[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[June 5, 2004]
[Pages 1000-1006]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
The President's News Conference With President Jacques Chirac of France in Paris, France
June 5, 2004
President Chirac. Very well, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, let
me tell you how happy I am to welcome the U.S. President most warmly. He
has come to Europe on the occasion, of course, of the commemoration of
the 60th anniversary of D-day. And tomorrow during the course of the
ceremonies which will take place in Normandy
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and in presence of the veterans and, in particular, of the American
veterans of Operation Overlord, I will have the opportunity to say to
America and to Americans just how deeply grateful we are to them today,
how grateful we are in the knowledge of the sacrifices they made, of the
blood that they spilled--their own blood--for the liberation of our
country and of Europe as a whole. And I will say to them that France
says thank you and that France does not forget.
Now, on the occasion of the celebratory ceremonies, President Bush,
who has come to Europe, went first to Italy, as you know, and today has
joined us in France, which has enabled us to run through a certain
number of issues, especially in light of the up-and-coming summits,
major summits that are going to be taking place in June, the G-8 in Sea
Island in a few days time and the Istanbul Summit, later summit at the
end of the month.
As you can imagine, we had very open, earnest, confident discussions
on a host of different issues pertaining to the world today. I say open
and sincere and trusting, because from time to time, I read comments
that are not actually very reflective of the truth. France and the U.S.
have 200 years of shared history, and for 200 years now, for two
centuries now, we have defended the same and upheld the selfsame values,
which are the values of democracy, of peace, of human rights. And
therefore, dialog has always been easy and made easy because of that, on
those matters on which we see likewise and also on other issues. And
there's a number of issues in which we are standing shoulder to
shoulder, and we've discussed them and run through them, and that is all
that pertains to peace and stability throughout the world.
We, of course, touched upon our very strong cooperation in terms of
our fight against terrorism, and in that connection, we have, over the
last 2 years, considerably strengthened our cooperation, our
collaboration. Likewise, in combating proliferation, a subject and a
dossier on which we have like-minded views and exemplary cooperation, as
indeed evidenced by PSI program cooperation or the vote on Resolution
1540 of the U.N. Security Council.
We touched upon regional crises and, in particular, operations to
maintain peace where French and American soldiers are working together.
I think here of Afghanistan, where France is part and parcel of
Operation Enduring Freedom; likewise also, still in connection with
Afghanistan, the international force which is going to be commanded
shortly by a French general in Kabul. We also have excellent cooperation
in the Balkans, be it in Bosnia, be it in Kosovo. We have cooperated to
avoid, to stem off the worst in Haiti, and that's also in quite
exceptionally good ways.
We have expressed our common anxiety in light of what is happening
in Africa and, in particular, what we see looming in Kivu--in the Kivu
region, and all that this means in terms of threats to peace and
stability in the region. And we're very worried about the peace and
stability of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Now, on the subject of Iraq, where we all know that our countries
have had somewhat different approaches and solutions and a vision of the
situation which was not similar. That being said, we share one and the
same conviction today, namely, that there is no alternative to restoring
peace and therefore to restoring security and development in Iraq and
that no effort must be spared in achieving this.
And evidently, the discussions taking place within the U.N. Security
Council basically aimed at adopting a resolution which, given the
present state of affairs in Iraq, must say loud and clear that the
international community is hellbent on achieving one objective, which is
returning sovereignty to an Iraqi government, which will give hope to
Iraqis and the people of Iraq. So we are entirely like-minded on that.
And I believe that things are moving in the right direction.
Discussions have been
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characterized by a very positive spirit, and I very much hope that very
shortly, in the next few days, we will come up with a resolution which
indeed reflects what to us is of the essence, namely, to give the Iraqis
themselves the sense that they have recovered their own sovereignty and
that their own destiny is in their own hands, because that seems to us a
sine qua non for any future solution to the problems which this country
necessarily faces.
Of course, we also touched upon the conflict in the Middle East
because, as I said to the President, we are very worried when we see
that this conflict is continuing to spread, with all the knock-on
effects, regionally speaking and beyond the region. And we cannot ignore
the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese dimensions of the problem. And
on the subject of Lebanon, precisely, we have expressed renewed
conviction and belief that Lebanon has to be ensured that its
independence and sovereignty are guaranteed.
Within a few days, we'll be meeting again at the G-8 summit at Sea
Island, where we will discuss decisions to be taken, talks to be entered
into in respect of a certain number of issues having to do with growth,
development, employment, security, obviously, the fight against
terrorism, and proliferation, but also development in general and
sustainable development in particular.
So, before I give the floor to President Bush, I should like to
conclude by once again expressing to him my warmest welcome.
President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Laura and I are honored to be back in this beautiful country
on the anniversary of a momentous day in the history of freedom.
Tomorrow I will join the President and other leaders at the Normandy
beaches to commemorate the Allied landing 60 years ago. We will honor
the many thousands of veterans, living and lost, who took part in that
battle. It will be a time to reflect on the sacrifices that helped to
defeat fascism and to restore the liberty of France and of Western
Europe.
