Joint Statement by the Quartet

Joint Statement by the Quartet

The Quartet met in London today and strongly reaffirmed our commitment to help Israelis and Palestinians make progress toward the two-state solution which is so deeply in both their interests. The Quartet condemned in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack that occurred in Tel Aviv on February 25, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent victims and undermines the recent positive steps taken by Israel and the Palestinians. The Quartet called for immediate action by the Palestinian Authority to apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators. The Quartet welcomed President Abbas' condemnation of the attack and pledge to act against those responsible, noted the initial steps taken in this regard, and stressed the need for further and sustained action by the Palestinian Authority to prevent acts of terrorism. Noting the fragility of the current revived momentum in discussions the Quartet encourages the two parties to continue on the path of direct dialogue and negotiation.

The Quartet recognizes the importance of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit of February 8 at which President Abbas announced a halt to violence against all Israelis, and Prime Minister Sharon announced a halt to military activities against all Palestinians, and expresses its appreciation to Egypt and Jordan for their roles. The Quartet urges the full implementation of the mutual commitments made at the summit by both parties, and urges all countries to support their efforts. The Quartet commends the Israeli cabinet's recent approval of the initiative to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, and reiterates that withdrawal from Gaza should be full and complete and should be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Roadmap, as an important step toward the realization of the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. The Quartet calls for the resumption of progress towards the implementation of both parties' obligations under the Roadmap. The Quartet reiterates its view that no party should undertake unilateral actions that could prejudge the resolution of final status issues. Quartet members agree on the need to ensure that a new Palestinian state is truly viable, including with contiguous territory in the West Bank. A state of scattered territories will not work.

The Quartet welcomes the recent vote of confidence by the PLC for a new Palestinian cabinet, as well as today's international meeting in London to support Palestinian institution building. The Quartet urges the international community to review and energize current donor coordination structures, with a view to streamlining them in order to increase their effectiveness. The Quartet emphasizes the need for the international community to play a vital role in providing additional financial support to the Palestinians, which is essential in order to support needed reforms, and to help prepare the Palestinian Authority prepare to assume control over areas from which Israel intends to withdraw. The Quartet members encourage an early meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to prepare for a pledging conference shortly afterwards.

The Quartet members reiterated their commitment to the positions and principles outlined in their joint statements of 4 May and 22 September 2004. The Quartet remains ready to engage actively, reaffirms its encouragement and support for both sides for the progress they have made in recent weeks, and reiterates its commitment to the fulfillment of the vision of two states, a safe and secure Israel and a sovereign, contiguous, democratic Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. ###

2005/253 Released on March 1, 2005 Press Statement Office of the Spokesman London, England March 1, 2005

United States and France on Lebanon

Joint Statement by the United States and France on Lebanon

As President Chirac and President Bush made clear when they met on February 21, France and the United States stand with the people of Lebanon in their grief following the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. We fully support the Lebanese people in their pursuit of an independent, democratic and sovereign Lebanon, free of outside interference and intimidation. Our presidents have instructed us to work urgently together and with the international community to help realize that fundamental goal.

Today, we strongly reaffirm the international community’s call for a full, credible and transparent investigation into the terrorist murder of Prime Minister Hariri. We welcome the dispatch of the UN Secretary General’s team of inquiry and will continue to press for the complete cooperation of the government of Lebanon and all parties to ensure that those responsible are brought swiftly to justice.

The United States and France also reiterate our call for the full and immediate implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559. That means that full and immediate withdrawal of all Syrian military and intelligence forces from Lebanon. And it means the consolidation of security responsibilities under the authority of a Lebanese government free from foreign domination.

We strongly believe that the people of Lebanon must have the opportunity to make their own political choices, without threats of violence and intimidation. They must have the opportunity to chart their own course through free and fair parliamentary elections this spring, bolstered by an international observer presence prior to and during the elections.

France and the United States will continue to coordinate our efforts closely, including in follow-up discussions later today at the political directors level. We also welcomed the opportunity today to consult with many of our regional and international partners, and look forward to building on what is already a strong foundation of international support for the people of Lebanon and the freedom that they deserve.
2005/254

Released on March 1, 2005 Press Statement Office of the Spokesman London, England

Sale of U.S. Military Equipment from Germany to Greece

Sale of U.S. Military Equipment from Germany to Greece (Taken Question)

Question: What is the status of the sale of U.S. military equipment from Germany to Greece?

Answer: The Government of Germany has made a request to the United States for approval to retransfer U.S.-origin artillery to Greece. U.S. law requires that a recipient of such defense articles must obtain prior consent from the United States before the retransfer of the articles to a third-party recipient. This request is under internal review. Once a decision has been made, we will respond to the Government of Germany.

### 2005/268

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC March 1, 2005 Question Taken At March 1, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

Richard Jones, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Coordinator for Iraq

Selection of Ambassador Richard Jones as Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Coordinator for Iraq

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has appointed Ambassador Richard Jones as Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Coordinator for Iraq.

Ambassador Jones, in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, will report directly to the Secretary and will develop, coordinate and lead implementation of policy on Iraq. He will represent the Secretary and the Department in interagency meetings and chair an Under Secretary-level interagency steering group on Iraq policy. He will work with foreign government officials on issues related to Iraq.

A career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, Richard Jones served as Ambassador to Kuwait from September 2001 to July 2004. From November 2003, until June 2004, he served concurrently as the Chief Policy Officer and Deputy Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, Iraq. Ambassador Jones also served as the U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan (1998-2001) and as the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon (1996-1998). Previous assignments include Director of the State Department’s Office of Egyptian Affairs (1993-1995) and Counselor for Political Affairs in the American Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1989-1992).

Ambassador Jones earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College, and M.S. in Business from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and a Ph.D in Business/Statistics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. ###

2005/269 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC March 1, 2005

Burundi Constitutional Referendum

United States Congratulates Burundi on Constitutional Referendum

The United States congratulates the people of Burundi for holding a peaceful constitutional referendum on February 28. The United States views the referendum as an important milestone on the path to peace in Burundi. Moreover, we believe the referendum’s reported approval of the new constitution reflects the views of most Burundians. The reported high turnout demonstrates that the Burundian people believe strongly in the right to vote.

The United States remains committed to fully supporting the Burundi peace process and the Burundian people as they move forward with free and fair elections.

2005/263 Released on March 1, 2005 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC March 1, 2005

"Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only one hundred days in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their borders, briefly intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreement with the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place a provisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of the agreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebel group refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace." SOURCE: CIA FactBook

International Travel Safety Information for Students

International Travel Safety Information for Students

As the time approaches for spring or summer breaks, many college students are getting ready for that much anticipated trip abroad. Most will have a safe and enjoyable adventure, but for some the trip will become a nightmare. A number of vacations are ruined by one or more of the following: drugs, alcohol, disorderly behavior, and preventable accidents.

Each year, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad -- about half on narcotics charges, including possession of very small amounts of illegal substances. A drug that is legal in one country may not be legal in a neighboring nation. Some young people are victimized because they are unaware of the laws, customs, or standards of the country they are visiting.

Besides drugs, alcohol can also cause trouble for U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Students have been arrested for being intoxicated in public areas, for underage drinking, and for drunk driving. Disorderly or reckless behavior is to be avoided. In many countries, conduct that would not result in an arrest in the United States may constitute a violation of local law. Some young Americans go abroad assuming that local authorities will overlook such conduct, believing that they are immune from prosecution in foreign countries because they are American citizens. The truth is that Americans are expected to obey all of the laws of the countries they visit, and those who break these laws could face severe penalties, including prison sentences.

