[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[June 25, 2003]
[Pages 688-693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference With European Union Leaders
June 25, 2003

    President Bush. Thank you all for coming. We'll have opening 
statements; each of us will answer one question apiece.
    It's my pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Simitis and President Prodi 
here to the White House. We've had constructive discussions. We had a 
nice lunch.
    Since the end of World War II, the United States has strongly 
supported European unity as the best path to European peace and 
prosperity. We believe as well that strong ties between America and 
Europe are essential to peace and the prosperity of the world.

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    Both the United States and the EU are threatened by global terror, 
and we are determined to defeat it. Today we have signed new agreements 
to increase our legal cooperation in the war on terror and to speed the 
extradition of terrorists. Under these agreements, we will form joint 
investigative teams and share information on suspect bank accounts and 
expand the range of offenses that qualify for extradition.
    Today the United States and the EU have also taken new steps to help 
stop the gravest threat to our security, the proliferation of nuclear, 
biological, and chemical weapons. We have signed--we have agreed to work 
together and with others to strengthen export controls on dangerous 
materials. We also seek new methods, including active interdiction, to 
stop illicit trade in weapons of mass destruction.
    The United States and the EU are working closely to meet the 
proliferation challenges posed by North Korea and Iran. The recent 
report by the International Atomic Energy Agency clearly describes 
Iran's failure to meet its obligations to the world and to provide 
access for agency officials.
    America and the EU agree that Iran must cooperate fully with the 
IAEA. We agree that Iran must sign and comply with an additional 
protocol giving the IAEA new tools to investigate clandestine nuclear 
weapons activities. Iran has pledged not to develop nuclear weapons, and 
the entire international community must hold that regime to its 
commitments.
    The United States and the EU are determined to make the world not 
only safer but also better. We will work together to help the people of 
Iraq build a future of security, prosperity, and freedom. We'll work 
together to confront global poverty, disease, and oppression. And Europe 
and America will stand together for a Middle East so--that will have a 
just and comprehensive peace. We'll work together to achieve the two-
state solution endorsed by the parties earlier this month at the Red Sea 
Summit.
    Progress toward this goal will only be possible if all sides do all 
in their power to defeat the determined enemies of peace, such as Hamas 
and other terrorist groups. Nearly every hopeful moment in the region, 
nearly every sign of progress toward peace is followed by more murders 
in the guise of martyrdom, as those who oppose peace do all they can to 
destroy the hopes and aspirations of those who desire to live in peace. 
I urge the leaders in Europe and around the world to take swift, 
decisive action against terror groups such as Hamas, to cut off their 
funding and to support--cut funding and support, as the United States 
has done.
    We also had a good discussion today about the vital trade 
relationship that brings growth and job creation to America and to all 
the nations of the EU and to the world. Today we are launching 
negotiations on a comprehensive air services agreement, better known as 
Open Skies, that will benefit our consumers, our airlines, and our 
communities. We've also agreed to accelerate the commercial use of clean 
and abundant hydrogen energy. We're working toward a multilateral 
agreement to ban market-distorting steel subsidies. And we agree on the 
importance of making the upcoming World Trade Organization meeting of 
trade ministers in Cancun a success, so that we can energize the global 
trade negotiations.
    We meet at an important moment, a time when the EU is taking in new 
members and writing a new constitution and a time when both Europe and 
America are facing new challenges in the world's peace and prosperity. 
We are united in common values, and we will seek common solutions to our 
shared challenges.
    We've had a great meeting. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
    President Simitis. Thank you, Mr. 
President. We had a very fruitful, very friendly meeting with President 
Bush. This is our

