[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 28 (Monday, July 14, 2003)]
[Pages 888-889]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters in
Dakar, Senegal

July 8, 2003

Liberia

    Q. Can we ask you about Liberia, sir?
    The President. We had a good discussion about Liberia.
    Q. Have you made a decision?
    The President. The President of Ghana is the leader of ECOWAS. I 
told him we'd participate with ECOWAS. We're now in the

[[Page 889]]

process to determine the extent of our participation. And I really 
appreciate the President's leadership on this issue. Charles Taylor must 
leave. The United Nations is going to be involved. The United States 
will work with ECOWAS. The leaders of ECOWAS were at the table, all of 
whom are concerned about Liberia, as are we, and are concerned about a 
peaceful western Africa.
    Q. Does that mean you'll send troops?
    The President. We're in the process of determining what is necessary 
to maintain the cease-fire and to allow for a peaceful transfer of 
power. We're working very closely with ECOWAS. The President of ECOWAS 
is with us today, the President of Ghana. He and I had a good 
discussion. I assured him we'll participate in the process. And we're 
now in the process of determining what that means.
    Q. Do you have to wait until Mr. Taylor is gone?
    The President. We're in the process of determining what that means.

Note: The exchange began at 9:48 a.m. at the Presidential Palace. In his 
remarks, the President referred to President John Agyekum Kufuor of 
Ghana; and President Charles Taylor of Liberia. A tape was not available 
for verification of the content of this exchange.