Being arrested is not the only misfortune that can occur on a foreign vacation. Young Americans have suffered injury or even death from automobile accidents, drowning, and falls, in addition to other mishaps. While these accidents are sometimes chance occurrences, many are caused by alcohol or drug abuse. Sadly, other Americans have been sexually assaulted or robbed because they have found themselves in unfamiliar locales or are incapable of exercising prudent judgment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Other hidden safety issues are of major concern as well. Because standards of security, safety and supervision are not the same in many countries as they are in the U.S., many young persons have died after automobile accidents, after falls from balconies or into open ditches, by drowning in the ocean as well as in hotel pools, and in water-sports mishaps, among others. In some countries, the water sports industry is not carefully regulated. Unlicensed operators have been linked to assaults, and a number of Americans have been killed or injured by the improper use of jet-skis and other personal watercraft. Although it is crucial that young Americans be aware of these safety risks as they are enjoying their time abroad, it is also important to remember that prudent behavior may help minimize these risks.

Young Americans traveling abroad should remember that the use of drugs or alcohol or engaging in reckless behavior while in another country can do more than ruin their vacation; it can land them in a foreign jail, cause them to suffer physical harm, or worse. Common sense should prevail in any activities young Americans engage in so that safety hazards may be minimized. It is possible to have a safe and fun trip if risky behavior is avoided and familiarity is attained with the basic laws and customs of the country that is planned on being visited

In addition, even if a passport is not required to visit a foreign country, U.S. Immigration requires that U.S. citizenship and identity must be proved to reenter the United States. A U.S. passport is the best proof of U.S. citizenship. More information about traveling abroad is available at the Department of State's web site: travel.state.gov/studentinfo.

For further information contact: Bureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Public AffairsPress Inquiries: (202) 647-1488Internet address: travel.state.gov Public Inquiries: toll free (888) 407-4747 ###

2005/256 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC February 28, 2005

Secretary Condoleezza Rice, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier

Remarks With French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier Secretary Condoleezza Rice London, United Kingdom March 1, 2005

FOREIGN MINISTER BARNIER: (In French) Well, thank you for being here this morning. I shall say a few words about the meeting that Dr. Rice and I have had. Of course, we shall have an opportunity of other meetings during this very important occasion which is the first stage following the dynamics that were started after Sharm el-Sheikh. The Sharm el-Sheikh meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas, this is something for which we should all consider ourselves as co-sponsors and should all give our support to the efforts made by the Palestinians and the Israelis. We should also consider that after this first stage there will be a second stage during the second half of this year, an international conference to which the Palestinians and the Israelis, but also, the international community, shall come together so as to watch the continuation of this process.

But I would also like to say that with Dr. Rice, we have been discussing the question of Lebanon. It is a very important event, as the Lebanese people have very courageously expressed their aspirations, their aspiration to freedom, their aspiration to a sovereign Lebanon. The Lebanese want to be masters of their own fate, and we, in France, we encouraged this because in France nothing, we can never be indifferent to what is happening in Lebanon, and our way of encouraging this is to repeat what is included in the document which we co-sponsored with the United States. We want the complete implementation of Resolution 1559. We also want the truth, we want the truth to know who is responsible for the death of Rafik Hariri, and we also want all the foreign military troops to be withdrawn from Lebanon, and also the organization of true, genuine elections in this country.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. It was a pleasure to meet again with my counterpart, French Foreign Minister Barnier. We had very good discussions.

I want to just first say, a thank you to Prime Minister Blair for the opportunity to be here. This is a very important conference which looks to helping the Palestinians prepare themselves for the events that will come over the next several months, to help them prepare for the parliamentary elections, to help them prepare the institutions that can be the basis of statehood, institutions that are transparent, institutions that are accountable, institutions that are democratic. We have had discussions of governance. There will be discussions of economic reform, and there will, of course, be discussions of security and how to help the Palestinians have security forces that can indeed fight terrorism, because without a sustained effort against terrorism it will be very difficult, indeed impossible, to sustain the momentum for peace.

We have a lot of work ahead of us over the next several months and I think we will see how the international community can best continue to support this, but the work before us today and over the next several months is to help the Palestinians in their reform efforts and also to help with the peaceful withdrawal of the Israelis from the Gaza.

We had a very good discussion of Lebanon and that is why we wanted to appear here together. Obviously events in Lebanon are moving in a very important direction. It is also the case that the Lebanese people are beginning to express their aspirations for democracy, their aspirations that they be able to carry out their political aspirations without foreign interference. This is something that we support very much. Resolution 1559, which was co-sponsored by France and the United States within the UN Security Council, calls very firmly for free elections, free and fair elections to take place in Lebanon, for foreign forces, both troops and intelligence forces, to withdraw and for the Lebanese people to be able to conduct their affairs, Lebanese for Lebanon, and not with foreign interference, and this is something on which we agreed very much.

We also want to make certain that we intensify our dialogue about Lebanon and have asked our political directors to meet later today, here in London, to talk about how we can further support the process of elections in Lebanon, how we can further support the removal of foreign elements of interference in Lebanese affairs and how we can move forward to the full implementation of Resolution 1559 within the UN framework. So, that was the bulk of our discussion today and we will gladly take just a couple of questions because we need to get back to this very important conference.

QUESTION: Secretary Rice, you aren’t simply exhorting Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. What specific actions did you discuss, if any, to try to force Syria to do so? If the Syrians do withdraw their troops, do you believe there is any need for any kind of other force, say UN forces perhaps, to deploy to try to prevent a security vacuum?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we are going to have our political directors meet. I think we will also want to meet with Mr. Larsen from the UN, who is Secretary General Annan’s representative on this issue, to examine what more needs to be done. But the Syrians have a very clear view of what needs to be done. They know what is required in Resolution 1559, it should be recognized. But at this point in time, we have a circumstance in which on several fronts, whether it is Iraqi insurgents who are being supported on Syrian territory and causing the kind of hideous attacks that we had yesterday against the Iraqi people; or support for terrorists who are trying to frustrate the Palestinian/Israeli peace; or, keeping foreign interference in Lebanese affairs that the Syrians are out of step with where the region is going and out of step with the aspirations of the people of the Middle East.

The important thing is that Resolution 1559 is very clear that foreign interference should not be carried out. We will focus very much, I think also, on what we can help the Lebanese to do. That means support for free and fair elections, that means election observers if necessary, monitoring if necessary, and as we see how the Lebanese will move forward, I think we have to look at what can be done in terms of helping them to stabilize the situation should that become necessary. But we have not yet had detailed discussions on that.

FOREIGN MINISTER BARNIER: (in French) Yes I wanted to add to this, that first of all that things must be put quite in order. This is a resolution of the international community as a whole. It is a very clear resolution and it stands alone, and there can be absolutely no excuse to postpone this implementation or not implement it at all. This resolution demands the withdrawal of all military forces in [Lebanon]. This is something which is supported by the international community at large and is to be done under the framework, in the framework of the United Nations under Mr. Larsen, and this particularly at a time when the Lebanese people are expressing their intention, to once again become the masters of their own fate.

QUESTION: (In French, no translation)

FOREIGN MINISTER BARNIER: (In French) Well, the question was concerning Iraq. There has been a cassette recorded by Florence Aubenas in which she’s asking for the help of Mr. Julia.. Are you intending to rely upon his help? And the answer was, well, as from the moment in which we heard of the disappearance of Florence Aubenas and her interpreter Mr. Anud, we immediately committed ourselves to spare no effort to try and help them, and in Baghdad -- it is very difficult and dangerous situation, as you know -- we have been multiplying contacts and in fact as we did concerning the situation of Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, which turned out well.

We have taken note of this call for help of Florence Aubenas. We shall check this cassette very carefully, we will check the chronology, but what is important to note first of all, is that she is alive. A few days ago we had another evidence of the fact that she was alive, and I informed her family of this. But now, as I was saying, we need to check this cassette very carefully, we need to check the chronology, and as concerns this Member of Parliament whose name you gave, he has expressed his availability and now we shall take all of the measures which we consider useful.

