Q Scott, while in Moscow, Secretary Powell reportedly told Russian President Putin that the possible stationing of U.S. troops in countries of the former Soviet Union would not pose a threat to Russia. Has the President personally conveyed this to Putin?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, these are issues I think that we've discussed previously with Russia. Secretary Powell did just return from a very good trip there and he had a good meeting with President Putin, and he talked -- they talked about that very issue. He also put out an op-ed where he talked about our relations, relationship with Russia. We are moving forward in a good relationship and cooperating on a number of important areas. And it's certainly a relationship between President Bush and President Putin that is built on trust.
There are, obviously, some areas of differences that we have, and we're discussing those. We continue to discuss those with Russia. And one of the issues that did come up was to talk about some of the troop deployments. And that was the discussion that they had.
Q In the last two weeks, Elaine Jones, President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, announced her retirement, after a complaint was filed against her with the Virginia Bar for her role in interfering with hearings on judicial nominees to the 6th Circuit, which, in effect, rigged the outcome of the Michigan affirmative action case. Will the President direct the Justice Department to investigate the unethical and possibly illegal conduct that was revealed by memos leaked by the Senate Judiciary Committee?
MR. McCLELLAN: Jeff, I'm not familiar with all the specifics that you brought up there, but I'm sure that if there is action that needs to be taken, the appropriate officials will take that action. But, again, I'm just --
Q But is the President concerned that these special interest groups have been able to circumvent his constitutional right and duty to appoint judges?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I'm not exactly sure on the very specific there, but, obviously, one important priority for this Congress is to move forward on the President's judicial nominees. There are some judicial emergencies that exist, and that's why it's important for Congress, the Senate, to give an up or down vote to those nominees. They're highly-qualified individuals.
Q Scott, did the White House receive a readout of the Hutton report in England? And does the President have any reaction to the findings, which basically exonerated Prime Minister Tony Blair?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that that was previously a matter for the British government and for the people of the United Kingdom, and it remains a matter that's being addressed by the British government and by the people in the United Kingdom.
Q Do you know if the President will at least contact Prime Minister Blair --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, they speak on a regular basis. But, again, this was a matter that was for the British government and the people of the United Kingdom to address.
Q Scott, anything on the meeting between President Bush and the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you heard directly from them just a short time ago. I think they are still probably having lunch at this point. They were running a little bit behind because their discussion was going over -- the initial meeting was going beyond the originally scheduled time. They were having a very good discussion and you heard directly from them. They gave you the update of the issues that they had talked about, from Iraq to the war on terrorism, to Cyprus, some of the issues that occurred in their initial meeting. And we'll try to get you more information if there is to give out from the lunch.
Q What do you expect from this meeting between the -- with the Prime Minister of Turkey?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I talked a little bit about this earlier, but the President was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Erdogan back to the White House. Turkey is certainly a key ally in helping fight the war on terrorism. The President talked about it in the Oval Office, about how we -- both nations know what it means to be attacked by terrorists who have no regard for innocent human life. And so we're working together to fight the war on terrorism.
They certainly, I expect, will continue to discuss the greater Middle East area and the importance of continuing to promote freedom and democracy and peace in the region. And, certainly, the issue of Cyprus came out, as well, and moving forward on the Secretary General's efforts to resolve that matter.
Go ahead, Mark -- I mean, Greg.
Q Back on the 9/11 panel. Has --
MR. McCLELLAN: No mustache. (Laughter.) Radio guys, you know? (Laughter.)
Q On the 9/11 panel, has it been determined if the President or the Vice President and/or Dr. Rice will provide testimony to that commission?
MR. McCLELLAN: One, we already have -- well, one, this White House is committed to making sure that the commission has all the information they need to do their job. We have been working to provide unprecedented cooperation to the commission in their efforts. I would point out that we have made a number of agency-level heads available to the commission through briefings and interviews. We've made hundreds of people available for briefings.
