, do you think, or --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the committee, as the chairman has indicated,
are prepared to come back and vote on May 12th, I believe it is. And
we want to -- we continue to urge them to move forward quickly on the
nomination. This is a matter of reform at the United Nations. John
Bolton is the right person to go about helping to implement important
reforms at the United Nations. And I think that the issues that some
continue to bring up have been addressed. It's time to get about
voting on him.
Q Scott, there was talk of a couple veterans events, where the President was going to meet with veterans, in both The Netherlands and Moscow. But those don't appear on the schedule. Was there some problem with getting those arranged, or what -- was there some problem with getting those arranged? Why is he not going that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Getting what arranged?
Q Meetings with veterans events, with veterans in The
Netherlands and Moscow.
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me double check. I'm not sure that -- I
suspect that there are going to be veterans there that he will meet
with.
Q Not a formal, scheduled --
MR. McCLELLAN: Right, I don't know that it's part of -- a public
event, per se. But I think that he does plan to meet with veterans
that are there at those events. And certainly, when he goes to The
Netherlands, he will be at the American cemetery there. Those remarks
there are really a time to pay tribute to all the Americans, as well as
Europeans and others, who sacrificed to end tyranny and win World War
II.
Q Do you want to set up his speech tomorrow?
MR. McCLELLAN: We're still a little bit in advance of it. Maybe
when we get a little bit closer. Let me just talk generally about it.
Maybe we can talk a little bit more about it later. I think this is a
speech that you all will be interested in hearing.
The President, in his remarks, will expand on his inaugural address. I think in his remarks he will mark the occasion of the end of World War II, but also talk about what that period meant for the Baltic States. And he'll talk about the painful history that they went
through after World War II, and while it meant liberation for parts of
Europe, it did not -- the Baltic States did not realize that until many
years later, because of the government that was imposed on them by the
Soviet Union. So I think he'll touch on that in his remarks.
But he'll really focus on the importance of advancing freedom and
democracy in the world, and talk about how the Cold War really marked a
period of great advance -- of a really great advance in freedom. This
has been an age of the advance of freedom. And the President will talk
about the obligations that free societies have. For free societies to
really be sustained, they have to be built on some fundamental values.
Those include the rule of law, protection of minorities and minority
rights, open, inclusive societies. And I think he'll also talk about
the important structures of democratic societies, and strong,
independent -- the importance of strong and independent institutions.
So this is really a speech that says freedom is about more than
just elections and majority rule, it is about important values that
democratic societies need to follow to sustain that freedom. And so I
think that's really kind of the thrust of what he'll talk about.
Q Have these remarks been adjusted --
MR. McCLELLAN: He'll also honor the sacrifices that were made in
World War II, as well.
Q Have these remarks been adjusted in any way since the protest
that was delivered to Secretary Rice?
MR. McCLELLAN: No. This trip has been -- we've been planning this
trip for some time. The President felt it was important to go to
Latvia and The Netherlands and Russia and Georgia. And when we go to
Georgia, it's an opportunity for the President to highlight the success
story of one of the world's newest democracies, and to praise them for
the reforms that they are pursuing to continue on the path to
democracy, as well.
And going back to the remarks in Latvia, I think that the President
will talk about the importance of continuing to advance freedom and
democracy in other parts of the world. The Middle East is an area that
I think he will focus on in his remarks, as well, and the progress
we're seeing there, and how we all must work together to support the
advance of freedom throughout the world. The end of the Cold War
marked the end of tyranny in a part of the world, but as you all
recall, the President outlined the importance of working to end tyranny
throughout the world, because when you have free and democratic
societies, you have a more peaceful world. And free societies lead to
hopeful societies that defeat the ideology of hatred that we have seen
in parts of the world.
Q Do you know if Kim Jong-il is going to be there on Monday?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know. I haven't seen the latest list.
Q Wouldn't that be something? Was he invited? Do you know if
he was invited?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think he may have been. But I'll have to double
check. I just haven't seen the list. There are a lot of world leaders
that are going to be attending.
Q He'll be there?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I recall reading some news report that -- I
thought I remembered seeing some news article earlier in the week that
he wasn't going to be attending, but I just don't recall specifically
--
Q I read something that said that he hadn't confirmed.
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't recall specifically. I remember one news
story, I think earlier this week, where it said that he wasn't going to
be attending.
Q He might be tied up with something else.
Q The tests, or something. (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: What else?
Q If the President is going to be ending tyranny, is he going to
be staying up later on this trip? (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Looking at the schedule -- it depends on what time
zone you're in.
Q Week ahead.
MR. McCLELLAN: You've got Monday's schedule. On Wednesday, when
we get back, there's nothing to announce on the public schedule.
On Thursday he's meeting with the Presidents of Costa Rica, the
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua,
which we previously announced. He'll meet with them in the Oval Office
to talk about the Central American Free Trade Agreement that we are
working to move through Congress.
And on Friday he's got remarks to the National Association of
Realtors in Washington, and then remarks to the 2004 NCAA spring and
fall sports champions at the State Floor at the White House.
Saturday nothing, and then Sunday he'll make remarks at the Annual
Peace Officers' Memorial Service at the Capitol, in D.C. That's your
week ahead. See you in a couple of hours.
Q What's he doing? Is he hanging out, watching movies?
MR. McCLELLAN: Last I saw, he just got back -- he was working in
the cabin up front. We've only been a couple hours into the flight
now. I went through what else he had done.
All right, thanks.
END 10:16 A.M. EDT
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