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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Back at White House

Aired September 28, 2003 - 09:04   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY: President Bush is back in the White House.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY: Yes, he is. Two days of meetings at Camp David first with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. We have the latest coming in from Suzanne Malveaux with the latest on this so-called mini summit.

Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

Both of the leaders describe this as a successful summit. But despite that President Bush did not get the kind of commitment of troops, as well as money, from President Putin, at least not yet.

President Putin said he was waiting for a U.N. Security Council resolution to his liking before he would move ahead. One thing that was a good sign is that unlike anti-war partners France and Germany, he did not insist the U.S. turn power back to the Iraqi people immediately, but agrees with the Bush administration in taking a step by step approach.

At the same time, however, President Bush did acknowledge that the administration has quite a bit of work ahead before it drums up that kind of international support for the 15,000 troops they are looking for, and up to $60 billion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I realize some countries are inhibited from participation because of a lack of a U.N. resolution. We are looking to get a satisfactory resolution out of the U.N. We spent some time discussing that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: President Bush, this morning, attending a church service as he does every week.

One of the other hot topics, of course, as you know, was Iran. Now President Putin refused to abandon this deal, this nuclear technology deal, supplying that technology to Iran despite numerous White House pleadings. The Bush administration sees this as an opportunity for Iran to build a nuclear weapon. Russia counters it is being used to build a nuclear power plant. Obviously, the two leaders decided to agree to disagree on this issue. They point to Iran and said that Iran has to cooperate with the international community in essentially coming clean.

Heidi?

COLLINS: Suzanne, also wondering a bit about Laura Bush. We know that she is sort of getting in on the act with these countries as well?

MALVEAUX: Oh, absolutely. She's acting as a goodwill ambassador. She leaves today and she will be traveling, first to she's going to go to Russia, as well as to France. She will pay a courtesy call to President Jacques Chirac. She's also will participate in events with the first lady of Russia, a children's literacy project. As you know, this is dear to her heart, being a former librarian.

Obviously this is meant to create better relations and goodwill between the countries. And President Bush, of course, in the week to come, a lot on his plate dealing with the domestic agenda as well as foreign.

We expect that on Monday he will sign that "Do Not Call" legislation, that controversial legislation. On Tuesday he will travel to Chicago and Cincinnati for some fund raisers, as well, and talking about the economy. Later in the week he will meet with the Pakistani Prime Minister Pervez Musharraf. He is another one of those allies he's hoping to get funds or some troops for Iraqi reconstruction. We will see how all of this plays out.

A lot to do, Heidi.

COLLINS: An awful lot to do. Suzanne Malveaux, from the White House, thanks for breaking it down for us. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired September 28, 2003 - 09:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY: President Bush is back in the White House.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY: Yes, he is. Two days of meetings at Camp David first with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. We have the latest coming in from Suzanne Malveaux with the latest on this so-called mini summit.

Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

Both of the leaders describe this as a successful summit. But despite that President Bush did not get the kind of commitment of troops, as well as money, from President Putin, at least not yet.

President Putin said he was waiting for a U.N. Security Council resolution to his liking before he would move ahead. One thing that was a good sign is that unlike anti-war partners France and Germany, he did not insist the U.S. turn power back to the Iraqi people immediately, but agrees with the Bush administration in taking a step by step approach.

At the same time, however, President Bush did acknowledge that the administration has quite a bit of work ahead before it drums up that kind of international support for the 15,000 troops they are looking for, and up to $60 billion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I realize some countries are inhibited from participation because of a lack of a U.N. resolution. We are looking to get a satisfactory resolution out of the U.N. We spent some time discussing that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: President Bush, this morning, attending a church service as he does every week.

One of the other hot topics, of course, as you know, was Iran. Now President Putin refused to abandon this deal, this nuclear technology deal, supplying that technology to Iran despite numerous White House pleadings. The Bush administration sees this as an opportunity for Iran to build a nuclear weapon. Russia counters it is being used to build a nuclear power plant. Obviously, the two leaders decided to agree to disagree on this issue. They point to Iran and said that Iran has to cooperate with the international community in essentially coming clean.

Heidi?

COLLINS: Suzanne, also wondering a bit about Laura Bush. We know that she is sort of getting in on the act with these countries as well?

MALVEAUX: Oh, absolutely. She's acting as a goodwill ambassador. She leaves today and she will be traveling, first to she's going to go to Russia, as well as to France. She will pay a courtesy call to President Jacques Chirac. She's also will participate in events with the first lady of Russia, a children's literacy project. As you know, this is dear to her heart, being a former librarian.

Obviously this is meant to create better relations and goodwill between the countries. And President Bush, of course, in the week to come, a lot on his plate dealing with the domestic agenda as well as foreign.

We expect that on Monday he will sign that "Do Not Call" legislation, that controversial legislation. On Tuesday he will travel to Chicago and Cincinnati for some fund raisers, as well, and talking about the economy. Later in the week he will meet with the Pakistani Prime Minister Pervez Musharraf. He is another one of those allies he's hoping to get funds or some troops for Iraqi reconstruction. We will see how all of this plays out.

A lot to do, Heidi.

COLLINS: An awful lot to do. Suzanne Malveaux, from the White House, thanks for breaking it down for us. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com