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CNN Live Event/Special

Defense Secretary, Philippine President Give Press Conference

Aired November 20, 2001 - 10:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Rumsfeld is speaking in Washington.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: It would be most unfortunate if the foreigners in Afghanistan, the Al Qaeda and the Chechens and others who have been there working with the Taliban, if those folks were set free and in any way allowed to go to another country and cause the same kind of terrorist acts, it would be most unfortunate.

QUESTION: Madame President, I have a question. Is there any intelligence evidence that Al Qaeda elements in your country are helping the Abu Sayyaf movement at this point?

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Well, there's evidence of connection between them and the Abu Sayyaf up to 1995. In fact, in 1995, our police officers were able to arrest some link -- some people who were linked to both and uncovered documentary evidence which in fact led to the conviction of the first bombers of the World Trade Center.

QUESTION: Any current evidence though?

MACAPAGAL-ARROYO: Well, after 1995 -- or after that arrest, after the testimony that our policemen gave, the (inaudible) organizations that we know of, Al Qaeda, left the Philippines. I think they found the Philippines not hospitable for international terrorists.

(CROSSTALK)

RUMSFELD: We'll make this the last question right here. It's getting too cold for the press, I can see that.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: Will you send troops to the Philippines to curb the Muslim rebellion if the government asks for it?

RUMSFELD: Well, look, the United States has had a long relationship with the Philippines. We've had a cooperative relationship. They have a very fine army, and they have been working on this problem. And we are happy to provide the kinds of assistance that they feel is appropriate. And we have been doing so.

And thank you very much.

HEMMER: Donald Rumsfeld with the Philippines's president. We talked about that earlier today, the potential for a military action taking place in the Philippines, given the reports about Muslim extremists operating in that part of world.

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