We, the French Government, the Prime Minister, myself, we shall spare no effort, because for us the main thing is to ensure the safety of Florence Aubenas.

Thank you. 2005/257 Released on March 1, 2005

Secretary of State Condi Rice, Secretary General Kofi Annan

Remarks With United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan

SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Morning, ladies and gentlemen…actually it is afternoon. Secretary of State Condi Rice and myself have had a very good discussion. We have covered lots of territory, from UN Reform to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and we touched on North Korea, Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan and Nepal. I think the meeting on the Palestinian issue has also gone extremely well. I’m very pleased that the Prime Minister convened this meeting which gave everybody an opportunity to sit with the new Palestinian leadership to discuss their needs - how they can be assisted with their reform, economic and social development as well as security. And I think when we look back, the Palestinians have handled the transition extremely well and competently, not only going through the elections but putting together a government that is going to move the process forward. And we hope this meeting will add to the momentum that has been gathering and of course in this afternoon the Quartet would also meet to see how the Quartet can help the process and move the issue forward. Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. The Secretary General and I did have a very good talk. We obviously talked about what is going on here at the conference and we will have a Quartet meeting later on today to continue to talk about how the international community can support the process that is underway in this moment of hope. We talked about a wide variety of issues, the events in Lebanon, the need to make certain that Resolution 1559 is adhered to. We had an opportunity to discuss Sudan and the importance of the Sudanese Government taking seriously the concerns and demands of the international community to bring relief to that long suffering population. We also talked a good bit about UN Reform, about the fact that the United States as a founding member of the United Nations wants this to be a strong organization, an organization that is fit and ready for the challenges of the 21st century and we very much appreciate the Secretary General’s commitment to United Nations reform in all of its aspects, in all of its manifestations and we will look forward to working with you, Mr. Secretary General, to make that a reality. Thank you very much. Thank you.

SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Thank you.

Released on March 1, 2005 Secretary Condoleezza Rice London, United Kingdom March 1, 2005

Secretary Bodman Promotes Energy Bill to Western Governors

Secretary Bodman Promotes Energy Bill to Western Governors

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman in a speech before the Western Governors Association today expressed the need for Congress to pass comprehensive energy legislation and highlighted the benefits of the proposal for the western United States. Secretary Bodman also discussed a number of important energy initiatives including: nuclear defense; scientific research; oil and gas exploration in Alaska; hydropower; the strengthening of our power grid; further development of renewable energy; hydrogen powered fuel-cell vehicles; and clean-coal power generation.

“The energy challenges facing our country today are greater than they have ever been. We face rapid growth in the demand for oil and natural gas at a time when domestic production is hard-pressed to keep up, and world energy markets are increasingly characterized by price volatility and political uncertainty. Passing the energy bill is among the most important matters to come before this Congress, and I intend to be an enthusiastic advocate for the passage of energy legislation this year,” Bodman said to the governors.

Full text of the speech Media contact: Jason Van Buren, 202/586-4940 Number: R-04-025 March 1, 2005

DoD, ACLU, Human Rights First Lawsuit

DoD Comment on ACLU and Human Rights First Lawsuit

There are 4 civil complaints are under review within this Department and at the Justice Department.

We vigorously dispute any assertion or implication that the Department of Defense approved of, sanctioned, or condoned as a matter of policy detainee abuse.

No policies or procedures approved by the Secretary of Defense were intended as, or could conceivably have been interpreted as, a policy of abuse, or as condoning abuse.

There have been multiple investigations into the various aspects of detainee abuse.

None has concluded that there was a policy of abuse.

The Department of Defense has demonstrated a record that credible allegations of illegal conduct by U.S. military personnel are taken seriously and investigated.

- There have been 8 major reviews, inspections, and investigations; three more are in progress.
- To date, more than 100 individuals have undergone, or are undergoing, disciplinary proceedings. We anticipate there may be additional proceedings against additional individuals.

U.S. policy as expressed in relevant Defense Department orders, techniques, and procedures requires that detainees be treated humanely and in accordance with the law.

- The Geneva Conventions apply to the conflict in Iraq.
- The Al Qaeda and Taliban are unlawful enemy combatants who fail to comply with the laws of war.
- The President has ordered and Defense Department policy emphasizes that Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees be treated humanely and, to the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity, in a manner consistent with the principles of Geneva.

U.S. Department of DefenseOffice of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)News Release
On the Web: defenselink.mil/releases/2005/ Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact: dod.mil/faq/comment or +1 (703) 428-0711 No. 216-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2005

Roper v. Simmons 03-633

U.S. Supreme Court today voted 5-4 to outlaw executions of murderers who were under 18 at the time of the crime, saying the practice violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

"Juvenile offenders cannot with reliability be classified among the worst offenders,"..."stark reality that the United States is the only country in the world that continues to give official sanction to the juvenile death penalty." Justice Anthony M. Kennedy

John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer and David H. Souter voted the majority. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia dissented.

"Judges are ill-equipped to make the type of legislative judgments the court insists on making here," Scalia

"I would demand a clearer showing that our society truly has set its face against this practice before reading the Eighth Amendment categorically to forbid it," O'Connor

"The basic premise of the court's argument -- that American law should conform to the laws of the rest of the world -- ought to be rejected out of hand," Scalia

Proceedings and Orders, more background at Juvenile Death Penalty Banned by U.S. Supreme Court (Update5)

Roper v. Simmons Docket No. 03-633 PDF Format

• Petitioner's brief
• Respondent's brief
• Appendix to Respondent's brief
• Petitioner's reply brief

ROPER, SUPERINTENDENT, POTOSI CORRECTIONAL CENTER v. SIMMONS CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI No. 03–633.

Argued October 13, 2004—Decided March 1, 2005 At age 17, respondent Simmons planned and committed a capital murder. After he had turned 18, he was sentenced to death. His direct appeal and subsequent petitions for state and federal postconviction relief were rejected.

This Court then held, in Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U. S. 304, that the Eighth Amendment, applicable to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibits the execution of a mentally retarded person. Simmons filed a new petition for state postconviction relief, arguing that Atkins’ reasoning established that the Constitution prohibits the execution of a juvenile who was under 18 when he committed his crime.

The Missouri Supreme Court agreed and set aside Simmons’ death sentence in favor of life imprisonment without eligibility for release. It held that, although Stanford
v. Kentucky, 492 U. S. 361, rejected the proposition that the Constitution bars capital punishment for juvenile offenders younger than 18, a national consensus has developed against the execution of those offenders since Stanford. Held: The Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid imposition of the death penalty on offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed. Pp. 6–25 FULL TEXT IB PDF Format 67 pages No. 03–633.

President Bashar al-Assad

A Syrian official source on Tuesday denied reports of some news agencies as quoting the Italian "La Republica" Newspaper as saying that President Bashar al-Assad expected an American attack on Syria after the end of war in Iraq.

The source stressed that this information has never been spoken during President Assad’s interview with the Italian newspaper.

Mazen / S.Younes Official Source / Statement Damascus, March 1 (SANA)

SOURCE: Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA address : Damascus-Baramka, nearby Damascus University, P.O. Box : 2661Telephones : 2228239/2231736/2224020/2226429/2129702, Fax : 2224572/2220365/2224292/2224557/2211254/2225774, Telex : 411004/411457/411458. E-Mail : sana@net.sy

Iraqi Soldiers kill, capture terrorist

Iraqi Soldiers kill, capture terrorist

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers conducting a route reconnaissance mission on a road leading to Baghdad, killed eight terrorists and captured 11 after running into a terrorist checkpoint.

The Soldiers, members of the 407th Battalion, 52nd Brigade, encountered the enemy near the Wasit Province line. In addition to killing and capturing a number of terrorists, the Soldiers also confiscated two of their vehicles.