We will also remember the timeless lessons that D-day teaches, that
sacrifices must always be borne in the defense of freedom, that free
nations working together can overcome danger, and that the deepest
source of strength of any army is the values for which it fights.
I appreciate all the hard work, Mr. President, that went into
planning this year's D-day ceremonies, and I congratulate you and all
those involved. It's going to be a spectacular day.
I also appreciate the chance to talk to the President and to hear
his views on a variety of issues, on the common challenges we face.
Today we discussed the future of Iraq as a free and democratic state.
Our coalition will soon hand over full sovereignty to an Iraqi
government. Iraq's new Prime Minister Allawi and
his cabinet are working hard to provide security and to prepare their
country for national elections that will bring forward new leaders
empowered by the Iraqi people. The interim government is the first step
in a political process, outlined in the transitional administrative law,
which will lead to the first democratic elections in Iraq's history,
elections to take place no later than January 2005. At the request of
the interim government, the request of the Prime Minister, multinational
forces will remain in Iraq to help this new government succeed in its
vital work.
Free Iraq deserves the full support of the international community,
and I appreciate our discussions. The Iraqi people want and deserve
freedom, peace, and prosperity, and the nations of the world have a
responsibility to help them achieve that. Members of the U.N. Security
Council are working with Iraq's new leaders toward a new resolution that
will express international support for Iraq's interim government, that
will reaffirm the world's security commitment to the Iraqi nation, and
encourage other U.N. members to help in
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joining the Iraqi people as they establish a representative government.
The President and I discussed our common goals in the broader Middle
East. We seek freedom and the peace that freedom brings. We seek
political and social reform, the true stability that results when people
are free to live and think and worship as they choose. We know that
freedom cannot be imposed from abroad, but free nations can and must
choose to ally ourselves with reformers wherever they are and with
reform wherever it occurs.
I fully know that democratization is not the same as Westernization.
Nations as different as Romania and the Philippines, Nicaragua and
Senegal and Turkey show that freedom takes different forms around the
globe and that new liberties can find an honored place amidst ancient
traditions. Democratic governments in the Middle East will reflect their
own cultures and their own traditions. America and France are working
with many allies and friends in the region and beyond to support the
increase of reform, which will serve as the antidote to terror.
As the President mentioned, we'll be going to Sea Island, Georgia,
where we will discuss ways to build partnerships between the world's
great democracies and the nations of the broader Middle East. I look
forward to those discussions. Later this month we'll bring the same
message and the same challenge to the NATO summit in Turkey.
The President and I also share--had discussions about the Holy Land.
We seek two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace
and security. I support the establishment of a Palestinian state that is
viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent. And I realize that
security is the foundation for peace and the starting point for all
progress in the Middle East.
I believe that Israel needs a truly responsible partner in achieving
peace. I believe the Palestinian people deserve democratic institutions
and responsible leaders. So for the sake of peace, I'm committed to
helping the Palestinian people establish a democratic and viable state
of their own, and I look forward to working with President Chirac to
achieve that objective.
The United States and France also agree that the people of Lebanon
should be free to determine their own future, without foreign
interference or domination.
Our two nations are working together to bring peace and security to
other parts of the globe. We're in Haiti together. We're in Afghanistan
together. We're working to ensure that Iran meets its commitments to the
IAEA and does not develop nuclear weapons. The President talked about
our mutual concerns on the continent of Africa.
We're proud countries with deep traditions rooted in freedom and
equality and justice. These common values enable us to work together for
the good of world peace, and I look forward to doing that with you, Mr.
President.
Thank you for your hospitality.
Now--Jim Angle [FOX News].
Coalition Security Arrangement With Iraqi Interim Government/U.N.
Security Council Resolution
Q. Thank you, Mr. President. As we understand, there has been an
exchange of letters between the new interim government in Iraq and the
coalition. I wonder if you could tell us a little something about that,
Mr. President.
And President Chirac, if I may, sir, I assume you've been told about
this. Do you now believe that the new Iraqi government will get full
sovereignty? And do you have any remaining objections about a new U.N.
resolution?
President Bush. One of the issues that I had been asked about quite
frequently was whether or not the Iraqi government would be able to
determine its security needs. And I said, ``Absolutely. That's the
definition of sovereignty.'' And I also assured the American people at
several news conferences that we have entered into
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these kind of security agreements in the past that recognize the
sovereignty of the host government. And the exchange of letters does
just that. The exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the coalition lays out the parameters of security,
of the security cooperation in Iraq. And this is a positive step
forward.
President Chirac. On the subject of the resolution, again I repeat
what I said earlier on. I think we have progressed. We have moved
forward positively, and we should be able to put the finishing touches
to this text very shortly. Now, yes, we still have to qualify the matter
pertaining to security arrangements that establish relations between the
Iraqi government--the government that, obviously, we wish to see
sovereign and full authority--and the multinational force. And as you
rightly said, an exchange of letters between the Iraqi government and
the international force whose thrust has to be picked up in the language
of the resolution is happening right now. And I hope all of this can
take place very speedily.
