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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (154137)	6/19/2001 1:42:04 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Bush: No Need for Vieques Vote Now Monday, June 18, 2001 Email this Article WASHINGTON — The Bush administration said Monday there's no need for a referendum on Vieques now that the Navy has announced plans to leave the Puerto Rican island within two years. The administration announced last week that the military would cease bombing exercises on Vieques, despite a Nov. 6 referendum where the island's residents could decide whether the Navy should stay or leave. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that unless Congress cancels the referendum, which is highly unlikely, the November vote will take place as planned. "It is the law of the land and, unless the change is made, there will be a referendum, but the administration does not see the need for it, given the action taken by the Navy and the president," Fleischer said. As part of a deal struck last year between the U.S. and the Puerto Rican governments, the Navy agreed to limit its activities on Vieques until the island's residents could vote in a referendum on whether the Navy should resume full training or leave altogether. Puerto Rican officials, however, are planning to hold their own nonbinding referendum on the issue July 29. The U.S. commonwealth's governor, Sila Calderon, has backed the nonbinding referendum and has demanded an immediate end to the exercises. Navy Secretary Gordon England said Monday the Defense Department would eventually stop Naval training on Vieques. "We're actively planning to leave by 2003," he said. "I sincerely believe we will have an alternative place by that time." Earlier Monday, U.S. fighter jets dropped dummy bombs on the Navy's prized firing range on Vieques earlier Monday, resuming exercises despite protests seeking a halt to training on the island. foxnews.com