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US GOVERNMENTS REPORTS |
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17 April 2003
U.S. Goal is "Rapid, Peaceful" Transition to Democracy in Cuba
(White House Report, April 17: Cuba; Spain; Iraq; North Korea; Japan)
(1040)
The White House has added its voice to those of the international figures
and organizations denouncing the Castro regime for its arrest and sentencing
of Cuban dissidents it accuses of collaborating with the United States.
"The United States has clearly condemned the Cuban regime's crackdown on
independent civil society," said White House Deputy Assistant Press
Secretary Claire Buchan. "It's important to note the international attention
and condemnation against Cuba. The U.N. Human Rights Commission has passed a
resolution expressing concern about the human rights situation in Cuba."
"Cuba's efforts to silence voices of opposition only make our policy goal of
encouraging rapid, peaceful transition to democracy more relevant and more
urgent, and we'll continue to work with independent Cuban civil society and
with the Cuban people -- and are willing to consider steps to advance that
policy goal in this climate," Buchan added.
Buchan, who briefed reporters in Crawford, Texas, while the president
vacationed at his family ranch, referred to Secretary of State Colin
Powell's recent statements against the Cuban government's actions. Secretary
Powell, she noted, "denounced this most significant act of political
repression in decades, and he called on Castro to end the repression and
free the prisoners of conscience."
BUSH, AZNAR DISCUSS EUROPEAN SUPPORT ON IRAQ, MIDEAST
President Bush began the day April 17 at his Texas ranch with a phone call
to Jose Maria Aznar, president of the government of Spain. The two leaders
discussed European support for a new Iraq, coalition efforts, and potential
progress on Israel-Palestine issues.
NO TIMELINE YET FOR U.N. WMD INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ
Although United Nations chief weapons inspector Hans Blix is interested in
returning to Iraq to resume his search for weapons of mass destruction, the
White House says the United States military is currently focused on that
mission.
"(M)ilitary operations are still under way in Iraq, and finding weapons of
mass destruction continues to be one of their goals," Buchan told reporters.
"At some point the U.N. inspections will be an issue that will need to be
addressed. But at this point the U.S. and coalition forces are still engaged
in action." She said she was unaware of any timeline for resuming U.N.
inspections.
U.S., CHINA TO BEGIN TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA
White House Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan confirmed April 16 that
diplomats from the United States and China will meet with North Korean
officials in Beijing to begin trilateral talks aimed at addressing North
Korea's purported nuclear program.
"We're very pleased with the involvement of the Chinese, said McClellan.
"The Chinese agree fully with the United States that the Korean peninsula
must be free of nuclear weapons, as do all of North Korea's neighbors, and
that's important. We look forward to future talks, too, that include
everybody in the region."
Senior U.S. officials had urged China, Japan and South Korea to press North
Korea to agree to multilateral talks. The White House is pleased, McClellan
said, with the involvement of all three nations in handling the North Korean
issue.
At the time of this report, the exact dates of the talks had not been
announced but McClellan told journalists aboard Air Force One April 16 the
meetings in Beijing could begin "as early as next week."
BUSH THANKS JAPAN FOR SUPPORT IN IRAQ
President Bush thanked Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi by phone
April 16 for his "strong support on Iraq." The two leaders discussed
cooperation on reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and Koizumi welcomed the
progress on the upcoming multilateral talks with North Korea.
BUSH ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS
President Bush announced his intention to nominate four individuals as U.S.
Ambassadors to countries overseas:
The President intends to nominate Harry K. Thomas, Jr. of New York, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America
to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Mr. Thomas is currently enrolled in
Senior Seminar at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center at the
Department of State. He previously served on the National Security Council
as the Director for South Asia. Prior to that assignment, he served as both
Deputy Director and then Director of the National Security Council's
Operations Center. Mr. Thomas earned his bachelor's degree from College of
the Holy Cross.
The President intends to nominate William B. Wood of New York, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America
to the Republic of Colombia. Mr. Wood is currently enrolled in Language
Training at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. He previously
served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau for
International Organization Affairs. Mr. Wood has also served as Director of
the Washington Office of the United States Mission to the United Nations. In
addition to earning his bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, Mr. Wood
earned his MBA from George Washington University.
The President intends to nominate Robert W. Fitts of New Hampshire, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America
to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Republic of Vanuatu.
Currently, Mr. Fitts serves as a Political Advisor for the Southern Command
at MacDill Air Force Base. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission
for the American Embassy in Manila. Earlier, he served in the State
Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs as the Director of the
Office of Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore Affairs.
Mr. Fitts earned his bachelor's degree from Tufts University. The President
intends to nominate Tracey Ann Jacobson of the District of Columbia, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America
to the Republic of Turkmenistan. Ms. Jacobson currently serves as the Deputy
Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia. She previously served
at the White House as Deputy Executive Secretary and Senior Director of
Administration for the National Security Council. Ms. Jacobson is a graduate
of Johns Hopkins University. She earned a master's degree from The Nitze
School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) |
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