In my view, in my view, what is important here, in all the
technicalities of all of this, what is important is to ensure that the
Iraqi people--that the Iraqis truly have the sense that they have
recovered their independence, their sovereignty, and that they hold
their own destiny in their hands. I think that that is the only way
forward if we want to solve the considerable problems that are arising
in this country and to be able to contain the very strong forces in
situ, as it were. And I feel it's very important that we send no
negative signal to the Iraqis in the sense that we might in any way be
undermining their sovereignty, because that would undermine their
confidence.
Yes, a question?
France-U.S. Relations/Abu Ghraib Prison
Q. Thank you, sir. I would have a question for Mr. Bush. Once,
President Kennedy said, ``Everyone has two countries, their own and
France.'' And why is it that your policy tends to be pushing your
country and France to divorce?
Second point, some in public opinion have accused you of state
terrorism, and do you not believe that what has happened in Abu Ghraib
has put you in the same basket, as it were, as Saddam Hussein,
especially in the eyes of an international tribunal and especially in
light of the unfound weapons of mass destruction?
President Bush. To paraphrase President Kennedy: There's America,
and then there's Texas.
We have great relations with France. We work closely with the French
Government on a lot of issues. I just laid out a lot of the issues that
we're working together on, as did the President. We're working to stop
proliferation. We're working in Haiti. We're working on the continent of
Africa. We're working to feed the hungry. We're working to make sure
that the pandemic of AIDS gets--that the people get the help they need
to arrest the pandemic of AIDS in Africa. No, there are a lot of issues
we work on.
As for the prison abuse issue, I am--I was humiliated, as was most
of my country. Those soldiers didn't reflect the character of the
American people. They didn't--they stained our honor, and the world will
see a full investigation of those--of that humiliation, which will stand
in stark contrast to what takes place in states run by tyrants. And
there will be a full investigation in a transparent way, and those that
violated rules will be held to account.
Gregory [David Gregory, NBC News], Monsieur Gregory [Laughter]
France's Role in the Middle East/Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction
Q. President Chirac, given the fact that your Government also
believed that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq prior to
the war, do you believe that there was a worldwide intelligence failure?
And
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despite your opposition to the war, do you believe that Iraq is better
or worse off today?
Mr. President, what role specifically would you like the French to
play in Iraq going forward? Merci.
President Bush. Listen, the French are going to provide great
advice. President Chirac has got good judgment about the Middle East,
and he understands those countries well. The French are going to work
together to put out a U.N. Security Council resolution that sends a
clear signal the free world is united in helping Iraq. And those are
great contributions, for which I am grateful, and so is my Nation.
Q. President Chirac--Monsieur le Presidente?
President Chirac. Yes, you said that the French Government, if I've
understood you rightly, prior to the war had stated that there were
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and that is not correct. I have
always said that I had no information that would lead me to believe that
there were or were not, for that matter, weapons of mass destruction in
Iraq. That's a fact. All the information available to us at that time
and on that subject did not allow us to take a stand or to reach any
conclusion, which is why I said to President Bush that I, personally,
was incapable of saying whether or not there were weapons of mass
destruction.
Conditions in Iraq
Q. Do you believe that--despite your opposition to the war, do you
believe that today Iraq is better or worse off?
President Chirac. Well, one thing is for certain sure, which is the
tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein is no longer in power, and that is a
positive thing. It's a positive step. What's less positive is that there
is a degree of chaos prevailing, and our problem today is to try and
contain--or build upon what has been achieved in positive terms. In
other words, open the way to what could be a form of democracy and
ensure that the forces which are in a confrontational mode be pacified.
But this is something we will see further down the road. We have
certainly not put the difficulties behind us. Do not believe that. We
are in a situation which is extremely precarious.
A question from the back? I saw a hand going up.
Q. Mr. President, to what extent is the comparison made by President
Bush between the liberation of Europe from nazism 60 years ago, which
you're celebrating today, or tomorrow rather, and the liberation of Iraq
by American forces a year ago--to what extent do you feel that this
comparison is just and justified?
President Chirac. I fully understand what led President Bush to
establish or to make this comparison, if only for reasons of
circumstance. I mean, what are we celebrating today and tomorrow? And I
think, nonetheless, that history does not repeat itself, and it is very
difficult to compare historical situations that differ, because history
is not repetitive. And there is a situation which we defined earlier on
in Iraq, prevailing in Iraq, which has to be contained and has to be
mastered. There's a lot to be done. We are going to have to roll up our
sleeves and put a lot of our hearts and our minds into doing this. And
perhaps--perhaps, we will succeed.
Thank you.
Note: The President's news conference began at 7:41 p.m. at the Elysee
Palace. In his remarks, President Bush referred to Prime Minister Ayad
Allawi of the Iraqi interim government. President Chirac referred to
former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. President Chirac spoke in
French, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.
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