    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 21, 2001]
    [Pages 887-888]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

     Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chancellor Gerhard
    Schroeder of Germany and an Exchange With
    Reporters in Genoa
     July 21, 2001

         President Bush. It's my honor to be meeting today with one of
    America's strongest friends and allies and one of Europe's strongest and
    best leaders. I appreciate Gerhard Schroeder's openness, his grasp of
    issues that are important not only to Europe but to the world. I told
    the press earlier that we've had a very, very positive dialog. We
    discussed a lot of important issues: how to expand global trade as well
    as how to assume our responsibilities as wealthier nations to the poor
    nations in a constructive way. It's been a very good experience, and
    it's also been a positive experience to be able to again sit down with
    friends and continue our dialog from days gone by.
         So Mr. Chancellor, thank you for being here.
         Chancellor Schroeder. Thanks.
         President Bush. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions.

     Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change

         Q.  Mr. President and Mr. Chancellor, can you both address whether
    you've reached any kind of accommodation on global warming and the Kyoto
    treaty?
         President Bush. We have reached an accommodation, and here it is.
         Q.  Can you talk about it?
         President Bush. Yes, I'd be glad to. We both agree to reduce
    greenhouse gases, and we both agree to continue dialog.
         Q.  On how--the dialog on how----
         President Bush. On how, right. And I will explain to the Chancellor
    that our Nation will come with a strategy. We're in the process of
    developing one. But I can't be any more sincere than I have been in
    saying that we need to reduce greenhouse gases, and we'll work a plan to
    do so.
         But I've also been very open with the Chancellor, from my very
    first visit in the Oval Office, that the methodology in the Kyoto accord
    is something that would harm our Nation's economy. And therefore, we're
    looking for a different alternative to achieve the same goal.
         And I will tell you this: In Sweden, Chancellor Schroeder was very,
    very strong in his statement about Kyoto and very positive about his
    position there; on the other hand, was--explained to the other leaders
    that my position, while he didn't agree with it, was one that he
    understood. And I appreciated very much his leadership there.
         Chancellor Schroeder. Certainly, the President is very right in
    just saying that we do share the same targets here. Both of us are
    thinking that it is very important that we do substantially reduce
    greenhouse gas emissions. That is very important, indeed. And we will
    obviously have to get into a very intensive dialog about these things.
    This will have to happen; some things will have to happen as a
    consequence of it.

    [[Page 888]]

         Now, obviously, on the tool of Kyoto, as such, we do differ when it
    comes to the assessment thereof. But obviously, we have done so in a
    very open, in a very friendly matter, dealing with one another in a
    constructive way as friends. And I think friends do deal with these
    things as friends, and we certainly do.

     Upcoming Meeting With President Vladimir Putin of Russia

         Q.  Do you plan to make a specific proposal to President Putin
    tomorrow on a strategic framework? Did you see an outline or something?
         President Bush. I plan to have a very honest and open dialog with
    the President that will continue our discussions about how to keep the
    peace. I intend to share with the German Chancellor the nature of our
    discussion in the past and, again, what I intend to talk about tomorrow.
         I think it's very important for us to continue making progress on
    whether or not we can agree to a new strategic framework. As well, we
    will have high-level talks with others in my administration, with the
    Russians. It's a very positive development, I think, for the world.
         I can tell you right now that my relationship with President Putin
    is better than it was in Slovenia by virtue of the fact that we're
    spending more informal time together. One of the benefits of these
    meetings is, is that we get to see each other at places other than just
    sitting around roundtables discussing issues. And so, at the receptions,
    we've been able to have some idle chatter. Some of it may be of interest
    to you; some of it probably wouldn't be. But nevertheless, we're able to
    continue a dialog in a very friendly and open way, and I think that's
    going to be very important for our ability to work together on a lot of
    issues, particularly that of a new strategic framework.
         Q.  But do you see discussing things like specific numbers or his
    plan for joint----
         President Bush. I think it's probably best that I talk to him
    first.

      Note:  The President spoke at 6 p.m. at the Jolly Marina Hotel.
    Chancellor Schroeder spoke in German, and his remarks were translated by
    an interpreter.