Four Iraqi Soldiers were wounded, according to a Coalition Forces report.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT CAPTAIN STEVE ALVAREZ, MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION CORPS-IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT AlvarezSJ@mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil. OR VISIT mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil. Release #050301c

Secretary Condoleezza Rice London Meeting Supporting the Palestinian Authority

Remarks at the London Meeting Supporting the Palestinian Authority

Secretary Condoleezza Rice Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center London, England March 1, 2005

I would like to join Foreign Minister Asselbourn and Secretary General Annan in thanking you, Prime Minister, for hosting this important event in support of the Palestinian people. Mr. Prime Minister: Your personal dedication to the cause of Middle East peace has helped to make the present moment rich with hope and opportunity.
I would also like to thank President Abbas, whose participation in this meeting demonstrates very, very vividly the Palestinian Authority's commitment to democratic reform. I look forward to working with you and your government at this time of great possibility for your people and for your region.

Distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen: There is a consensus, in the Middle East and beyond, that before us today is the best chance for peace that we may see for years to come. To realize this opportunity, we must help the Palestinian people establish institutions that secure their freedom and their dignity, ensure law and order, and bring an end to terrorism. Friday’s terrorist attack in Tel Aviv is a reminder that there are still groups and individuals who will literally kill to prevent peace. And if they are not stopped, the path to peace will be blocked. The roadmap to peace correctly stated that terrorist organizations must be dismantled if our common goals are to be achieved.

During his recent visit to Europe, President Bush reaffirmed the clear vision that guides our efforts: We are determined to see two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and in security. Genuine peace will only blossom when it is rooted in genuine democracy. As President Bush said last week in Belgium: “Only a democracy can serve the hopes of Palestinians, and make Israel secure, and raise the flag of a free Palestine.”

In January, the Palestinian people held presidential elections that international observers agreed were free and fair. These elections were a credit to the Palestinian Authority and a source of honor for the Palestinian people. Israel offered its support to the Palestinians as they took this important first step toward democracy. And we hope to see similar cooperation for the Palestinian elections for parliament this July … and for the municipal elections in Gaza and the West Bank that will continue through the end of this year.

We in the international community must encourage the Palestinians to advance democratic reforms. A more representative Palestinian Authority must continue to answer the people’s call for good governance, economic opportunity, and real justice.

We applaud recent Palestinian efforts to make their government more transparent and accountable. A revised Palestinian Basic Law is serving well as an interim constitution. A new electoral law is being discussed in the Palestinian Legislative Council. And just last week, this Council approved a dynamic new cabinet of ministers who are committed to strengthening the cause of reform.

Ramallah is buzzing these days with vigorous debates and even the occasional shouting match. These are the sounds of democracy. And they are a true joy to hear, Mr. President. The Palestinian people are writing the opening chapter of a more hopeful national story. And their brave efforts deserve our utmost support -- for there is still much work to do.

Good governance requires the establishment of the rule of law, reform of the judiciary, an end to official corruption, and an overhaul of the pension and civil service systems. We must also help the Palestinian Authority build its capacity to deliver basic services like education and health care to its citizens. Political reform must be accompanied by social and economic development that prepares the Palestinian people for the challenges of a 21st-century world.

Advancing reform is urgent work that cannot be deferred. It will come to nothing if terrorist groups, like Palestinian Islamic Jihad, continue to attack Israelis and to deny the Palestinian people the better life they deserve. Therefore, all nations committed to peace must now join together to help the Palestinians prevent terrorists, and the states that support them, from killing this hopeful moment.

The Palestinian Authority needs to reform its security institutions in order to fight terrorism and lawlessness effectively. The United States is prepared to work with partners in the region and around the world to realize this essential goal. General Ward, who is here with me today, will soon relocate to the region to lead our efforts. We commend those neighbors, especially Egypt and Jordan, who have made specific commitments to help the Palestinians create honest and accountable security services.

Peace must be nurtured by many hands if it is to flourish. We all have important roles to play. The Israeli government will soon take a historic step to disengage from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Israel must also take no actions that prejudice a final settlement, and must help ensure that a new Palestinian state is truly viable. A state of scattered territories will not work.

Arab states must end incitement in their media, cut off all funding for terrorism, stop their support for extremist education, and establish normal relations with Israel. We in the international community must share our expertise in all areas of democratic governance … and offer our full financial assistance.

For our part, the United States is eager to support the Palestinians in this time of hope and need. As President Bush announced in his State of the Union address, the United States is pledging $350 million to help the Palestinians build their democratic state. We are also providing $41 million in quick-impact funding. This money should be used immediately to help Palestinian citizens get health care, enroll in higher education programs, and develop their nation’s economy.

Just as we all share a responsibility for peace, so too will we share in the benefits of peace. A free and democratic Palestine will energize the pace of reform in the broader Middle East … and unleash a resounding chorus of hope throughout the wider world.

Today we have the chance to make our shared future one of peace and prosperity for all citizens. We can transform this present moment of hope into an historic turning point -- a pivotal time when free nations join together to help end a conflict, once and for all, that has ruined the lives of millions. And the roadmap to peace will show us the path to the two state solution we all seek.

The course of human liberty is often uneven. But from the long perspective of history, the forward movement of freedom is clear. So let us work together to seize this opportunity for peace. For if we do not, there is no telling when we will get another chance.

2005/252 Released on March 1, 2005

American Red Cross Month 2005

American Red Cross Month, 2005 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Americans have a long history of rising to meet humanitarian challenges, and the American Red Cross is a leader in these efforts. Since 1881, the American Red Cross has met disaster with compassion and courage. During American Red Cross Month, we honor this dedication and reaffirm the importance of volunteering time and contributing resources to make our communities and the world better.

From offering blood drives and lifesaving courses to providing disaster relief services at home and abroad, American Red Cross employees and volunteers work countless hours to care for those in need and serve a cause greater than self. As a result of the recent tsunami in the Indian Ocean, over 150,000 lives were lost and many more were left homeless and without food and water. The American Red Cross swiftly dispatched relief workers to assist those affected, and to distribute supplies, counsel survivors, and help people return home.

Here at home, the American Red Cross helps support our troops by transmitting emergency messages to members of the Armed Forces and their families. In this past year, the Red Cross has also contributed significantly to relief efforts for hurricanes in Florida, flooding in Western Pennsylvania, wildfires in the Western United States, and mudslides in California. These good works provide hope and healing to those dealing with profound loss and demonstrate the character of the American Red Cross.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2005 as American Red Cross Month. I commend the efforts of American Red Cross employees and volunteers, and I encourage all Americans to donate their time, energy, and talents to support this organization's humanitarian mission.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twentyninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 28, 2005

Nominations Sent to the Senate 02/28/05

Nominations Sent to the Senate

William Cobey, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for a term expiring May 30, 2010, vice John Paul Hammerschmidt, term expired.

Linda Morrison Combs, of North Carolina, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget, vice Linda M. Springer.

John C. Dugan, of Maryland, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years, vice John D. Hawke, Jr., resigned.

Christopher J. Hanley, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2006, vice George J. Kourpias, term expired.

Nancy Ann Nord, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the remainder of the term expiring October 26, 2005, vice Mary Sheila Gall, resigned.

Nancy Ann Nord, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2005. (Reappointment).

Jeffrey Clay Sell, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy, vice Kyle E. McSlarrow, resigned.

# # # For Immediate Release February 28, 2005

Iraqi soldiers get permanent base in Al Anbar Province

Iraqi soldiers get permanent base in Al Anbar Province

CAMP HABBINYAH, Iraq -- Iraqi soldiers from the 9th Battalion, 2nd Iraqi Intervention Force Brigade, formally marked their new permanent duty station with a ceremony here today, marking a significant step for Iraqi security forces taking full responsibility for security in the area.

