WHITE HOUSE REPORT, FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2001
(El Salvador, Greece, Ireland, Mideast, Pentagon, Canada visit, Balkans, week ahead)

March 2, 2001

PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH PRESIDENT FLORES OF EL SAVADOR

President Bush and President Francisco Flores of El Salvador met in the Map Room of the White House for about 20 minutes on the afternoon of March 2.

Following the meeting, Bush, in a written statement, said he had commended Flores "for the strong leadership he and his government have shown in the aftermath of two recent earthquakes that killed and injured thousands of people and left many more homeless."

Bush said the United States had responded to these earthquakes by quickly sending rescue workers and over $16 million in relief assistance to the people of El Salvador.

"Today, I told President Flores that the United States has pledged $52 million in reconstruction assistance to El Salvador this fiscal year, and I will seek to match or increase that amount for next year," Bush said.

"In addition, I informed him of the Attorney General's decision to grant temporary relief from deportation for a period of 18 months for Salvadoran citizens living in the United States.  This will allow them to continue to work here and to remit some of their wages back home to support El Salvador's recovery efforts."

Following the meeting, Flores spoke with reporters as he was leaving the White House.

He said that the Bush administration's decision to grant Temporary Protection Status for Salvadoran families in the United States "is immensely important for us, because it will allow Salvadoran families here in the United States to send their help to Salvadoran families in the devastated areas in our country.

BUSH PHONES GREEK PRIME MINISTER

President Bush phoned Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Simitis the morning of March 2, "to express his strong commitment to U.S.-Greek relations," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer reported.

BUSH TO MEET WITH IRELAND'S PRIME MINISTER

President Bush and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern will meet at the White House March 16th, on the eve of St. Patrick's Day.

"They will mark the enormous contributions to America made by the Irish people. And the two leaders will review ongoing ties, including the strong interest of the United States in supporting the Northern Ireland peace process," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said at his afternoon briefing.

FLEISCHER COMMENTS ON ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SITUATION

Fleischer made clear that the United States is "going to continue to be as helpful as we can to the parties" in the region. "And any agreement that the parties reach will be an agreement that we can support," he said.

Asked whether Bush plans to meet with Israel's Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, if and when he comes to the United States, Fleischer said:

"Well, of course. Prime Minister-elect Sharon must still first form his government, and until that happens, it would be premature to discuss any type of formal meeting."

BUSH ADMINISTRATION PLANS FOR DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

Asked about the budget for the Defense Department, Fleischer said Bush "has been crystal clear" on this subject, and so has the Secretary of Defense, "and they stand together" on this, he said.

"And that is ... that we will not let defense budgets drive defense strategy; we'll have a defense strategy that drives the defense budget. And that's why he's directed the Secretary of Defense to undertake the force structure review, which the Defense Department is in the middle of now, and they will continue to review our nation's military priorities and needs, and once the review is complete, we'll have more to say."

BUSH LOOKS FORWARD TO GOING TO CANADA IN APRIL

Bush told the March 2 meeting of state legislators that he was "looking forward" to going to Quebec City in April where he will attend the third Summit of the Americas.

He noted that he recently had "had a good visit" at the White House with the Prime Minister of Canada.  Bush said he was "confident our nations will continue our long friendship together -- work together for the good of our two countries and our hemisphere."

FLEISCHER COMMENTS ON BUSH POLICY TOWARDS THE BALKANS

Asked if Bush's recent endorsement of the idea of a European Rapid Reaction Force and the recent withdrawal from the Balkans of 750 Americans, had anything to do with Bush's previously announced intention to reduce U.S. presence in the area, Fleischer said "No," there was no connection.

"The withdrawal of the 750 Americans from the Balkans was a long-planned withdrawal," he said.

Fleischer said Bush "has been crystal clear" that he will consult with our allies and "work with our allies" about U.S. involvement in the Balkans and "any type of decisions that are made."

But "the President, as a general approach, does believe that the United States is overextended," Fleischer said.

BUSH WEEK AHEAD SCHEDULE

The President and the First Lady will spend the weekend of March 2-4 at Camp David, the Presidential Retreat in Maryland.

On Sunday, March 4, Bush will travel from Camp David to Newport News, Virginia to speak at the christening of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier.

On Tuesday, March 6, Bush will travel to Chicago where he will speak at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

On Wednesday, March 7, Bush will host the President of South Korea for a working visit and lunch at the White House.

On Thursday, March 8, he will meet at the White House with the NATO Secretary-General. Then he will travel to Fargo, North Dakota where he will remain overnight.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov )