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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release November 14, 1998

STATEMENT BY PRESS SECRETARY JOE LOCKHART

The Briefing Room

4:00 P.M. EST

MR. LOCKHART: Good Afternoon. I'm just going to read a brief statement about the President's travel plans and the Vice President's travel plans. I'm not going to take any questions.

I hope to bring the President's National Security Advisor Sandy Berger down here within the next fifteen or twenty minutes to take your questions.

Let me read the statement first.

The President met with his national security team this afternoon to discuss the latest events in Iraq. Given the situation in Iraq, the President has decided to remain in Washington to evaluate appropriate next steps.

Vice President Gore will be representing the United States at the APEC Summit. The President hopes to complete the Japan, Korea and Guam portions of the Asia trip.

That is all I have and I hope to have Sandy down here some time in the next fifteen or twenty minutes.

Q: So, is the letter from Baghdad acceptable?

MR. LOCKHART: I will address that in the next fifteen or twenty minutes when Mr. Berger comes down.

Q: Why is he delaying the trip?

MR. LOCKHART: I think the statement is self evident and I will be back in the fifteen or twenty minutes. Thank you.

END

4:02 P.M. EST