    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 30, 2004]
    [Pages 165-166]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Secretary General Jakob Gijsbert
    ``Jaap'' de Hoop Scheffer of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    January 30, 2004

        President Bush. Mr. Secretary General, welcome. We are proud that
    you're here. The Secretary General and I have had a good discussion
    about NATO, my administration's commitment to a strong and vibrant NATO,
    our mutual desire to make the world more peaceful through freedom. I
    appreciate your willingness to discuss important theaters like
    Afghanistan and Iraq, the need for us to make sure our militaries are
    transformed and modern. I know that we will have a good working
    relationship, and I know you'll do a great job on behalf of all of us
    who treasure the NATO--the NATO Alliance.
        So welcome, sir.
        Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer. Thank you very much. Thank you
    very much, Mr. President. Also, from my side, may I say that I entirely
    share your opinion, as we discussed in our conversation. But NATO is
    about values. NATO is defending values which might be normal for us, but
    our--in other parts of the world, less normal.
        And that's why we are in Afghanistan fighting terrorism. And NATO is
    going to

    [[Page 166]]

    take a larger role in Afghanistan. That's what we discussed. We have, of
    course, touched upon Iraq, the political developments in Iraq, the
    upcoming 1st of May for the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, and a
    possible greater NATO role after that. We discussed the Balkans. We have
    discussed NATO-Russian relationship.
        In other words, the full range of subjects NATO is dealing with,
    defending these values as an organization which is undergoing a
    fundamental transformation process, taking in, in a short time, new
    member states, seven new member states--it's a matter of weeks--
    transforming into an organization which can defend those values wherever
    there is a necessity in the world--be it in the Balkans, where NATO has
    been very successful be it in Afghanistan; be it in Iraq, where NATO is
    now supporting the Polish-led multinational division and where NATO
    might take on a greater role when the sovereign Iraqi Government would
    ask NATO to do that.
        So I very much enjoyed, Mr. President, my conversation with you. And
    I'm sure that with your support, with the support of the United States,
    and all the other NATO Alliance, we are going to make this a success.
        Thank you so much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.