[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
[October 22, 2003]
[Pages 1367-1370]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 1367]]


The President's News Conference With President Megawati 
Sukarnoputri of Indonesia in Bali, 
Indonesia
October 22, 2003

    President Megawati. President George Bush and I have just concluded 
the meeting. I have met with His Excellency, the President, several 
times. Our last meeting was in New York on 23d September, 2003, when we 
attended the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
    I attach great importance of my personal relation with President 
Bush as well as of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United 
States, for both are the large democratic countries in the world and 
have great potential of cooperation.
    We started our meeting today by conducting bilateral talks. It was 
followed by working luncheon attended by a number of members of the 
Cabinet. During the talks, we have discussed issues of common concern, 
namely: counterterrorism; U.S. support to the democratization and reform 
process in Indonesia; military cooperation; U.S. support to the 
territorial integrity and national unity of the unitary state of the 
Republic of Indonesia; and renunciation to any terrorist movement in the 
country; U.S. support to the Indonesian economy through a--[inaudible]--
free process, particularly in the post-IMF program; and cooperation in 
the field of education in Indonesia.
    In addition, we have exchanged our view of various regional and 
international issues, among others, on the latest development in Asia 
and the situation in the Middle East, despite the fact that we do not 
always share common perspective. But we both continue to hold mutual 
understanding that it is to the interest of the two countries to 
maintain consultation and cooperation in the pursuit of global peace.
    Following bilateral talks and lunch, I accompanied President Bush in 
his meeting with some eminent leading figures from Islam, Hindu, and 
Christian. I regard this particular meeting as positive development as 
the Indonesian religion figures had the opportunity to conduct open and 
direct dialog with the leader of the U.S. administration. I am pleased 
to note that both sides were in agreement about the importance of 
religion tolerance as one of the major pillars of democracy in 
Indonesia.
    My current meeting with President Bush might be the last before the 
two countries carry out general election in 2004. We will continue to 
foster cordial and cooperative bilateral relations.
    May I now invite President George W. Bush to present his remarks. 
Thank you.
    President Bush. Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon. Thank 
you very much. Laura and I are honored to be in 
Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy and the world's--home to 
the world's largest Muslim population. Indonesia is a vital partner, and 
Indonesia is a friend of America. We share a commitment to democracy and 
tolerance. We stand together against terrorism. I thank President 
Megawati for her leadership, for her friendship, and for her hospitality 
today.
    The success of Indonesia as a pluralistic and democratic state is 
essential to the peace and prosperity of this region. Indonesians 
profess many faiths and honor many traditions. And like Americans, you 
understand that diversity can be a source of strength. Your national 
motto, ``Unity in diversity,'' sounds a lot like our own, ``Out of many, 
one.'' Americans admire the way Indonesians maintain unity and balance 
modern ideas with ancient traditions and deep religious faith.
    More than 200 years ago, the Founders of my country recognized and 
protected the essential role of religion in society within a democratic 
and pluralistic constitution. Your constitution affirms the same 
inalienable right of all to worship freely, a gift

[[Page 1368]]

from your founders that enriches the Indonesian nation to this day.
    Earlier, just minutes ago, we met with five Indonesian religious 
leaders, including leaders of Indonesia's two largest Islamic 
organizations, who are sustaining Indonesia's tradition of tolerance and 
moderation. Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which 
is professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that Islam 
is fully compatible with liberty and tolerance and progress, because we 
see the proof in your country and in our own.
    Terrorists who claim Islam as their inspiration defile one of the 
world's great faiths. Murder has no place in any religious tradition. It 
must find no home in Indonesia.
    Nearly 3 months ago, America shared Indonesia's grief when a suicide 
bomber killed 14 people outside a Jakarta hotel. One year ago, miles 
from where we now stand, Indonesia suffered the worst terrorist attack 
in its history when over 200 innocent men and women lost their lives. 
Today we pay tribute to the victims. We remember the suffering of their 
families, and we reaffirm our commitment to win the war on terror.
    President Megawati has confronted this evil directly. She was one of 
the first leaders to stand with me after September the 11th. Under her 
leadership, Indonesia is hunting and finding dangerous killers. America 
appreciates Indonesia's strong cooperation in the war on terror. America 
believes that freedom and democracy are critical to defeating terror, 
because free nations that respect human rights do not breed hatred, 
resentment, and the ideologies of murder.
    The United States is working for democracy and freedom and economic 
progress in Afghanistan and Iraq, to lift millions out of poverty, to 
overcome years of brutal repression, to help create a more secure and 
safe world. And the United States strongly supports a healthy democracy 
in Indonesia, for the sake of your own people and for the sake of peace.
    Indonesians have made good progress over the last 5 years in 
strengthening democracy and in building the civil institutions that 
sustain freedom. Next year, your country will reach an important 
milestone when some 150 million Indonesians vote in the nation's first-
ever elected--Presidential election. The United States is working with 
Indonesia to support these historic elections. In a short time, 
Indonesia has traveled far down the road to full democracy, and 
Indonesians should be proud of this accomplishment.
    We'll also support Indonesia's efforts to build an education system 
that teaches values and discourages extremism. I will propose to our 
Congress a 6-year, $157 million program to support basic education in 
Indonesia.
    The partnership between our two peoples is strong and is growing 
stronger. In all that lies ahead, in the defense of freedom, in the 
advance of tolerance and democracy, Indonesia will have a firm ally in 
the American Government, and you'll have the friendship and the respect 
of the American people.
    Thank you, Madam President.
    President Megawati. Thank you.
    President Bush. I think we'll take a couple of questions--is that 
not true--from--alternating both sides?
    President Megawati. Yes.
    President Bush. Would you like to call on somebody first? I'll call 
on him. You call on--[laughter]--you sure you want to call on him? 
[Laughter] Okay.

