White House Gaggle

By Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle
12 February 2007

The President had his usual briefings. He will meet with the President of Lithuania at 10.15 He will sign the 1007 Economic Report of the President. He has an interview with Steve Scully of C-Span. He gives remarks at the celebration of African American History Month in the East Room.

Russia

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that the United States disagrees with the characterization of the US acting unilaterally. The US has been working aggressively, including with Russia, to work in a multilateral fashion on a number of key issues. We value the Russians’ contributions to problems in Iran and North Korea. The six party talks are ongoing today as a classic example of that. We have been engaged in trade negotiations with the Russians, he said.

Snow was asked whether he was concerned that things have shifted in the relationship with Russia. He said he was not sure things had shifted. The ongoing cooperation between the US and Russia continues. The US regards Russia as an important ally. The President has regular and quite often frank conversations with President Putin. The two of them understand each other. They will continue working together.

Asked if the President will reach out to President Putin, Snow replied that Secretary Gates will be there next week. There would be administration contact.

Iran

Snow was asked for the White House’s reaction to President Ahmadinejad’s comments to Diane Sawyer over the weekend in an interview. He said the way for them to stand for peace is to make sure there are no shipments of weapons, and to support those who are trying to kill Americans or destabilize democracy in Iraq.

Snow was asked why there had been a change in tone from the White House, which had previously been conciliatory. Snow said there had not been a change of tone. There had been an attempt in the press to whip this up as the administration going after Iran, which the administration is not.

With regard to nuclear reprocessing, Snow said the Iranians need to step away from it as well as from enrichment, as well as developing a nuclear program that could yield nuclear weapons. The US has said it will help them develop nuclear power, which they want to have, and they ought to have. Should they decide to move in that direction, the US has made very generous offers in terms of how it will respond.

Snow said if the briefing had been on the record, one of the key briefers would not have been able to brief. It was decided to do it on background so reporters could have access to the information. The administration is confident that the report is accurate. Asked if he was confident that the weapons are coming with the approval of the Iranian government, Snow said that he was.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard

Snow was asked if it is appropriate for Prime Minister Howard to weigh in on the Democratic primaries. Snow replied that the prime minister has freedom of speech.

North Korea

It was stated that there had been optimism about a deal with North Korea, but now that seemed to have deteriorated. Snow was asked what the situation is now. Snow said talks with North Korea are always challenging. The North Koreans need to understand that the United States and the members of the six party talks are insistent that they abide by the 19 September agreement. When they do, we can move forward.