Excerpts from the Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer, May 8, 2003 (Full Transcript)

MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. Let me give you a report on the President's schedule, and then I have two announcements I'd like to make. This has been a busy day on the foreign policy front, welcoming to the White House several of America's best friends and allies throughout the world.

The President began his day with a breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark. The President thanked the Prime Minister for Denmark's strong support in the war on terror and the operation in Iraq. They discussed European relations with the United States, as well as Middle East peace prospects.

And that is my report on the President's day. Two announcements: The President and Mrs. Bush will welcome Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan to his ranch at Crawford on May 22nd and May 23rd. Japan stands as a committed ally and firm supporter of coordinated efforts to tackle the major security challenges we face. The President looks forward to discussions with Prime Minister Koizumi on the reconstruction of a liberated Iraq, strengthening a united strategy to deal with North Korea's nuclear threat, and exploring closer cooperation on global, economic and security issues.

QUESTION: Do you expect there to be another diplomatic dustup with France when you introduce the resolution to lift sanctions against Iraq tomorrow?

MR. FLEISCHER: There's no reason that this current U.N. process should look anything like the last one. There is no reason for a dustup. This is, after all, about helping the people of Iraq. And any disagreement among allies would get in the way of helping the people of Iraq. And we do not anticipate it will look like the last one did. We certainly hope it won't.

QUESTION: But there are still, certainly, stark differences between the positions of the two countries. Do you expect that you can bridge those differences?

MR. FLEISCHER: Speaking for the United States, and speaking for the President, you already see a unity of approach among four different nations who are co-sponsoring this resolution. And I can't speak for other nations. I think it's fair to put the question to them. But now that the people of Iraq have been freed, now that the Saddam Hussein regime is gone, why would anybody have any opposition to lifting sanctions on the Iraqi people? That's not a question I can answer from their point of view. But as the President said last night, he is hopeful that we'll have a new atmosphere for cooperation at the United Nations.

QUESTION: So this idea that you've got a like-minded nations who have positions on the Security Council together, is that an indication that you plan to steamroll France?

MR. FLEISCHER: No, I think it's -- in fairness to France, you need to ask the question to France. And in fairness to France and other nations, they have not yet received the resolution. There's been considerable talk about it. As Ambassador Negroponte just stated, it will be formally presented and tabled tomorrow. So members of the United Nations Security Council will have their own opportunity to speak about it.

But the Saddam Hussein regime is gone. There is no reason for the people of Iraq to suffer sanctions any longer.

QUESTION: Ari, on the United Nations, the President is pretty clear that he believes the United Nations failed the test when it really mattered, when it had to do with war and peace on Iraq. So does -- what is his level of confidence? Does he think that there's a legitimate place for the U.N., going forward?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think you have to separate the U.N. activities here into two columns. The first column is what the President viewed as a failure by the United Nations to come to terms with preserving peace and security by not enforcing its resolutions; therefore, the coalition enforced the resolutions.

On the other side, in the second column, are the ongoing activities that the United Nations has demonstrated success in, involving reconstruction efforts and humanitarian efforts. And that's what the oil- for-food program represents, and that's what lifting the sanctions represents. So this is proceeding along those tracks. Again, the President said last night, it's proceeding on a more hopeful environment in the Security Council. And events will take place. We'll judge from there.

QUESTION: Ari, Security Council countries like France and Russia have made clear that they're reluctant to completely lift the sanctions against Iraq until they know that they're no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. What is the U.S. willing to do to address that issue with --

MR. FLEISCHER: Let's allow the countries to speak for themselves, allow them an opportunity to look at this resolution. So I think you might be surprised about the prospects for this resolution moving forward in a cooperative fashion. So I don't know that you can take too much out of the bitterness that marked the previous debate at the U.N. and apply it to this debate. Allow the resolution to be introduced, and allow the member states of the Security Council to speak for themselves having looked at the resolution.

And, still, at the end of the day, it comes down to the question of the Iraqi regime is no more. The concerns the United Nations had when they imposed sanctions have vanished. Why, therefore, should the Iraqi people suffer? This is about the Iraqi people.

QUESTION: Ari, Security Council countries like France and Russia have made clear that they're reluctant to completely lift the sanctions against Iraq until they know that they're no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. What is the U.S. willing to do to address that issue with --

MR. FLEISCHER: Let's allow the countries to speak for themselves, allow them an opportunity to look at this resolution. So I think you might be surprised about the prospects for this resolution moving forward in a cooperative fashion. So I don't know that you can take too much out of the bitterness that marked the previous debate at the U.N. and apply it to this debate. Allow the resolution to be introduced, and allow the member states of the Security Council to speak for themselves having looked at the resolution.

And, still, at the end of the day, it comes down to the question of the Iraqi regime is no more. The concerns the United Nations had when they imposed sanctions have vanished. Why, therefore, should the Iraqi people suffer? This is about the Iraqi people.

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