    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [June 8, 2004]
    [Pages 1009-1010]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Junichiro
    Koizumi of Japan and an Exchange With
    Reporters at Sea Island, Georgia
    June 8, 2004

        President Bush. It's my honor to welcome my friend and a strong
    leader, the Prime Minister of Japan, to Sea Island, Georgia. I've really
    been looking forward to this lunch because every time I meet with the
    Prime Minister, we have a constructive and important dialog.
        The first thing, of course, I will do is congratulate him on the
    fact that the Japanese economy is improving under his leadership. We
    will talk about security issues. We'll talk about our mutual desire to
    fight terror. We will talk about North Korea. We will talk about Iraq,
    and in doing so, I know I'm talking with a leader I can trust and a
    leader who has got good, sound judgment.
        Mr. Prime Minister.
        Prime Minister Koizumi. First of all, I would like to express my
    condolences to the pass away of President Reagan. I would like to pay
    respect to his numerous achievements, especially in strengthening our
    Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship.
        Today I was very much looking forward to meeting with President Bush
    in order to discuss Iraq, North Korea, and those issues from a viewpoint
    of Japan-U.S. alliance in the global context. As the international
    community has to cooperate in order to reconstruct Iraq, I would like to
    pay respect to his strong leadership of President Bush in meeting this
    international coordination.
        And also on the North Korean issue, President Bush has strongly
    supported the Japanese policy, and we would like to--Japan and the U.S.
    would like to coordinate together, consult together in the issue of
    North Korea in order to come up with a peace in Korean Peninsula.

    [[Page 1010]]

        And even in the difficult and hard conditions, President Bush has
    shown his strong determination and commitment, and he is a man of
    determination. So with President Bush, we would like to maintain our
    Japan-U.S. cooperation in order to come up with peace and stability in
    the world. Thank you.
        President Bush. A couple of questions. Tom [Tom Raum, Associated
    Press].

    Proposed U.N. Security Council Resolution/Troop Levels in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, originally you had hoped that a U.N. resolution on
    Iraq would lead to more troops. Now you're on the verge of getting that
    U.N. resolution, and yet, we haven't heard much about more troops. In
    fact, France, Germany, Russia, and Canada have said they won't send
    troops under any circumstance. Have you pretty much given up on getting
    these allies to send troops, or is there still hope that you can
    persuade them?
        President Bush. First, I'm delighted that we're about to get a
    Security Council resolution. There were some who said we'd never get
    one. And it looks like if things go well, it's going to be a unanimous
    vote, thereby saying to the world that members of the Security Council
    are interested in working together to make sure that Iraq is free and
    peaceful and democratic. I think this is a very important moment on
    the--on making sure that our objective is achieved.
        These nations understand that a free Iraq will serve as a catalyst
    for change in the broader Middle East, which is an important part of
    winning the war on terror. I expect nations to contribute as they see
    fit. But of course, the key to long-term security in Iraq is for all of
    us to work together to train Iraqi troops to handle their own security
    measures. And that's precisely what we are doing on the ground and we
    will work with other nations to do as well.

    President Ronald Reagan

        Q. Mr. President, there are a lot of remembrances about Ronald
    Reagan this week. What lessons have you learned from the Presidency of
    Ronald Reagan? And have you modeled your political style after him at
    all?
        President Bush. Ronald Reagan will go down in history as a great
    American President because he had a core set of principles from which he
    would not deviate. He understood that a leader is a person who sets
    clear goals and makes decisions based upon principles that are etched in
    his soul, and our Nation will miss him. I had the honor of speaking to
    Mrs. Reagan from Paris, France, and expressed
    Laura's and my condolences to her and her family, and the Nation will be
    doing so as well on Friday.
        Thank you. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:31 p.m. at Dunbar House. Prime Minister
    Koizumi spoke in Japanese, and his remarks were translated by an
    interpreter.