Thursday
Jul062006
White House Gaggle
Thursday, July 6, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Ellen Ratner
July 6, 2006
President's Schedule:
The president had two phone calls this morning with President Hu of China and President Putin of Russia. The Russian call was already on the schedule for the president's sixtieth birthday. He will have a photo op with the March of Dimes, meet with newly appointed ambassadors, meet with the American Ambassador to Iraq, have an interview with Larry King and have a meeting and press availability with the new Prime Minister of Canada. Later he will have dinner with the Mayor of Chicago in Chicago and meet with other business leaders in Illinois. The Mayor asked the president to come and talk about the economy.
President Hu Phone Call: 14 mins
Hu wished the president a happy birthday. He agreed that there should be a nuclear free Korean peninsula and said he wants peace and stability in the region and opposes any actions that might infringe on it. China is sending their chief diplomat to North Korea and the United States is sending Chris Hill to the region with a first stop in China. President Hu regards North Korea's actions as a provocation. China is not part of the G-8 but is invited and will be going to the meeting.
President Putin Phone Call: 10 mins
Discussed the upcoming G-8 and trade and security. The North Korean situation will be discussed at the G-8. They agreed to a unified approach in the Security Council. President Putin agrees it is time to speak with a clear and unified voice.
North Korea:
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that the center of gravity is in the region and that they would move in a concerted way. The five parties involved in the six party talks agree on how to resolve this. China is worried about the humanitarian issues in North Korea. The two men (Hu and Bush) were agreeing on a framework for proceeding. Tony said, "you have five parties involved here" and it is important to speak with a unified voice.
Asked about sanctions, Tony said that they are talking about building the structure for negotiations. After repeated questions, he said that, "The president is more patient than you are, it is not like a sitcom where you watch for thirty minutes and come to a happy conclusion". He said everyone wanted a nuclear free peninsula and that the problems have been building for a long time. He said they think that a number of scuds may be available. Tony also said that if they think that there is going to be a reward for this kind of behavior they are wrong. The goal is to return to the moratorium on missile launches. Tony said that while they never take options off the table, military action has not been an issue. The focus is on diplomacy.
He reiterated that there was an agreement on end points and pointed out the difference between North Korea and Iran. He said that for Iran there was the EU3, the P5+1, the IAEA as well as Egypt, India and others behind the incentives.
Canada:
The key issues are trade and security.
President's Birthday:
He feels that it is one day after being fifty-nine. He doesn't look at his watch and say I have an aching knee.
July 6, 2006
President's Schedule:
The president had two phone calls this morning with President Hu of China and President Putin of Russia. The Russian call was already on the schedule for the president's sixtieth birthday. He will have a photo op with the March of Dimes, meet with newly appointed ambassadors, meet with the American Ambassador to Iraq, have an interview with Larry King and have a meeting and press availability with the new Prime Minister of Canada. Later he will have dinner with the Mayor of Chicago in Chicago and meet with other business leaders in Illinois. The Mayor asked the president to come and talk about the economy.
President Hu Phone Call: 14 mins
Hu wished the president a happy birthday. He agreed that there should be a nuclear free Korean peninsula and said he wants peace and stability in the region and opposes any actions that might infringe on it. China is sending their chief diplomat to North Korea and the United States is sending Chris Hill to the region with a first stop in China. President Hu regards North Korea's actions as a provocation. China is not part of the G-8 but is invited and will be going to the meeting.
President Putin Phone Call: 10 mins
Discussed the upcoming G-8 and trade and security. The North Korean situation will be discussed at the G-8. They agreed to a unified approach in the Security Council. President Putin agrees it is time to speak with a clear and unified voice.
North Korea:
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that the center of gravity is in the region and that they would move in a concerted way. The five parties involved in the six party talks agree on how to resolve this. China is worried about the humanitarian issues in North Korea. The two men (Hu and Bush) were agreeing on a framework for proceeding. Tony said, "you have five parties involved here" and it is important to speak with a unified voice.
Asked about sanctions, Tony said that they are talking about building the structure for negotiations. After repeated questions, he said that, "The president is more patient than you are, it is not like a sitcom where you watch for thirty minutes and come to a happy conclusion". He said everyone wanted a nuclear free peninsula and that the problems have been building for a long time. He said they think that a number of scuds may be available. Tony also said that if they think that there is going to be a reward for this kind of behavior they are wrong. The goal is to return to the moratorium on missile launches. Tony said that while they never take options off the table, military action has not been an issue. The focus is on diplomacy.
He reiterated that there was an agreement on end points and pointed out the difference between North Korea and Iran. He said that for Iran there was the EU3, the P5+1, the IAEA as well as Egypt, India and others behind the incentives.
Canada:
The key issues are trade and security.
President's Birthday:
He feels that it is one day after being fifty-nine. He doesn't look at his watch and say I have an aching knee.
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