The battalion has been conducting operations in Fallujah since November 2004, operating from temporary facilities aboard the East Fallujah Iraqi Camp.

Camp Habbinyah is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation program to refurbish base infrastructure to support the permanent stationing and training of additional 1st IIF Division units.

The 9th Battalion is the first unit to receive military assistance teams in the Al Anbar province. The training program pairs an Iraqi security force unit with a Multi-National Force unit to train, mentor and assist the Iraqi unit as they develop the skills and experience necessary to provide security and stability in the region. The 9th Battalion will be partnered with the 1-506th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Battalion Combat Team, which serves under the 1st Marine Division.

“The combination of permanently stationed Iraqi Army forces and the introduction of the military assistance teams and training will increase security in Al Anbar province, and enable Iraqi security forces to take complete responsibility for security in the province,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, assistant division commander, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

The training program will provide a team of approximately 30 U.S. service members as the core-training cell. However, the entire Multi-National Force unit will be partnered with their Iraqi counterparts and fully engaged in training and combined operations. -30-

Release # 0228-05-1350 United States Marine Corps Press Release Public Affairs Office I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Feb. 28, 2005

Lahoud Accepts Karami Resignation Beirut

Lahoud

Lahoud Accepts Karami Resignation Beirut, Feb. 28 (SANA) President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon on Monday accepted resignation of Lebanese Premier Omar Karami’s government.

"President Lahoud accepted resignation of Karami and asked the government to continue dealing Lebanese issues until a new government is formed,"

a statement issued by Lebanese presidency Directorate said.

Karami earlier resigned during the second session of Lebanese parliament.

"Out of concern that the government doesn’t become an obstacle to the good of the country, I declare the resignation of the government I had the honor to Lead," Karami said.

Mazen.

SOURCE: Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA address : Damascus-Baramka, nearby Damascus University, P.O. Box : 2661
Telephones : 2228239/2231736/2224020/2226429/2129702, Fax : 2224572/2220365/2224292/2224557/2211254/2225774, Telex : 411004/411457/411458. E-Mail :sana@net.sy

Resignation of Interim President and Elections in Togo

Resignation of Interim President and Elections in Togo

The United States is pleased that Faure Gnassingbe has stepped down as interim President of Togo, preparing for the return of full constitutional order.

The Economic Community of West African States has lifted its sanctions on Togo and the African Union has issued a statement on the Togolese transition. We welcome the success of these two organizations in upholding the principles of democracy and good governance enshrined in their charters. We join with them in urging all Togolese to conduct the upcoming elections peacefully and on the basis of consensus.

A key element for credible and transparent elections is unfettered access to the entire country and to all aspects of the electoral process for all political parties, relevant civil society organizations and international organizations providing assistance or fielding observer missions. The United States will send a team of elections experts to assess how we may best support this effort.

Togolese governing and opposition parties and government security forces deserve credit for their responsible and peaceful conduct during political demonstrations held over the weekend. We call on all Togolese to avoid violence and to seek peaceful national reconciliation through democratic elections.

2005/250 Released on February 28, 2005 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC February 28, 2005

whitehouse briefing, lebanon, syria, resignation of the Karami government, video

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan FULL STREAMING VIDEO, TRANSCRIPT

MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. I want to begin with one announcement to update on the President's schedule, and then make a few comments on today's events in Lebanon.

The President will welcome Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, to the White House on March 16th. The Cardinal was respected throughout Lebanon and around the world for his religious leadership and for promoting intra-communal harmony among the different faiths in his country, and is an important voice of Lebanese independence, freedom and democracy. So the President looks forward to that visit on March 16th.

With regards to Lebanon and the developments there today, we are closely watching developments with great interest. The resignation of the Karami government represents an opportunity for the Lebanese people to have a new government that is truly representative of their country's diversity. The new government will have the responsibility of implementing free and fair elections that the Lebanese people have clearly demonstrated they desire. We believe the process of a new government should proceed in accordance with the Lebanese constitution and should be free of all foreign interference. It is time for Syria to fully comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. That means Syrian military forces and intelligence personnel need to leave the country. That will help ensure the elections are free and fair.

And with that, I will be glad to go to your questions.

Q Scott, when you take all of this together -- the resignation of the government today, Syria's apparent capture and handover of Saddam Hussein's half-brother, Syria's declaration last week that it was going to pull troops back closer to its border -- do you see this as being some small steps on the part of Syria to try to show its goodwill toward the United States and Europe, in light of some of the pretty strong comments that you've been making in the past few weeks?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, on the capture of Saddam Hussein's half-brother, I'm going to let the coalition forces and the Iraqi authorities speak to that. They have made some public comments about it; they have not gotten into any of the specifics relating to that at this point. And I don't want to get in front of what they are saying from the ground there in Iraq. There are reasons for that oftentimes, so I want to state that first.

In terms of our concerns with Syria, I just expressed some of our continuing concerns regarding Syria, particularly when it comes to Lebanon, and they need to comply with their international obligations, the obligation of the United Nations Security Council that calls on all those in Lebanon, all those foreign entities in Lebanon, to leave Lebanon.

Q Again, regardless of who's speaking to what, a couple of these moves that Syria has made in the past few days, do you see this as being -- as sort of reaching out to the United States, or do you think they're just trying to get some of the heat off?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President has spoken about the concerns he has when it comes to Syria. He laid those out very clearly. There are several concerns we have with regards to Syria. We have concerns about their continuing support for terrorism, namely Hezbollah. We have concern about Syria allowing terrorist organizations to operate within their territory. We have concerns about regime elements operating from Syrian territory. And we've expressed those concerns. We have concerns about Syria's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, and we will see by their actions if they're committed to changing their behavior.

Go ahead, Terry.

Q Scott, these are remarkable scenes we're witnessing in Beirut. Is this a domino falling? Does this show the President's strategy is vindicated and confirmed and right?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President has often spoken about how all people desire to live in freedom. I think you're seeing today in Lebanon that the Lebanese people are clearly demonstrating their desire to have a free and independent future, free from outside interference. And we continue to see the Lebanese people standing up and speaking out for their desire to live in freedom, and that's why we made the comments -- that's why I made the comments I did at the beginning of the briefing.

Q Can I follow up?

Q Is this a vindication of the Iraq strategy that the President set out? Is this a domino falling in the Middle East?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that you're seeing across the world -- most notably in the Middle East -- that democracy and freedom are on the march. The Iraqi people demonstrated their desire to live in freedom and peace when they went to the polls in overwhelming numbers and showed their courage and determination to defy those who want to return to the past, the terrorists.

And I think you're seeing in other parts of the Middle East that there is a commitment to moving forward on democratic reforms. You're seeing that with regards to the Palestinian territories. The Palestinian people want a future that is built on a free and democratic and viable state. And you have a leadership now that is committed to helping them realize that vision that the President outlined.

Q Are you seeing that in Egypt, with President Mubarak's statement?

MR. McCLELLAN: We welcome the commitment by President Mubarak that he made to move forward on elections that would allow for more than one candidate to participate in those elections. We will see, through the implementation of the reforms that were announced, the commitment to moving forward on that.

Q Has the President ever issued an order against torture of prisoners? And do we still send prisoners to Syria to be tortured?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President has stated publicly that we do not condone torture and that he would never authorize the use of torture. He has made that --

Q But has he issued an order?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- statement very publicly, and he's made it clear to everybody in the government that we do not torture.

Q Well, why do we still hear these stories then?

MR. McCLELLAN: If there are allegations of wrongdoing, then the President expects those allegations to be fully investigated and if there is actual wrongdoing that occurs, then people need to be held to account. The President has made that very clear.

Q Well, do you deny that we still send prisoners to other countries to be tortured? Is that a denial?

