    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [July 17, 2002]
    [Pages 1261-1262]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Aleksander
    Kwasniewski
    July 17, 2002

        We reaffirm the deep friendship and vibrant alliance between the
    United States and Poland. We are committed to freedom and democratic
    values, which form the basis of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. As
    we begin the 21st Century, all of Europe's peoples, for the first time
    in history, have an opportunity to live in democracies, at peace with
    themselves and their neighbors. The United States pays tribute to the
    people of Poland, who contributed so much to bringing an end to Europe's
    Cold War division and who led the way to the undivided Europe now taking
    shape. Today, Poland and the United States are determined to complete
    our task: to build the Transatlantic House of Freedom, open to all of
    Europe's peoples and prepared to meet the global challenges of the 21st
    Century. Both sides stress the paramount importance of strong and
    vigilant Transatlantic links for a successful response to the new
    challenges that we face.
        We will meet the new challenges together. We must act decisively to
    win the war against global terror. Polish forces serve alongside United
    States forces in Operation Enduring Freedom. In November 2001, President
    Kwasniewski invited leaders from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe
    to identify concrete steps to defeat terrorism. The United States
    appreciates this initiative and welcomes follow-up meetings. Poland and
    the United States believe that these efforts can contribute
    significantly to controlling borders, cutting off terrorist financing,
    stemming the smuggling of individuals and equipment for terrorist
    purposes, and preventing bioterrorism.
        In the face of terrorism and other new threats, NATO's traditional
    commitment to collective defense must also be carried out in new ways.
    We are determined to lead NATO's adaptation to meet the new threats we
    face. NATO must develop improved capabilities and be able to respond,
    rapidly and flexibly, to threats from wherever they arise. We are
    determined to provide the resources needed to achieve strengthened
    capabilities and want to work jointly with other Allies to this end. As
    NATO adapts, the United States and Poland are transforming their
    militaries to make them as efficient, mobile, and well-equipped as
    possible. The United States and Poland have agreed to expand cooperation
    between our armed services both to deepen our military-to-military
    relations, and in particular to promote needed transformation in our
    defense. We hope this enhanced cooperation can be a model for activities
    with other Allies.
        We look forward to welcoming new members to the NATO Alliance. The
    enlargement of NATO has already extended security on the European
    continent and will continue. At its Prague Summit, NATO will extend
    invitations to those European democracies ready to share in the
    responsibilities of NATO membership, and the United States and Poland
    have agreed on the desirability of a broad round of enlargement. The
    states aspiring to join NATO have worked hard to institute reforms,
    solidify the rule of law, and leave no doubt about the strength of their
    democratic institutions.

    [[Page 1262]]

    Reforms must continue even after membership, just as Poland has
    continued its reforms since joining NATO in 1999.
        We welcome NATO's new relationship with Russia. The NATO-Russia
    Council has great potential for NATO members and Russia to build common
    security against common threats, especially in combating proliferation
    of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. We also welcome an
    improved relationship between NATO and Ukraine. The United States and
    Poland share an interest in encouraging the aspirations of the people of
    Ukraine to prepare for a future in Europe. We agreed to work together to
    support Ukraine's efforts to implement needed economic and democratic
    reforms. Our two nations urge Belarus to join its neighbors in seeking a
    democratic and free market future.
        Accession to the European Union is essential for Poland's future
    economic growth, and benefits our bilateral relations as well as the
    trans-Atlantic relationship. The United States and Poland welcome the
    impending enlargement of the European Union as another signal of the
    deep roots across the European continent of free market principles and
    open societies. We seek stronger ties between the European Union and
    NATO. The prospects for overcoming the most serious challenges of the
    day are enhanced significantly when NATO and the EU cooperate in
    achieving common solutions.
        The Polish-American economic partnership contributes to Poland's
    ability to realize its full potential as a future EU member state, and
    increases employment and high technology growth opportunities in Poland.
    We believe that Poland's aspirations to play a full role within the EU
    is fully compatible with its desire to remain a strong Transatlantic
    partner of the United States. Poland's continued growth and prosperity
    depend on a welcoming, predictable investment climate, and we have
    established an Economic/Commercial Dialogue to enhance our trade and
    investment relationship and to address specific issues of mutual
    concern. Commerce Secretary Evans hopes to visit Poland in 2003 as part
    of our overall effort to enhance our bilateral relations.
        We welcome the contribution of the strong Polish-American community
    to building ties between our nations. For over 200 years the United
    States has been a home and a land of hope for generations of Poles
    searching for the American dream of liberty, freedom, justice, and
    prosperity. Today, their task is not only that of linking our two great
    democracies, but also one of global dimensions, to which Poles and
    Americans devote their energy in the name of the common values that
    Polish Americans have done so much to develop.
        The United States and Poland have worked closely and productively,
    including with Jewish communities in both countries, to promote
    tolerance. We express satisfaction about the efforts made to preserve
    memories of the Holocaust and support initiatives to expand education on
    the history of the Shoah. We renew our commitment to preserve and
    protect significant cultural heritage of mutual interest, and commend
    the progress achieved in this area through cooperation between Polish
    central and local institutions and U.S. public and private institutions.
        The friendship between the United States and Poland is strong and
    enduring. We are united by ties of heritage, family, and faith.
    Bilateral relations between the United States and Poland are excellent,
    and we will work to strengthen those ties. Our common interests
    reinforce our relationship, and we reaffirm today our determination to
    work more closely as friends and allies in the future.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.