But we will continue to discuss all those issues going forward with the commission. But it will be to make sure that they have the information they need to do their job. That's the spirit in which we will work. We want to make sure they have all the information they need to do their job, and that would include discussions with other senior administration officials, as well.
Q It sounds as if you do want them to do the best job possible. The panel chairman says to do that best job, they need a little bit more time. Is the White House open to that idea?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well -- and this is an issue that came up a little bit earlier -- the commission, itself, is the one who said that -- said just recently, just a matter of weeks ago, that they believed that they could meet that timetable that was set out in an agreement with the Congress and the commission; and the White House obviously was involved in those discussions, as well.
We believe it's important that they move forward as quickly as they can to complete their work. This is important work that they are undertaking. And if there is information that we can learn from the commission's work that will help us prevent future terrorist attacks, we want to have that information. And so we hope that they will move forward as quickly as they possibly can. I would point out that we have worked to provide them information in a very timely manner so that they could meet that timetable.
Q They want more time. What's wrong with that?
MR. McCLELLAN: We understood -- we understood that there was a timetable that was agreed to and so we have been working in a way to help them move forward as quickly as they possibly can. And that's what we will continue to do. But obviously, any such discussions would have to involve Congress, as well. This was all agreed to with Congress and the White House involved in those discussions. But it was previously agreed to, and we're hopeful that they can continue to move forward as quickly as they can.
Q One more question on Iraq.
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me go right here, then I'll come back.
Q Thank you. On Cyprus, how important is this for the President that a solution will be achieved before the May 1st deadline, at which point the Cypriot accession to the E.U. will take effect? And after today's meeting, should we expect the President to increase the administration's engagement in the issue?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you heard the President talk about -- or the two leaders talk about it in the Oval Office. And again, these discussions are ongoing over lunch. But they will continue to discuss a range of issues. But the United States is committed to helping in the efforts to find a solution on the issue of Cyprus.
Last -- I guess it was last Saturday in Davos, the Prime Minister demonstrated a strong willingness to advance a Cyprus agreement on the basis of the Secretary General's fair and balanced plan. And we urge our Greek Cypriot friends to agree to finalize a settlement and allow the Secretary General to resolve outstanding issues, if necessary, and submit a
settlement to referenda by a date certain. Because we believe such a settlement will bring greater stability and prosperity to all people on Cyprus and in Turkey as they move toward deeper integration into Europe. So that's our view.
John, do you have something on Iraq?
Q I did. Just an update for me, if you could. What's the White House's position on those aluminum tubes that Iraq was caught with?
MR. McCLELLAN: John, again, we're now trying to get into issues that are continuing to be --
Q No, I'm just wondering if you still believe that they were destined for uranium-enrichment centrifuge work.
MR. McCLELLAN: John, again, a lot of this -- the Iraq Survey -- the Iraq Survey --
Q A simple yes or no --
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me finish. Let me finish. Again, you're asking me to get into discussions of what the Iraq Survey Group is looking into, all these matters. There was an interim progress report that was put out that talked about what we have learned so far. It was a public document, but it made very clear -- I mean, you want to go, I know, line by line on --
Q No, I don't. I just want to -- you said that --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, you want to go line by line on prewar intelligence. And I'm saying that --
Q The administration says --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- let's let the Iraq Survey Group complete its work. Then we can compare what we knew before the war with what we have learned since the war.
Q It's a simple question. You said prior to the war that those aluminum tubes were destined for centrifuge work --
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and I think Dr. Kay has since talked about --
Q -- and I'm wondering if you still believe it.
MR. McCLELLAN: Dr. Kay -- Dr. Kay, in his interim report, has talked about the efforts toward a nuclear program in Iraq. He's already addressed it. So he's already addressed that matter.
Q I'm wondering, do you still believe what you said before the war.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I know what you're trying to do. But I think I've addressed the matter.
Q Thank you.
MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you. Thanks.
END 1:20 P.M. EST
whitehouse.gov
End Part II of II |
