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Skriven 2005-09-19 23:33:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050919) for Mon, 2005 Sep 19
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President Meets with Homeland Security Council
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 19, 2005

President Meets with Homeland Security Council
Cabinet Room



10:25 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: I just met with my Homeland Security Council to discuss
ongoing relief efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. I have
made it clear that I believe it's a national security matter for people to
review emergency plans. And so, therefore, I've instructed Secretary
Chertoff and the folks around this table to work with our local
counterparts to make sure that we've got emergency plans in place that will
deal with significant disaster. And for the local folks, I urge them to
cooperate in a review of these plans. It's important.

Secondly, one of the things that I heard loud and clear on my travels down
there was that people are concerned about red tape. And one of the big
concerns for the mayors and the Governor of Mississippi, in particular, and
the mayors along the Gulf Coast, was this issue about debris removal --
who's responsible, how can we get it done in an effective way. And I want
to thank the Secretary for working with Governor Barbour on this issue to
expedite a process by which we can start getting some of this debris
removed from a part of our country that was just wiped out by this storm; I
mean, there are piles and piles of homes and buildings just in rubble. And
in order to help this region get rebuilt, first things first, and that's to
get rid of the debris. And so we've got a plan in place to cut through the
red tape and get this done in an effective way.

On another matter, a couple of other matters, one, I want to congratulate
the people of Afghanistan for showing up at the polls and defying the
Taliban and those who threaten their lives and say, look, you know, these
people supported democracy. It's just another step on their road toward a
stable democracy and we congratulate them.

And, as well, I want to welcome the comments of the OPEC and non-OPEC
nations, talking about making sure they get enough supply on the markets to
help hopefully affect the world price of crude oil. I have been concerned
about the price at the pump that our folks are paying. Part of that was
caused by the disruptions of Hurricane Katrina. We dealt with that by
suspending rules and regulations that enable us to import more gasoline.
But part of the cost of gasoline is a result of high crude oil prices, and
one way to affect those prices is to conserve, and the other way is to
encourage an increased supply. And so I want to thank those countries that
are trying to figure out how to get more supply on the market to help
relieve some of the pressure.

Be glad to answer some questions. Jennifer.

Q Thank you, sir. Thank you. Mayor Nagin in New Orleans has invited people
to start returning to that city, when there are lots of federal officials
who feel that it's not safe to do so. Do you feel like you need to step in?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we have made our position very clear. Admiral Allen
has made the position very clear of this government, and that is that we
share the goal of the Mayor, but we have got concerns. There are
environmental concerns, which Administrator Johnson shared with us today.

Let me give you a real concern that I think everybody ought to pay
attention to, and that is this Tropical Storm Rita, which now looks like
it's going to head out into the Gulf, and could track Katrina, or it could
head further to the west. But, nevertheless, there is deep concern about
this storm causing more flooding in New Orleans.

And so Admiral Allen has reflected our -- the concerns of this
administration. And we want to work with the Mayor. The Mayor is working
hard. The Mayor has got this dream about having a city up and running. And
we share that dream. But we also want to be realistic about some of the
hurdles and obstacles that we all confront in repopulating New Orleans.

Q Will you express that concern yourself to the Mayor?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I just did. But, as well, absolutely. Secretary --
"Secretary," I call -- Andy Card, former Secretary, and now Chief of Staff
Card is reaching out to him -- has reached out to him earlier. But, listen,
Admiral Allen is our man on the ground. Admiral Allen speaks for the
administration. He is -- and the Mayor knows our position. But I repeat,
and the Mayor needs to hear, and so do the people of New Orleans, our
objective -- listen, I went there, and stood in Jackson Square to say, we
want this city to reemerge. As I said, I can't imagine America without a
vibrant New Orleans. It's just a matter of timing, and there's issues to be
dealt with. If it were to rain a lot, there is concern from the Army Corps
of Engineers that the levees might break. And so, therefore, we're cautious
about encouraging people to return at this moment of history.

Adam.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Given what you've said in the past about North
Korea's record of noncompliance, what makes you think that this time North
Korea will abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons?

THE PRESIDENT: Five nations, in working with North Korea, have come up with
a formula which we all hope works. Five nations have spoken and said it is
not in the world's interest that North Korea have a nuclear weapon. And now
there's a way forward. And part of the way forward is for the North Koreans
to understand that we're serious about this, and that we expect there to be
a verifiable process. In other words, they have said, in principle, that
they will abandon their weapons programs. And what we have said is, great,
that's a wonderful step forward, but now we've got to verify whether or not
that happens.

It was a positive step yesterday. It was a step forward in making this
world a more secure place. And I want to thank our other partners in the
six-party dialogue, you know, by working together. The question is, over
time, will all parties adhere to the agreement.

Thank you.

END 10:32 A.M. EDT

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