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first meeting after the crisis in Iraq. I want to stress, because many 
people said that there was a serious period of strain, that the 
transatlantic relationship does work. It produces results, and it is 
important for both of us. It's been of fundamental importance, I would 
say.
    The economic interdependence between Europe and the United States is 
inescapable and is of vital importance--vital importance to jobs and 
economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic and for the global 
economy. Our economic relationship sustains our security and prosperity. 
Cooperation with the United States in the security and defense field is 
unavoidable as it is desirable. A solid and productive transatlantic 
relationship is essential for international order.
    Europe and America share a common attachment to the fundamental 
values of freedom and democracy and the rights of man, though they 
sometimes differ in their appreciation as how to best implement the 
principles.
    As President Bush said, we discussed how to strengthen our 
relationship. We identified issues which we have common objectives, 
shared interests, and where we can both contribute. The Middle East and 
the application of the roadmap remains at the top of the list. We have 
the same interest that there is peace in the Middle East. 
Counterterrorism is certainly a common issue, and that's why we also 
agreed on a declaration on nonproliferation on weapons of mass 
destruction.
    The development issues in Africa and elsewhere are ripe for a more 
detailed dialog. Economic affairs and the justice and home affairs 
agenda are also subjects that can be pursued in the mutual benefit of 
both of us and the wider international community. From the agreements 
and declarations that we agreed today, I want to mention the mutual 
legal assistance and extradition agreement is the first agreement on 
legal cooperation in the fight against crime that the European Union 
signs with a third country.
    The United States and the European Union cannot possibly have and 
share on foreign policy or trade interests in all areas the same 
opinions. There will be issues and times where we will differ. But 
friendship presupposes that we will have to agree to differ, to accept 
to differ. And friendship presupposes that we must be disciplined and 
manage our differences. We should always act on the basis that what 
unites us will always outweigh any issue that divide us.
    I think that meeting today was a very good meeting because it 
allowed us to discuss matters where we differ, trade matters, matters 
where we agree, and matters where we can cooperate in order to have a 
common result--I think, a common result that will be good for not only 
Europe and the United States but for all those that are interested in 
peace, security, and growth.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. 
    Romano. 
    President Prodi. I have not to add that it 
was a very good meeting, because it was a very good meeting atmosphere. 
We concentrated on concrete decisions because we have not to waste our 
energy in talking about difference, because we shouldn't get nowhere and 
the difference are shrinking. So we are growing together.
    And we have, first of all, launched the talks for the creation of a 
transatlantic open aviation area. This will change the industry of 
transport--aviation transport and will provide better service, lower 
price, and more choice for the 11 million people who cross the Atlantic 
every year and even more in the future.
    Second, and this is a joint--we are starting a major joint research 
effort on hydrogen energy. And this is important for the future and show 
that we can work together even on issue where--that touch there on

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the border of other issue which we have disagreement, like Kyoto.
    Third, we have decided to have a joint responsibility making the 
Doha development round a success. And without close cooperation between 
Europe and U.S., there will be no success. And we cannot afford to fail 
because a trade war will be heavy, heavy damage. On this aspect, we also 
exchanged our views on the reform of the--big, big, big reform of the 
common agricultural product that Europe is trying to do, and that are 
discussed in this hour when we are here, you know? And I hope that we 
can arrive to Doha with really a new picture of our agriculture.
    And you know, therefore, I fully agree with the President when he 
recently declared it important that when Europe and the U.S. are united, 
no problem and no enemy can stand against us. This is the real lesson. I 
would only add that if we fail to unite, every problem may become a 
crisis and every enemy a gigantic monster.
    I say to end this with this brief analogy: Many people have said 
that Europe is too old. Maybe, but the old age helps us to understand 
our strength and our weakness and the reality of the world. And so, I 
say that we--if we stay alone, President, Europe is too old and the 
United States too young--[laughter]--to be able to bring peace in this 
world. And it is our duty to stick together to bring peace to the world.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. Well, thank you, Romano. 
You're looking pretty young these days. [Laughter]
    President Prodi. I am not. [Laughter]
    President Bush. Here's what we'll do. We'll call upon--each of us 
will call upon a member of the press. We ask you to limit your questions 
to one question, to one person.
    Dana Bash, CNN.