U.S. Middle East Policy

    Q. Mr. President, some of the religious leaders that you just met 
with have said that U.S. foreign policy is biased toward Israel and 
against Muslims, making it easy for the terrorists to find recruits. How 
do you answer those charges, and how do you deal with that situation?

[[Page 1369]]

    President Bush. Our foreign policy is for a--development of a 
Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel in peace. And I'm 
the first President to ever articulate such a vision, and I still 
believe it is possible. In order to achieve a Palestinian state living 
side by side in peace, there needs to be leadership willing to fight off 
the terror that is trying to prevent the state from emerging.

U.S. Foreign Policy Goals

    Q. I would like to ask question in Indonesian. Because your visit to 
Indonesia has been opposed by many people, what is your views? And is 
there a possibility of a change in your foreign policy view, which is 
seen as imbalanced toward the Islamic world?
    President Bush. Well, I strongly believe in peace and freedom. I 
think it's important for the world to be as free as possible, and I 
strongly believe that free nations are peaceful nations. And my foreign 
policy promotes that.
    America is also a compassionate nation. We lead the world in helping 
feed the hungry and battle disease. I look forward to working with the 
President in terms of allowing Indonesians to use our money to help 
implement an education system that the Government decides, not America. 
No, I'm proud of our foreign policy.
    President Megawati. Can I still add something? Because you also 
spontaneously accepted the invitation of--my invitation to come to 
Indonesia, which proves that he is very open to come to this country of 
ours in this spontaneous way.

North Korea/Iran

    Q. North Korea is rejecting your offer as laughable and still 
insisting on a nonaggression treaty. How do you proceed from here? And 
are you confident that Iran is forswearing nuclear weapons?
    President Bush. Well, first of all, I want to thank the Foreign 
Ministers from Great Britain and 
France and Germany and their Governments for taking a very strong 
universal message to the Iranians that they should disarm. The Iranians 
have--it looks like they are accepting the demands of the free world, 
and now it's up to them to prove that they've accepted the demands. 
That's a very positive development.
    On terms of North Korea, we had a really good visit at APEC about 
how best to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully, how best to 
convince the North Koreans to disarm, at least abandon their nuclear 
ambitions--nuclear weapons ambitions. And we had good progress in 
Bangkok. And there's going to be a series of these statements that I 
guess are trying to stand up to the five nations that are now united in 
convincing North Korea to disarm. And my only reaction is we'll continue 
to send the very clear message to the North Koreans. The good news is 
that there's other nations besides America now sending the message.
    Q. [Inaudible]--is that helping the climate?
    President Bush. Launching missiles into the sea? No, of course, not. 
Look, the guy, he--we'll determine whether he's 
serious or not. He wanted to have dialog; we're having dialog. And he 
wanted a security agreement, and we're willing to advance a multiparty 
security agreement, assuming that he is willing to abandon his nuclear 
weapons designs and programs. And we'll just stay the course.
    Wait a minute, you're crowding out the host press. This is 
unbelievable. [Laughter] This is unilateralism at its worst. I've never 
heard--[laughter]--two and two, Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News]. 
Sorry.

President's Visit

    Q. Mr. President----
    President Bush. Yes.
    Q. ----what is the message you would like to convey to the 
Indonesian people with this 3-hour visit, the shortest one that you make 
among the six-nation visit in this journey?
    President Bush. Yes, well, first of all, it's been a--it might not 
have been very long,

[[Page 1370]]

but it's been very productive. And my message is, thank you for the 
hospitality, and thank you for the wonderful exchange we've had with the 
President.
    I'm traveling to a lot of countries in a very quick period of time, 
and I appreciate the fact that the Indonesian Government was able to 
accommodate my desires to come here. And we've got a lot in common. We 
both appreciate democracy. We both care about trade so that our nations 
can prosper. We both care about educating people so that children have a 
chance to succeed in life. We both love freedom, and we both want the 
world to be peaceful. And we had a great exchange along those lines.
    So my message to the Indonesian people is, thank you very much for 
the warm hospitality. And I want to thank the President for the warm 
hospitality as well.
    Thank you all very much. That's it.
    President Megawati. That's it?
    President Bush. Unless you want to keep answering questions. 
[Laughter] I'll stay here as long as you want to.
    President Megawati. No----
    President Bush. You want to? Okay. [Laughter]

Note: The President's news conference began at 2:12 p.m. at Bali 
International Airport. In his remarks, President Bush referred to 
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of 
the United Kingdom; Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of 
France; Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer of Germany; and 
Chairman Kim Chong-il of North Korea. A portion of these remarks could 
not be verified because the tape was incomplete.