White House Gaggle

By Gregory Gorman
June 7, 2005

President’s Schedule

The President had his usual briefings this morning and looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Tony Blair to the White House. President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will meet in the Oval Office this afternoon followed by a joint press conference in the East Room.

Meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair

Press Secretary Scott McClellan said that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will be discussing a very broad agenda during their meeting. Topics will include terrorism, the progress being made in Iraq, Iran, Israeli-Palestinian issues and the upcoming G8 Summit in Scotland. The two leaders will also be discussing debt relief for Africa. McClellan stated that the US and UK are thoroughly committed to African debt relief and both are working to fulfill the African Action Plan. McClellan said that, "we have a shared goal for development in Africa".

Africa Initiative

McClellan announced that the United States will be adding $674 million to the aid that we have already given to Africa this fiscal year. Some of this money will come from the emergency supplemental that was just passed by Congress and some will come from the Dept. of Agriculture Humanitarian Trust. There will also be funds coming from non-governmental groups. Several reporters asked for a detailed breakdown of the money which McClellan promised later in the day. When asked if Prime Minister Blair’s visit to the White House should be looked at as a chance for Blair to ask for more African aid, McClellan responded that the US has provided resources for Africa and will continue to do so, especially for poor countries who govern justly. According to McClellan, Prime Minister Blair has been quoted as saying that he is not asking for money. The administration believes that one of the centerpieces of the G8 Summit will be debt relief for Africa.

Meetings with North Korea

The US urged North Korea to return to six-party talks during a meeting between both countries at the United Nations on Monday. McClellan said that the meeting with North Korea should be seen as a forum to exchange messages. The administration is hopeful that North Korea will return to the talks but McClellan stated that they are not yet ready to do so. The US intends to continue to work for a nuclear free Korean peninsula.