MR. McCLELLAN: Judge Gonzales testified previously that we have an obligation not to render people to countries that we know would torture them.

Q He did not rule out torture.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, David.

Q Scott, you said this morning that for Iran, ascension to the WTO is now on the table in exchange for something, presumably ultimately abandoning their nuclear weapons designs. What's changed the President's mind? Why is he now prepared to maybe take such a step, when Europeans have been at this for some time, and wanting the U.S. to get more engaged?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're asking me to speculate about decisions that haven't been made. And I want to correct you, I don't think that's exactly what I said this morning. What I said this morning was what we had indicated last week, as well, that the President is considering ideas that were discussed last week in Europe for moving forward on our efforts to get Iran to end its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Q That's one of the options. I think we all know that's one of the options.

MR. McCLELLAN: There are ideas that have been discussed publicly by the Europeans. The President had very good discussions with our European friends about how we can move forward toward our shared goal of getting Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program. And so the --

Q Well, but the question is what's changed, because, I mean, all of this was -- has been in place for some time. It didn't just take going to meet the Europeans face-to-face for him to really be convinced of this. So I'm trying to get a sense of what has changed in the President's mind, that he is willing to potentially go down a different road.

MR. McCLELLAN: We have always supported the efforts by our European friends to get Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. We want to see them succeed in those efforts. And we have seen that over the last several months that Iran is now providing more information to the International Atomic Energy Agency. They're providing greater access to the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is an organization which we are a member of, and we work very closely with all the other 30-some members of that organization, in addition to working with our European friends.

The President had very good discussions last week. The European-3, as they are referred to, have continued to have discussions with Iranian authorities over the course of the last year. Those discussions have been moving forward. And so we have been discussing our concerns with Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, in addition to our concerns about Iran's behavior in general, its behavior when it comes to supporting terrorism, and its behavior when it comes to refusing to allow its own people to have the freedoms that they seek.

And I think there's a broader recognition on the part of the international community that the concerns are not only about their pursuit of nuclear weapons, but their treatment of their own people and their support for terrorism.

Q I'm sorry, I'm just trying to pin you down. It's not clear to me in that answer what has happened that's convinced the President to stand closer to the EU-3 strategy than he had previously.

MR. McCLELLAN: We've always stayed in close contact with our European friends on these issues. Like I said, we want to see their efforts succeed. We all have a shared goal that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. That's something we all share. And we want to make sure that Iran abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

And we've been supportive of those efforts. We've continued to stay in close contact with them. The President had a number of meetings last week where we discussed these issues. We talked about the progress that has been made in some of those discussions. And we talked about how we can move forward to accomplish that shared goal.

And so the President was very much in a listening mode during some of those meetings. He listened to some of the ideas for how we can move forward together, and the President is now considering some of those ideas that were discussed. I'm not going to speculate about any decisions that have yet to be made at this point. I think it's something we can talk further about once decisions are made. But that's where it stands at this point.

Q Can I follow up on that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Tom, did you have something?

Q Yes. You seem to indicate a flexibility, in terms of incentives, but is anything off the table? For instance, one of the suggestions was that the United States participate directly in these negotiations, joining the three European countries. Is that something that is being considered, or is that off the table?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the President addressed that last week. We need to keep the focus on Iran. It's their behavior that needs to change. Iran's behavior needs to change when it comes to their interest in nuclear weapons. Iran's behavior needs to change when it comes to the treatment of their own people and their aspirations to have more of a say over their own government; their aspirations for greater --

Q That doesn't involve --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- for greater freedoms. But the President addressed this issue on a couple of occasions just last week. Nothing has changed, in terms of his view on that issue. And we can sit here and try to go through hypothetical decisions that have yet to be made, but I think it's best, let's let those decisions be made and then we can discuss it at that point.

Q But in terms of the U.S. participating directly in the talks, is that something that's under review, as well, as any other things?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President addressed that last week, and there's no change in terms of what he said last week on that.

Go ahead, Wendell.

Q How much was the President -- how much did it play a part in the President's thinking about this President's apparent openness to incentives that European countries convinced him that they, too, believe that it's intolerable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon? That's one. And the second question is, the IAEA is about to give what one official of the agency calls a modestly positive report -- a report card on Iran tomorrow, in Vienna. Does the U.S., as a member of the board, agree with that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Agree with what?

Q That Iran should get a modestly positive report card?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I mean, let's let the report come out and then we can talk about that report at that time. Those discussions -- they're meeting right now and having discussions. We have representatives that are there on behalf of the United States government. I'm not going to jump ahead of what has yet to be reported at this point.

Q All right. The President's decision-making then, was it -- was it swayed by Europe convincing him that they basically share a common agreement --

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me make clear that the policy is the same. We all have a shared goal of making sure Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. That's something we all share. We're all speaking with the same voice. Iran needs to abide by its international obligations. They need to come clean and they need to end their pursuit of nuclear weapons. We've made that very clear. What we are doing is continuing to talk with our European friends about the best way forward for addressing this issue and accomplishing our shared goal. And those are discussions that were had at length last week with representatives -- with the leaders of those countries who are involved in those discussions with Iran. We very much support their efforts. But the focus needs to be on Iran and its behavior, and that's where the focus needs to remain.

Q One more. Before the trip, Ambassador Bruton said that the idea of taking Iran to the U.N. Security Council over this is really not an option. Did the President hear that from European leaders last week?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we are still in the early diplomatic stages of this effort. We've expressed our views when it comes to Iran's continued defiance of its international obligations in the past, and our support for it being referred to the Security Council.

But the President went last week to Europe, had very good discussions about a number of areas where we can work together on a common agenda, first and foremost spreading the advance of -- spreading democracy and freedom. And when it comes to Iran, there are a number of discussions about where we stand with regards to Iran and its interest in nuclear weapons. And there was a lot of discussion about how we move forward together on our shared goal. And the President is thinking through some of the ideas that were mentioned last week, and thinking about what the next steps are for how we move forward to accomplish that shared goal. That's where we stand on this point.

Go ahead, I'm sorry.

Q I'm not hearing an answer to my question.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead.

Q Did the President hear from Europeans that he really doesn't have the option of taking Iran before the U.N. Security Council? The support is not there to impose tougher sanctions.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that that's been addressed in previous International Atomic Energy Agency meetings, and they would be the ones that would make that referral. What we're doing right now is talking about how we move forward to accomplish this shared goal, and what Iran needs to do. The focus needs to remain on Iran and its behavior, and that's where our focus will remain. We're going to continue working very closely with our European friends to accomplish this shared goal.

Q On Lebanon, is the President prepared to back up his words with any actions to ensure a free and a fair election there?

MR. McCLELLAN: We will do everything we can to support the Lebanese people. I think you have seen that through our discussions with the French. We've worked very closely with the French on this issue, where we both share a common concern. We both are committed to seeing Security Council resolutions complied with. We are both committed to seeing Lebanon be sovereign, independent and free from outside interference. We are fully committed to supporting free and fair elections that would be free from outside interference. So, absolutely, we will -- and it's an issue that I expect we will continue to stay in close contact with our French counterparts on.

Q I'm just curious -- I know it just happened, but did the President watch anything that is going on? Did he see the pictures of what's happening --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think he saw -- when I walked in there, there wasn't TV on, but he certainly was briefed on the demonstrations that were going on in Lebanon.

Q Is there any reaction from him --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the reaction is what I said. And that's why I also made the point that it's time for Syria to comply with Security Council resolutions.

Q And just to follow up, to sort of come at what Terry was trying to ask in a different way. Specifically on Lebanon, to what does the White House ascribe what you're seeing there, exactly?