Hamas

    Q. Mr. President, thank you. There are reports that there is a 
cease-fire agreement among Hamas and a few other Palestinian 
organizations, that they've promised to stop the violence for at least 3 
months. What do you know about that? And what--if true, what do you 
expect to happen next from both sides, both Israelis and Palestinians?
    President Bush. As I was walking in, somebody told me about the 
report. I'll believe it when I see it, knowing the history of the 
terrorists in the Middle East. But the true test for Hamas and terrorist 
organizations is the complete dismantlement of their terrorist networks, 
their capacity to blow up the peace process. That's the true test. It's 
one thing to make a verbal agreement. But in order for there to be peace 
in the Middle East, we must see organizations such as Hamas dismantled, 
and then we'll have peace. Then we'll have a chance for peace.
    I like to remind people that there are three parties involved 
directly in the territories there. There's the Israeli Government. I 
believe the Israeli people want peace, and I believe their Government 
when they say they want a peaceful state, living side-by-side Israel. 
Secondly, there are the people of the Palestinian world who are tired of 
failed leadership, tired of terrorism destroying their hopes, tired of 
living in poverty, and they too want a peaceful state. And then there 
are the terrorists, like Hamas, who do not want a peaceful state, and 
they're willing to use terrorist means to destroy it. In order for there 
to be peace, Hamas must be dismantled.

European Union Defense and Security Policy

    President Simitis. [Inaudible]
    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, in the last few weeks and months, we heard 
from both sides of the Atlantic some opinions, some politicians 
expressing concern about the European community policy on defense

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and security. Did you--they say, for example, that it is going to 
undermine the NATO, generally speaking, that it's going to be a kind of 
threat to the United States, be worse in other things. Did you discuss 
this kind of thing today, and may I have your opinion of this? And I 
would really like to hear the President's opinion.
    President Bush. You're trying to violate the one-question-per-person 
rule. [Laughter] It's okay. Nice try, though.
    President Simitis. We discussed 
with President Bush--this is not a subject of discussion. I explained 
what we are doing in the European Union, why this is necessary, and, I 
think, why it's in the interest of both of us. Europe should be capable 
to deal with security problems at its borders or elsewhere in the world. 
And we have a very good example now: There is a European force in FYROM, 
and this European force took the place of a NATO force. And we discussed 
about having a European force also in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and--instead 
of a NATO force. This will be also positive for the Balkans.
    I think it's a big mistake to believe that the development of a 
European and security policy takes place in adversity with the United 
States. I think that both the United States and us have an interest to 
have a strong defense, because a strong defense in our case will help 
the United States and a strong defense of the United States helps us 
also. And a good example again I'll bring is Afghanistan. We discussed 
about Afghanistan. As you know, there is--there are German soldiers in 
Afghanistan. There are United States soldiers in Afghanistan. We have a 
common policy in order to have more peace and security in Afghanistan.
    And also the question that this security policy is a threat to 
anybody, I think it's ridiculous because we have a very clear policy in 
these questions. If there is a confrontation, then international law 
must be applied. And the United Nations Security Council has to decide 
on differences. As for example, Greece has always said, concerning the 
problem of the continental shelf, it's a--with Turkey, that the 
international court of justice has to decide.
    So the European development in concern with defense cannot be a 
threat to anyone. It's, I would say, a decisive step for peace.
    President Bush. Romano. 

Iran's Clandestine Nuclear Weapons Activities

    Q. Mr. Prodi, when you discussed Iran with President Bush, did you 
raise the question of what would happen if Iran does not comply to sign 
up to enhanced inspections?
    President Prodi. We discussed deeply about 
Iran, but I didn't ask him what he would do, you know. I tell my 
opinion. [Laughter]
    President Bush. Iran must comply. It's--the free world expects Iran 
to comply. Just leave it at that. They can----
    Q. And if it doesn't?
    President Bush. We expect them to. See, you're assuming they won't. 
We believe they will when the free world comes together.
    President Prodi. I tell you that the dialog 
is----
    President Bush. And if they don't, we'll deal with that when they 
don't.
    President Prodi. The dialog with Iran is 
going on daily and deeply. And we push that they accept all the 
inspections, even the non--let's say, planned inspections because we 
have to be sure that doesn't constitute a danger to future peace. We 
have to be absolutely sure.
    President Bush. Yes. If the world speaks together, they'll comply.
    Thank you all very much for coming. We enjoyed it.

Note: The President's news conference began at 1:20 p.m. in the East 
Room at the White House. The President met with Prime Minister 
Konstandinos Simitis of Greece, in his capacity as President of the 
European

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Council, and President Romano Prodi of the European Commission. In his 
remarks, President Prodi referred to the Kyoto Protocol to the United 
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.