2001 US press briefings
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:51 P.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. I want to give you some information about the President's day, then, if you will remind me I have as much detail as I can provide on a week ahead, which I'll do at the conclusion.
The President this morning spoke with Turkish President Sezer. The President and President Sezer affirmed their solidarity in the fight against terrorism and all those who support and harbor them. The President expressed his thanks to Turkey, a Muslim country, and NATO, that has long suffered from terrorism, for its strong support. The Presidents agree that Turkey and the United States will work together in the long struggle ahead.
The President also spoke with Nigerian President Obasanjo this morning. The President thanked President Obasanjo for his support and letters and calls of condolence. He described his new policy to fight terrorism and those who provide terrorists with sanctuary.
President Obasanjo offered Nigeria's unconditional support to fight against terrorism, stating that, "If we fail in the task, the world is unsafe for all of us." President Bush thanked President Obasanjo for his leadership role in Africa and noted his current efforts to promote peace in the Sudan. And the President offered condolences to the Nigerian people for the loss of life in the recent Muslim-Christian violence in central Nigeria.
The President also spoke with Omani Sultan Qaboos this morning. The Sultan conveyed his condolences to the United States over the attack, and pledged Oman's support for the international fight against terrorism.
The President thanked the Sultan for his expression of sympathy and stressed the high value that the United States places on the friendly relationship with the Sultanate of Oman. And the President also made clear in the course of that conversation that the United States did not attribute the criminal actions of the terrorists with the peaceful religion of Islam, which rejects terrorism.
Two upcoming visits I want to report. President Bush has invited Prime Minister Chretien of Canada to come to Washington for a working visit on Monday, September 24th. The Prime Minister has accepted, and he will be in the Oval Office followed by a lunch, private lunch, for a meeting with the President.
In addition, President Bush looks forward to welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi to Washington for a working visit on September 25th, next week.
In a little while, this afternoon the President will meet with leaders of the insurance companies from across America. And the message the President expects to hear from these leaders is that the insurance industry is very well capitalized and is prepared financially to respond fully to all concerns raised in the wake of this disaster, which is good news for all Americans.
And, finally, the President will depart for Camp David this afternoon. And I'll get a little bit into the week ahead, including weekend activities, at the end.
One other item -- two other items, just an update on a couple areas involving the Cabinet. Attorney General Ashcroft and Director of the FBI Robert Mueller are in New York City today. General Ashcroft has announced $10 million in emergency assistance from the COPS program to assist the city of New York with its law enforcement needs.
And Education Secretary Paige is in New Jersey, where he has announced a $1.5 million grant to assist the New Jersey Department of Education, and also to provide $250,000 in assistance to the Maryland Department of Education, to assist students and teachers impacted by terrorist attacks.
Q Ari, the Taliban's response to the President's speech last night was, show us compelling evidence that bin Laden is guilty and then let's talk. What's the President's message for the Taliban today?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President's message to the Taliban today is the same message that he gave last night, that there will be no negotiations and no discussions; he expects the Taliban to honor the demands that he made in his speech last night, to cease their efforts to support and harbor terrorists and to turn terrorists over to the United States or other authorities and to allow the United States access to the terrorists' camps where the training took place, to make certain that they are no longer training terrorists who can bring harm to people around the free world.
Q So he rejects their response?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's a fair characterization.