Briefer: Deputy White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto

President’s Schedule

This morning President Bush got an update from National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and also spoke to Secretary Rice on the phone. He then received his daily intelligence briefings where Georgia was also discussed.
There have been a number of calls made to foreign leader in the last 24 hours: Yesterday, President Bush made calls from Air Force One to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Lithuanian President Adamkus, and President Kaczynski of Poland. Following last night’s statement in the Rose Garden, he also spoke with Georgian President Saakashvili. This morning, President Bush talked to Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and Chancellor Merkel of Germany.
At 1.15 pm, the President will meet with the Coalition for Affordable American Energy. (more…)

Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state in European and Eurasian Affairs, encourages Russia to share energy and oil with the rest of the world in economic moderation. (1:10)

 

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At a meeting today sponsored by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasia Affairs, spoke on the potential actions of the new Medvedev administration.

Dmitri Medvedev took office Wednesday as Russia’s third president. Medvedev officially elected Vladimir Putin as prime minister. Fried discussed the future actions of the United States in reference to the new administration and discussed what changes could occur. (more…)

Aboard Air Force One

En route Kiyv, Ukraine

9:35 A.M. EDT

MS. PERINO: Before I introduce Steve Hadley, who is right behind me, the National Security Advisor, who is going to give you a little bit of a gaggle here, two announcements. Obviously we’re on our way to Ukraine. I know you always want me to tell you where we’re going. (Laughter.) (more…)

The Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) held a press briefing discussing President Bush’s upcoming trip to the NATO summit. The panel leading the hearing investigated the effectiveness NATO, soon to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary, has had in policing the world, American involvement in Afghanistan, European involvement in Kosovo, missile defense, and the possible admittance of new nations into NATO.

Janusz Bugajski, director of the CSIS New European Democracies Project, emphasized how Membership Action Plans (MAPS) are sometimes successful, but limited, guidelines for the three nations trying to become allied with NATO to follow. As Bugajski cautioned, MAPS is not always effective for hopeful nations trying to gain admittance into the alliance.

Bugajski noted that US and Russian tension might “reach a head” over Ukraine’s possible admission into NATO. While President Bush is seen as a strong supporter of NATO enlargement, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Bugajski explained, sees Ukraine’s entrance as an undercut in their strategy to influence Ukrainians.