MR. McCLELLAN: The desire for the Lebanese people to live in freedom. You're seeing the Lebanese people stand up and speak out in a very clear way that they want to determine their future free from outside, foreign interference. And that's what you're seeing. The Lebanese people are standing up and speaking out. I think that the attack that took place recently and led to the assassination of the former prime minister was horrific, and I think it demonstrated the importance of allowing Lebanon to be free from outside interference.

Q Scott, when you were discussing Iran before, the first time I heard you say that you thought that Iran was beginning to comply more fully with the IAEA. On the other hand, over the weekend we've all been hearing that they only turned over documents relating to their 1987 acquisition when confronted once again with evidence. How do you square these two positions? Do you see a change in their --

MR. McCLELLAN: Our view is that we expect full compliance. You have seen --

Q And you're seeing greater compliance?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- some steps taken, where they are starting to provide more information to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and where they're starting to provide greater access. There is much more that needs to be done. It's very clear what they need to do to live up to their international obligations.

Q And does that include, in your mind, opening up all military sites to foreign inspection?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that they've indicated that they would provide some access to the International Atomic Energy Agency. We want to see full compliance and full transparency when it comes to their nuclear weapons program.

Q Scott, the -- Dick Armey, the former congressman, made a speech where he was talking -- commenting on the President's calls with evangelicals. How often does the President have these conference calls with evangelicals, and what's the nature of them?

MR. McCLELLAN: How often? I'll have to check. I'm not sure exactly what he was referring to. I'll be glad to check into it. But we stay in close contact with a number of people that -- across the political spectrum, and certainly, that is one community that we stay in close contact with, and we appreciate all their support for the President's agenda. But I'll be glad to look into it. I mean, a number of those, I think, were probably referring to staff level contacts.

Q This said the President, so --

MR. McCLELLAN: The President meets with people from all different religious backgrounds on a fairly regular basis. In fact, one of the things he'll be doing tomorrow is attending the leadership conference for his faith-based and community initiative. You're going to have leaders from across the United States representing faith-based and community-based organizations that are helping people in need, and the President is very much committed to building upon the great progress we have made to reach out to faith-based and community organizations to help people in need. And so he looks forward to attending that conference tomorrow.

John, go ahead.

Q Okay. This morning I mis-spoke when I said that Senate Majority Leader Frist had said that he was against raising caps on the level of payroll taxes to pay for Social Security reform. I mis-read his press release, and he takes the same position as the President, which is everything is on the table, except raising the rates for the payroll taxes. Has the President talked to the Majority Leader since this issue first came up, about what is on and off the table on February 14th, and has he spoken with leaders in the House on it, as well?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think Congress has just -- well, Congress is just coming back into session this week. I'm not aware of any additional discussions he has had with the Majority Leader, beyond some of the recent ones -- I think probably prior to our trip to Europe. Obviously, our staff -- our legislative staff, in particular -- stays in close contact with the leadership and those offices on these issues.

I think the President has made it very clear that we need to work together to find a bipartisan solution to save and strengthen Social Security for future generations. The President believes it's important that we all recognize that there are serious problems facing Social Security, that there are serious financial challenges facing Social Security. And he welcomes all ideas that are being expressed for solving the problem. We've expressed our views and our principles for moving forward to strengthen Social Security. We want to hear from others what their ideas are, as well.

I think you see in survey after survey that the American people recognize there are serious problems facing Social Security. Social Security is unsustainable over the long haul. That's why we need to act now to strengthen it. And the President is not going to get into commenting on every idea that is discussed or every idea that is mentioned for solving the problem. He's going to say, I welcome those ideas and let's talk about how we can find a bipartisan way to solve this problem.

Q Scott, can we go back to Iran for a second. Apparently, the deal that Russia made with Iran to sell Iran nuclear fuel is on, at least, a temporary hold. The press report said that a meeting with the President and Russia's Putin didn't go very well, that the President was not able to talk him out of the deal. And, yet, since it is on hold, have there been further talks --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't know that that's an accurate description of their meeting, first of all. I'm not sure how much that issue actually came up in the discussions.

Q Has there been any attempt, then, on the part of the President since Europe, or anybody else in the administration to convince Russia not to go through with that deal to sell uranium to Iran?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't have any update beyond what we've said previously. Russia has previously assured us that no nuclear fuel should be delivered to Iran until Iran comes into compliance with its international obligations and that any spent nuclear fuel must be returned to Russia. They've previously provided those assurances to us. And we've also made it clear it's important that Iran ratify and adhere to the additional protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We believe the fuel take-back is important to reducing any proliferation concerns, and Russia has worked to build such protections into its agreement with Iran. So that's something that they have previously assured us about.

We have continuing concerns, as we have publicly stated, about Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. We've expressed those concerns publicly. Russia is someone that shares the concern of the international community that Iran should not be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon. We are all working together toward that shared goal.

And that's what you're seeing in these discussions that took place last week. That's what you're seeing in our consideration of some of the ideas that were brought forward by our European friends for how we move forward toward that shared goal. Ultimately it's going to be on Iran to change its behavior and end its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Q And do you actually trust the Russians on this?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Goyal.

Q Scott, if President has seen the report issued by the State Department this morning, global violation of human rights. It blames or accuses China and Saudi Arabia, including many other countries, violators of human rights this year.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in fact we've been talking about some of these very issues at the beginning of the briefing. But promoting human rights and human dignity are at the foundation of our foreign policy. Democracy and freedom and human rights are on the advance, and democracy is the best way to guarantee human rights and human dignity for all. And that's why the President has been such a strong proponent of advancing freedom and democracy.

Q Second, the former President George Bush and Bill Clinton, they were on tsunami -- they were promoting how to help the tsunami victims, and they raised millions of dollars. And now President Clinton is in Taiwan. Were they or President Clinton carrying any message or carrying any message from the President Bush?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me check and see if there's anything to add to that. We've obviously expressed our views in terms -- when it comes to China and Taiwan, and our position remains the same. We also continue to encourage cross-strait dialogue between the countries as the best way to resolving some of the issues that remain.

Q The governors, since they've come to town, have talked a lot about Medicaid. In the question and answer with the President today, did they talk about Medicaid, and did the President give them any assurances or any --

MR. McCLELLAN: Medicaid did come up. First of all, Medicaid is an important program for providing health care for millions of low-income Americans, particularly our children. And this administration is strongly committed to making sure Medicaid is working the way it is intended to work, and getting care to those who need it. The governors, I think, expressed a view that they want to work with us to move forward on some smart ways to reform Medicaid and make sure that it's working the way that it was intended.

The President -- the governors, I think, very much appreciate our efforts to provide them more flexibility when it comes to Medicaid. And I would point out that when it comes to the Medicaid program that spending on Medicaid is going to continue to grow over the next 10 years; it's going to grow at about 7.2 percent a year for the next 10 years. And when you put that in terms of dollars, we're talking about spending nearly $5 trillion on Medicaid over the next decade. But because of some accounting gimmicks that have been used and some loopholes that have been exploited, Medicaid is putting some tight constraints on our budgeting process.

And the President believes we need to move forward to reform Medicare and strengthen it, so that those who it is intended to help are getting the care that they need, and also that we're giving governors the flexibility that they need to provide health care to more people with the dollars that are available. We want them to be able to expand that coverage and cover more people.

That's why under this administration you've seen us provide waivers to states that have extended Medicaid coverage to 2.6 million people since 2001. And I think that's an important step toward our ultimate objective.

And we're working very closely with the governors. Secretary Leavitt is having good discussions with the governors about how we can move forward together on these reforms. And that's where it stands at this point. But, yes, there were a couple of questions that came up on it, and that was kind of the spirit in which it was discussed, that we all understand some of the challenges facing Medicare, and that's why we need to work together as we move forward to implement some smart reforms.

Go ahead, Roger.

