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US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that he has agreed to let his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, to appear in public and under oath before the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"At my direction, (White House legal counsel) Judge (Alberto) Gonzales has informed the commission that Dr. Rice will participate in an open, public hearing," he said in a televised speech.
Bush said he had advised leaders of the commission that he and Vice President Dick Cheney and would jointly meet with all members of the commission in a private session.
It was important for the commission to have a "complete picture" of the months and years leading up to the attacks, so as to prevent future attacks, he said.
Bush said the White House had given commission members access to relevant Presidential Daily Briefings, to his communications with foreign leaders and to internal White House communications, and more than 800 members of the administration had been interviewed.
But it was also important not to violate an "important principle" that allows the president and his advisers to communicate in private, he said.
The commission had agreed that Rice's appearance would not set any precedents for future investigations, he said.
"The commission and leaders of the US Congress have given written assurances that the appearance of the national security advisor will not be used as precedent in the conduct of future inquiries," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2004)
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