U.S., JAPAN COOPERATING ON BALLISTIC MISSILE INTERCEPTION

The United States and Japan have a “vigorous program” of missile defense cooperation, and are developing an improved version of a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) ballistic missile interceptor, Snow told reporters June 26.

According to press reports, the United States and Japan recently agreed to the U.S. deployment of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles on bases in Japan, at a time when many in the international community have expressed concern over North Korea’s threat to test a long-range ballistic missile.  (See related article.)

Snow said the agreement is “not a response to any specific threat,” but he acknowledged that it “is part of a program designed to meet the long-standing North Korean threat.”

“[W]e exchanged notes to cover procedures to be used in developing a 21-inch version of an SM-3 - that's a Standard Missile 3 - ballistic missile interceptor, which is an improved version of the current SM-3 model, which was tested last week off the coast of Hawaii,” Snow said.

KILLING OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS SHOWS AL-QAIDA IS “ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY

The Bush administration says it is “deeply saddened” by what it described as the “vicious murder” of four Russian diplomats who had been taken hostage by the al-Qaida terrorist organization in Iraq, and pledged to deepen its anti-terrorism cooperation with Russia and to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a June 26 statement, White House press secretary Tony Snow said, “With this brutal killing, Al-Qaida in Iraq has once again shown its savagery,” and he offered condolences on behalf of the United States to the victims’ families and the Russian people.

Al-Qaida’s targeting of diplomats and innocent people from all nationalities and religions “continue[s] to prove that they are enemies of all humanity,” Snow said.

He added that despite its “horrific acts,” the terrorists “will not dissuade” Iraqis, Americans or others in the international community from establishing “a prosperous, stable, and safe Iraq that is controlled by the Iraqi government for the Iraqi people.”

For additional information, see Iraq Update.

BUSH URGES CONGRESS TO PASS U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

President Bush said the U.S. congressional approval of the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement will encourage economic and social reforms in Oman, enhance bilateral relations, and would “mark another important step towards creating a Middle East Free Trade Area.”

The agreement would provide duty-free access on trade between the two countries, immediately for all industrial goods and over time for all agricultural goods.

In a statement released June 26, Bush said Oman “is leading the pursuit of social and economic reforms in the region,” through efforts such as selling state-owned businesses, encouraging foreign investment for development and providing better protection for women and workers.

“It is strongly in our national interest to embrace these reforms and do what we can to encourage them,” Bush said.  He also said passage of the FTA will illustrate for other developing countries “the advantage of open markets and increased trade.”

For more information on U.S. trade policy in the region, see U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area.