[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
[May 26, 2002]
[Pages 894-896]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Following a Tour of the Choral
Synagogue in St. Petersburg
May 26, 2002
Religious Freedom in Russia
The President. Good morning, everybody.
Q. Good morning, Mr. President.
The President. Today we've had a--a beautiful morning. We've been to
a church and a synagogue. One of the nonnegotiable demands of individual
dignity is freedom of religion, and I'm impressed by what I've heard
from religious leaders, Christian and Jewish, here about the state of
affairs in Russia.
We went to a cathedral that up until recently was a museum of
atheism, and today it's a place where people can worship God freely.
We've been to a synagogue that was, even though open, was not a
welcoming sight for many Russians, and today it is a spectacular place
for people to gather and worship an Almighty God--and worship an
Almighty God freely.
And one of my strong beliefs is that people should be free to
worship, and I'm pleased that that's taking place here in Russia. It's
important for this country that religious freedom flourish and there be
tolerance of all faiths.
And it's been a very rewarding morning for Laura and me, and we want
to thank our hosts and thank the Russian people. Last night I was very
impressed and pleased to see so many Russians lining the streets, and
they were so welcoming to the American delegation. We're making great
progress in our strides toward freedom--I mean, toward friendship and
our mutual respect of freedom. Thank you for your hospitality.
Pakistan-India Relations
Q. Mr. President, yesterday Pakistan went ahead with their planned
missile tests.
The President. Yes.
Q. Do you think that has had any impact on the situation there? And
do you believe this is something they should have gone forward with at
this point in time?
The President. As you know, we expressed our strong reservations
about the tests. Obviously, we hope that there is restraint in the area,
that that not be viewed as a provocation. We're continuing to work the
diplomatic channels, as are other nations. I mean, everybody understands
the danger of a serious conflict in the region. And slowly but surely we
can erode the distrust that has arisen in the area so that they can----
Q. Do you think the situation is as tense and dangerous there now as
it was in January, where in hindsight it appears they came very close to
an armed conflict?
The President. I think that anytime you have countries with nuclear
arms, that a tension, serious tension is dangerous. And it's hard for me
to measure the degree of tension. Let's just say it's tense now, and it
was tense then. So we've just got to continue to work the problem, and
we will. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to defuse the situation.
Palestinian Authority
Q. Mr. President, are you inclined to agree with your advisers who
say that we should deal with Chairman Arafat, or those who think he
should be frozen out?
[[Page 895]]
The President. Well, you know, I get all kinds of advice. People
know my opinion about Chairman Arafat, and
that is that he has let the Palestinian people down. He hasn't
delivered. He had a chance to secure the peace as a result of the hard
work of President Clinton, and he didn't.
He's had a chance to fight terror, and he hasn't. Evidently there's a
new attitude emerging among some of the leadership in the Palestinian
Authority, and the answer is, we'll see. We'll see if he can deliver.
The key for the--for peace in the region, as far as I'm concerned,
is for the Arab world to continue to fight terror, to do what they say
they're going to do--we believe that that's happening more than ever--
and that we develop the institutions necessary so that a Palestinian
state can emerge that will be at peace with Israel. And that start--
first step is to have a security force that actually keeps the security,
as well as the reforms ought to align authority and responsibility so
people can be held to account for success or failure.
Q. I just want to follow up and make sure I understand what you are
saying, when you're saying that apparently there's a new attitude in the
Palestinian Authority and we'll see. Are you----
The President. Well, you're beginning to see talk of reform. You
know, if you read the press accounts, there's--people are beginning to
question out loud as to why there hasn't been success. One of the things
that we've been trying to do is to say people must be responsible. My
speech on April 4th called upon--outlined the responsibilities necessary
to achieve peace.
So I'm beginning to hear--this is publicly I'm beginning to hear, I
might add--discussion about, ``Well, maybe we ought to assess how to
make the Palestinian Authority more accountable,'' and that's what I was
referring to.
Q. But you're not referring to any good words or deeds you're seeing
out of--seeing out of Arafat. So are you saying that the time has now
run out on Arafat and we're not going to deal with him, or he's still
got a chance to do it right?
The President. No, what I'm saying is that what we need to do is
develop the institutions necessary for there to be a responsible
Palestinian state. And it starts with security.
One of the things that's interesting is, when you talk to European
leaders, there's an interest about helping the Palestinian people--the
Palestinians with economic development, but it's hard to promote
economic development when there is concerns about graft and corruption.
And so there needs to be--there needs to be institutions that will be
transparent, institutions that will hold people responsible for the
expenditure of money, institutions necessary to make sure that the good
hearts of the world, when they apply to the Palestinian people, will be
met with good results.
Q. Can I follow on Ron's [Ron Fournier, Associated Press] question?
Q. Sir----
Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet's Upcoming Visit to the Middle East
Q. Is Director Tenet going back to the region this coming week?
The President. You've had a big day today, Stretch [Richard Keil,
Bloomberg News]--three questions.
Q. It's because he's taller, you know.
Q. That's a pool, because we all want to ask that one, though.
The President. He's also booming. He's also booming out there with
his question, butting in. No--anyway--[laughter]----
Q. My apologies to Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters].
The President. Poor Patsy, here she is trying to be dignified----
Q. That was my question, anyway.
The President. It was your question?
Q. Yes, I was trying to be dignified.
The President. Well, would you like to ask it, so you can----
Q. Sir, is Director Tenet going back to the region next week?
[Laughter]
[[Page 896]]
The President. As you know, I expressed--I said that I was going to
send Director Tenet back to the region. I haven't changed my mind.
Q. Next week?
Russia's Role in the Middle East Peace Process
Q. [Inaudible]--the role of Russia on the Middle East question?
The President. Well, President Putin has
been very helpful. And he's been helpful because he has--he has insisted
that there be accountability and responsibility in the region. And he
has been a--he makes it very clear that the Russian Government is--
rejects any kind of terrorist activities that disrupts the peace
process, in a very strong voice for reason and for reasonable policy,
and I appreciate that a lot.
Thank you all.
Q. This week for Director Tenet?
The President. See you in France.
Note: The President spoke at 10:49 a.m. outside the synagogue. In his
remarks, he referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian
Authority; and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. A tape was not
available for verification of the content of these remarks.