    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 5, 2005]
    [Pages 756-758]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With Rustavi 2 Television of Georgia
    May 5, 2005

    President's Upcoming Visit to Georgia

        Q. Mr. President, let me thank you very much for this opportunity to
    interview you. And on behalf of Georgian people, let me welcome you to
    Georgia.
        Why have you decided to visit Georgia? None of the American
    Presidents have visited this country before.
        The President. You know, I got to know your President, and I can remember him urging me to come to Georgia.
    He's got such enthusiasm about life and about the future of Georgia. And
    I have been most impressed by the aftermath of the Rose Revolution, that
    I said, ``I want to go. I want to see--I want to feel the sense of a new
    democracy. I want to be there to thank the Georgian people for setting
    such a good example for other countries that have followed.'' And so I'm
    really looking forward to the trip.

    Georgian Economy/Georgia-Russia Relations

        Q. Mr. President, Georgia faces a lot of problems, among them two
    unresolved conflicts, quite difficult economic situation, Russian
    military presence in the country. How do you see resolving all those
    problems?
        The President. Peacefully. And I think they will be resolved
    peacefully. But you're right. It's difficult to go from a country of--a
    communist country to a free country. It's not easy. I think the
    President understands that, and his
    Government understands that.
        On the economic front, there's a lot of work to be done, but by
    routing out corruption and insisting upon rule of law and transparency,
    that will help to attract investment and capital.
        Secondly, in terms of the regional disputes or the bases, I can help
    some. But the best way to do this--deal with this issue is to do it
    peacefully between Russia and Georgia. And I think we've got a very good
    chance of seeing these issues resolved in a peaceful way. It just takes
    time sometimes to deal with old disputes.

    Russia and Democracies in Eastern Europe

        Q. The latest developments of the Eastern European region, I mean,
    the Georgia's Rose Revolution and Orange Revolution----
        The President. Yes.
        Q. ----in Ukraine and elections in Moldova and revolution in
    Kyrgyzstan, caused Russia's negative reaction. And relations between
    Moscow and these countries are getting worse. So how is U.S. going to
    support these transitional democracies in the future?
        The President. No, that's a great question, and the first thing is,
    is that when I see President Putin, I will
    remind him again that democracies on his border will make it easier for
    Russia to grow in a peaceful way. Democracies are peaceful.

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    Democracies don't like war, and democracies are the best form of
    government to deal with animosities and concerns.
        And so I will remind him that this is not
    a plot by anybody or any nation. This is just the inevitable course of
    humankind because all humans want to be free. And as Georgia's economy
    begins to grow and pick up, Russia will have a trading partner; Russia
    will realize that a prosperous democracy in her south is good for the
    people of Russia.

    Cooperative Response to Pankisi Gorge Terrorists

        Q. U.S. Department's annual report on terrorism raised some
    questions about the stability in Pankisi Gorge.
        The President. Yes.
        Q. But Georgian Government, with support of U.S., was successful in
    cleaning this gorge of military elements. So how will relations--I mean,
    military cooperation between Georgia and the United States in the
    future?
        The President. Well, I appreciate that. No, it's going to be very
    close, obviously at the request of the Georgian Government. And I--the
    Georgian Government asked for help in routing out the terrorists who had
    lodged themselves in the Pankisi Gorge--training help. We were more than
    happy to provide it. But remember what was interesting about some of
    those operations: There was close cooperation with the Russians. And I
    thought that was very helpful and very instructive about what can
    happen, because it's in Russia's interest, it's in the United States
    interest, and more importantly, it's in Georgia's interest to make sure
    the Pankisi Gorge is clear of terrorist traffic or terrorist safe haven.
    No country wants terrorists who are willing to cause harm living within
    their border. And so I found this to be a very instructive and
    interesting cooperative arrangement.

    Georgia's Possible NATO Membership

        Q. Georgia is seeking NATO membership.
        The President. Yes.
        Q. How big is chance?
        The President. It's good. But remember, this is a performance-based
    criterion. In other words, there's a way to get into NATO. And I will
    tell President Saakashvili that
    there's--to look at the countries that have recently been admitted and
    see what decisions they made and how they--what they did. And I would
    hope it's good. But just remember, it's a process. It just doesn't
    happen overnight. And that's not only what I have told your President,
    but I've told the President of Ukraine
    and other countries that are interested in joining NATO.
        Q. Thanks for your precious time, Mr. President.
        The President. Glad you're here. Looking forward to going to
    Georgia. It's going to be an exciting trip.
        Q. I wish you a successful and safest trip.
        The President. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The interview was taped at 10:07 a.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House for later broadcast and was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on May 6. In his remarks, the President referred to President
    Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia; President Vladimir Putin of Russia; and
    President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.

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