STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
November 22, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario
Françoise Ducros, Director of Communications for the Prime Minister issued this statement today in response to media reports in the past few days:
"I would like to set the record straight concerning media coverage of some remarks I made during the NATO Summit in Prague.
The comments attributed to me in no way reflect my personal view of the President of the United States. I have never, in any of the many briefings I have given reporters as the Prime Minister's chief spokesperson, ever expressed, on the record or off the record, any negative opinion concerning President George Bush.
If I made comments in the context of what I understood to be a private conversation, I regret that they have attracted so much media attention. I accept full responsibility for them and I sincerely apologize.
So as not to have this matter overshadow the Prime Minister’s important work here at the Summit I have offered him my resignation."
The resignation was declined.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555