Q In connection with Medicaid, there were some reports this morning that there was an apparent effort to get some sort of compromise between the White House and governors by week's end on that. Do you know anything about that? One, is that accurate? And --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know about any timeline. I know that Secretary Leavitt has remained in close contact with the governors. He's been our point person on this issue, as the head of the Health and Human Services Department, and he continues to be in close contact with the governors on those matters.

Q But there's no deadline or anything like that --

MR. McCLELLAN: You can check with Secretary Leavitt's office to see --

Q And the other question I had was the President, in his remarks this morning to the governors, said that he wanted to expand the number of children available getting Medicaid benefits. But he didn't say how he might pay for that.

MR. McCLELLAN: It's our Cover the Kids program. It's something that we outlined in the budget, the President strongly supports. And that's making sure that those who qualify are enrolled in the program. The Cover the

Kids would be to extend S-CHIP to children. We enrolled an additional one million children in the S-CHIP program since 2001, and now the President, in his budget, wants to commit an additional $1 billion to cover even more children, and that's how he's talking about doing it.

Q Where does that money come from?

MR. McCLELLAN: It's in our budget. You can go and look at where that money --

Q Is there any offsetting decrease elsewhere, or is it just increase?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll go look at our budget and try to get you that information.

Bob, go ahead.

Q Scott, in Iraq today, reportedly scores have been killed by a suicide bomber. I'm wondering, first off, if you have any reaction to that. Secondly, during the trip -- more to the point, during the trip, did the President come away with anything really concrete from the allies, in terms of helping bear the burden of securing Iraq at this point?

MR. McCLELLAN: From the trip?

Q Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, you should look at some of the comments that were made. In fact, there was an agreement with the European Union that we would support an international conference on Iraq, if it was requested by the Iraqi leadership, to talk about additional ways that we can support the Iraqi people as they move forward.

In terms of the attack today, we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. It was an attack on innocent Iraqi civilians. The terrorists who carry out these attacks are the enemies of the Iraqi people and the enemies of their aspirations for a free and peaceful future. We are continuing to work closely with Iraqi security forces to bring to justice the terrorists and former regime elements who seek to derail the transition to democracy. They will be brought to justice. They will be defeated. The Iraqi people have shown, through their courage and determination, that they want to live in freedom. And we stand with the Iraqi people as they seek to build a free and peaceful future.

Q Let me just follow up on my second question.

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me keep going, and then I'll come back. Go ahead, Rick.

Q Is the administration concerned or anxious that Russian -- the Russian deal with Iran on the fuel and -- nuclear fuel and Russia's sale of missiles to Syria is hampering western efforts to put pressure on both countries?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in terms of the agreement with Iran on the nuclear fuel that would be provided to the Bushehr reactor, we're still waiting to learn about the details of that agreement. That's why I pointed out earlier today that Russia had provided assurances to us about how they would go about that agreement. And I think that's important to note when we're talking about this issue. But you can understand our skepticism when it comes to Iran's nuclear program, because Iran has vast amounts of oil. And we don't see a need for Iran to develop such a broad civilian nuclear program. That's why we are concerned that they are trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of that civilian nuclear program.

Q So there is a concern, then, that the fuel deal could, in some way, inhibit --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, but Russia talked about the protections that would be built into the agreement, that -- and that's why I said that fuel being taken back to Russia is important to providing protections against that fuel being used for purposes other than what it's intended for.

Q Okay, and what about missile sales to Syria?

MR. McCLELLAN: We've expressed our concerns on that issue. I'm not sure that anything is final at this point. We would hope that Russia would continue to use its influence to urge Syria to abide by the Security Council resolutions and get out of Lebanon.

Q Thank you.

MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you.

END 2:00 P.M. EST For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 28, 2005

Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch

President Bush will welcome Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, to the White House on March 16, 2005. The Cardinal is respected throughout Lebanon and around the world for his religious leadership and for promoting intra-communal harmony among the different faiths in his country, and as an important voice for Lebanese independence, freedom, and democracy.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 28, 2005 Statement by the Press Secretary

Lebanon, Syria

Lebanon

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process

while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country.

Hizballah, a radical Shia organization, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord.

Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well.

The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed to Syria's presence in Lebanon.

SOURCE: CIA World FactBook

Iraqi Security forces arrest Khaled Rajab in Mosul

Security forces in Iraq arrested the terrorist Khaled Rajab in Mosul City on 02/06/05 following information from a citizen.

Khaled Rajab was a former officer in the security services of the former regime, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He used his previous military experience to lead a terrorist cell consisting of 40 people. This cell launched many attacks against the security forces in Iraq , using various kinds of weapons. Khaled Rajab and a group of terrorists also tried to impose control over a village near Mosul from where they were trying to launch missile attacks on the city's airport.

The terrorist Khaled Rajab was responsible for filming beheadings with the help of his terrorist group.

SOURCE: Iraqi Interim Government

President's Toast at National Governors Association State Dinner

President's Toast at National Governors Association State Dinner
State Dining Room 8:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: It's always a pleasure to host the nation's governors here in Washington. Laura and I are proud to have you here for our first state dinner of my second term. (Applause.)

It's a joyous occasion, even made more so by the -- by the fact that I learned that the Blancos -- Governor Blanco and her husband are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary tonight. (Applause.)

Ever since a former governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, lived in this house, many of our Presidents have first served as governors. And there's a reason why. The experience of running a state government, of pulling together a capable team, of setting an agenda and working with an elected legislative body, is critical to the success of any administration.

My six years as governor of Texas have been invaluable to me as I carry out my duties as the presidency [sic]. And because I know firsthand how -- the valuable experience governors get, I've asked a lot to serve in my Cabinet. I had six governors in my first Cabinet. I am pleased that Mike Johanns -- Johanns -- (laughter) -- and Mike Leavitt -- (laughter) -- have agreed to serve in my second term. I'm proud you guys are here. (Applause.)

When our founders devised our federal system two centuries ago, they recognized, in Jefferson's words, that "our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government." The President and the governors are partners in our great enterprise, and that means we share great responsibilities. Together, we'll work to secure our homeland, protect our environment, to strengthen our economy. Together, we will work to ensure that every child gets a good education and good health care. And together, we'll work to make sure that we care for those in our society who hurt and who need help. I'm proud of our work together during the last four years. I look forward to working with you for the next four years.

I want to ask you to join me in a toast to our partners -- the governors and the administration -- in building a more perfect union. To the governors of the United States.

(A toast is given.)

END 8:09 P.M. EST For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 27, 2005

employment tax return Form 941

IRS Unveils Redesigned Employment Tax Return

WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service today unveiled the redesign of the employment tax return Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. The simplified form should help businesses, tax practitioners and payroll companies avoid common errors as well as reduce the burden associated with completing and filing Form 941.

The redesigned form features an improved layout, plain language instructions, simplified deposit reporting and paid preparer identification. The form is also scannable, which the IRS expects will reduce transcription errors. “Where we can, the IRS wants to simplify its forms,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “The new Form 941 will help achieve that.” More than 23 million of these forms are filed annually by 6.6 million employers. The Form 941 is used to report wages, tips and other compensation paid, as well as Social Security, Medicare and income taxes collected.

The Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction led an IRS team in the redesign. External stakeholders from the payroll tax community provided input. The revision also reflects information gathered from the public and feedback from focus group participants.

“The new 941 is much easier on the eye and much more user-friendly,” said Scott Mezistrano, senior manager of government relations for the American Payroll Association. “With the shading, bigger boxes and improved instructions right on the form, you know exactly what you are supposed to report and where to put it. IRS did a very thorough job of reviewing every line on the 941 and considering how it could be made more clear.”

The form is available on IRS.gov. Printed copies of the form and instructions are also available by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-3676.

Related links: In PDF Format
• Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return
• Instructions for Form 941
IR-2005-18, Feb. 23, 2005