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Poland's President Makes State Visit to White House
Aired July 17, 2002 - 14:14 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: At the White House today, they are going about the business of a state visit, only the second of George W. Bush's presidency. The visitor: the president of Poland. And the trip is a reward, of sorts, for Polish support of U.S. international policy. The leaders held a midday news conference, where the questions centered not only on international policy, or just domestic policy, but on the American president and vice president's dealings when they were businessmen.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the White House with more on that. They can't stay off those questions, can they, Suzanne?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I guess not really, Kyra. I mean, the president formerly was welcoming the president of Poland in this state visit. The two of them have a close relationship. They talked about new initiatives, about strengthening the military and economic ties between the two countries. '
As you know, Poland is a member of the anti-terrorism, the war on terrorism; also has troops inside of Afghanistan. Poland is a new member of NATO, is eagerly looking to become a member state of the European Union as well.
But the questions really did not focus on any of those issues, but rather the questions that have been dogging the administration for the last couple of weeks. President Bush's own business dealings when he was director of Harken Energy Group more than a dozen years ago, specifically the SEC investigation into insider trading, dealing with a controversial stock sell.
The SEC has said that they found no evidence of wrongdoing, but Democrats have been calling all week for the president to ask the SEC to release all of the documents related to the case. The president says that that is not necessary, that the case is old, and that there is no news there.
The president also for the first time was asked for his reaction to the problems that the vice president is now having. The SEC is investigating accounting abuses when he was CEO of Halliburton, the oil company. The president expressing his confidence, again, in the vice president, saying there is nothing there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I've got great confidence in the vice president. He's doing a heck of good job. When I picked him, I knew he was a fine business leader and a fine, experienced man. And he's doing a great job. And that matter will take -- run its course, the Halliburton investigation, and the facts will come out at some point in time.
The SEC, as a result of freedom of information requests, has released documents, and the key document said there is no case. It was fully investigated by career investigators. Some of you, I think, have talked to the head career investigator, and he has made it clear there was no case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The administration, quite frankly, getting tired of these type of questions, but Democrats still calling at least for the vice president to come before the mikes and to make a clear case to answer all of the questions about the case involving the SEC and Halliburton. The vice president's office saying that it's merit-less, and rather so far, is not going to be coming to the mikes and making a statement; rather they say it will play out, and there is nothing there -- Kyra..
PHILLIPS: Suzanne, back to the state visit for a moment, this relationship between Poland and the U.S. I can understand Poland wanting American companies to come and set up shop there; also have the U.S. military help train their troops. What's in it for the United States? How can Poland help us in this war on terrorism?
MALVEAUX: Well, as you know, the position of the troops are really key. We have seen a lot of countries participating in that, actually setting up, basing U.S. soldiers in those particular countries. We know that there are soldiers that are inside of Afghanistan that are from Poland as well. There is clearly an economic and military advantage for both of the countries to establish close ties.
And as you know and as you mentioned before, Poland has a lot to gain out of this as well. They really, really want to be a part of the European Union. They are hoping to become a state member, and they are also one of the newest members of NATO. So they are clearly hoping that these economic ties with the United States will help them economically. We are depending on them militarily in that region of the world.
PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House -- thanks, Suzanne.
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