    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [February 21, 2005]
    [Pages 274-280]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Brussels, Belgium
    February 21, 2005

        Guy, or Mr. Prime Minister, thank you
    for your kind introduction, and thank you for your warm hospitality.
    Distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen: Laura and I are really glad to be back. I'm really pleased to
    visit Brussels again, the capital of a beautiful nation, the seat of the
    European Union and the NATO Alliance. The United States and Belgium are
    close allies, and we will always be warm friends.
        You know, on this journey to Europe, I follow in some large
    footsteps. More than two centuries ago, Benjamin Franklin arrived on
    this continent to great acclaim. An observer wrote, ``His reputation was
    more universal than Leibnitz or Newton, Frederick or Voltaire, and his
    character more beloved and esteemed than any or all of them.'' The
    observer went on to say, ``There was scarcely a peasant or a citizen who
    did not consider him as a friend to

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    humankind.'' I have been hoping for a similar reception--[laughter]--but
    Secretary Rice told me I should be a
    realist. [Laughter]
        I appreciate the opportunity, in this great hall, to speak to the
    peoples of Europe. For more than 60 years, our nations stood together to
    face great challenges of history. Together, we opposed totalitarian
    ideologies with our might and with our patience. Together, we united
    this continent with our democratic values. And together we mark, year by
    year, the anniversaries of freedom, from D-day to the liberation of
    death camps to the victories of conscience in 1989. Our transatlantic
    alliance frustrated the plans of dictators, served the highest ideals of
    humanity, and set a violent century on a new and better course. And as
    time goes by, we must never forget our shared achievements.
        Yet our relationship is founded on more than nostalgia. In a new
    century, the alliance of Europe and North America is the main pillar of
    our security. Our robust trade is one of the engines of the world's
    economy. Our example of economic and political freedom gives hope to
    millions who are weary of poverty and oppression. In all these ways, our
    strong friendship is essential to peace and prosperity across the globe,
    and no temporary debate, no passing disagreement of governments, no
    power on Earth will ever divide us.
        Today, America and Europe face a moment of consequence and
    opportunity. Together we can once again set history on a hopeful course
    away from poverty and despair and toward development and the dignity of
    self-rule, away from resentment and violence and toward justice and the
    peaceful settlement of differences. Seizing this moment requires
    idealism; we must see in every person the right and the capacity to live
    in freedom. Seizing this moment requires realism; we must act wisely and
    deliberately in the face of complex challenges. And seizing this moment
    also requires cooperation, because when Europe and America stand
    together, no problem can stand against us. As past debates fade, as
    great duties become clear, let us begin a new era of transatlantic
    unity.
        Our greatest opportunity and immediate goal is peace in the Middle
    East. After many false starts and dashed hopes and stolen lives, a
    settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is now
    within reach. America and Europe have made a moral commitment: We will
    not stand by as another generation in the Holy Land grows up in an
    atmosphere of violence and hopelessness. America and Europe also share a
    strategic interest. By helping to build a lasting peace, we will remove
    an unsettled grievance that is used to stir hatred and violence across
    the Middle East.
        Our efforts are guided by a clear vision. We're determined to see
    two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in
    peace and security. The Palestinian people deserve a government that is
    representative, honest, and peaceful. The people of Israel need an end
    to terror and a reliable, steadfast partner for peace. And the world
    must not rest until there is a just and lasting resolution to this
    conflict.
        All the parties have responsibilities to meet. Arab States must end
    incitement in their own media, cut off public and private funding for
    terrorism, stop their support for extremist education, and establish
    normal relations with Israel. Palestinian leaders must confront and
    dismantle terrorist groups, fight corruption, encourage free enterprise,
    and rest true authority with the people. Only a democracy can serve the
    hopes of Palestinians and make Israel secure and raise the flag of a
    free Palestine.
        A successful Palestinian democracy should be Israel's top goal as
    well, so Israel must freeze settlement activity, help Palestinians build
    a thriving economy, and ensure that a new Palestinian state is truly
    viable, with contiguous territory on the West Bank. A state of scattered
    territories will not work. As Palestinian leaders assume responsibility
    for Gaza and increasingly

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    larger territory, we will help them build the economic and political and
    security institutions needed to govern effectively. And as that
    democracy rises, the United States and Europe will help the parties
    implement the roadmap to peace.
        These vital steps are also difficult steps, because progress
    requires new trust and because terrorists will do all they can to
    destroy that trust. Yet we are moving forward, and we are doing so in
    practical ways. Next month in London, Prime Minister Blair will host a conference to help the Palestinian people
    build the democratic institutions of their state. President Abbas has the opportunity to put forward a
    strategy of reform which can and will gain support from the
    international community--including financial support. I hope he will
    seize the moment. I have asked Secretary Rice to attend the conference and to convey America's
    strong support for the Palestinian people as they build a democratic
    state. And I appreciate the prominent role that Prime Minister Blair and
    other European leaders are playing in the cause of peace.
        We seek peace between Israel and Palestine for its own sake. We also
    know that a free and peaceful Palestine can add to the momentum of
    reform throughout the broader Middle East. In the long run, we cannot
    live in peace and safety if the Middle East continues to produce
    ideologies of murder and terrorists who seek the deadliest weapons.
    Regimes that terrorize their own people will not hesitate to support
    terror abroad. A status quo of tyranny and hopelessness in the Middle
    East, the false stability of dictatorship and stagnation, can only lead
    to deeper resentment in a troubled region and further tragedy in free
    nations. The future of our nations and the future of the Middle East are
    linked, and our peace depends on their hope and development and freedom.
        Lasting, successful reform in the broader Middle East will not be
    imposed from the outside; it must be chosen from within. Governments
    must choose to fight corruption, abandon old habits of control, protect
    the rights of conscience and the rights of minorities. Governments must
    invest in the health and education of their people and take
    responsibility for solving problems instead of simply blaming others.
    Citizens must choose to hold their governments accountable. The path
    isn't always easy, as any free people can testify, yet there's reason
    for confidence. Ultimately, men and women who seek the success of their
    nation will reject an ideology of oppression and anger and fear.
    Ultimately, men and women will embrace participation and progress--and
    we are seeing the evidence in an arc of reform from Morocco to Bahrain
    to Iraq to Afghanistan.
        Our challenge is to encourage this progress by taking up the duties
    of great democracies. We must be on the side of democratic reformers. We
    must encourage democratic movements, and we must support democratic
    transitions in practical ways.
        Europe and America should not expect or demand that reforms come all
    at once. That didn't happen in our own histories. My country took many
    years to include minorities and women in the full promise of America,
    and that struggle hasn't ended. Yet while our expectations must be
    realistic, our ideals must be firm, and they must be clear. We must
    expect higher standards from our friends and partners in the Middle
    East. The Government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in
    the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their
    future. And the great and proud nation of Egypt, which showed the way
    toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the way toward democracy
    in the Middle East.
        Our shared commitment to democratic progress is being tested in
    Lebanon, a once-thriving country that now suffers under the influence of
    an oppressive neighbor. Just as the Syrian regime must take stronger
    action to stop those who support violence and subversion in Iraq and
    must

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    end its support for terrorist groups seeking to destroy the hope of
    peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Syria must also end its
    occupation of Lebanon.
        The Lebanese people have the right to be free, and the United States
    and Europe share an interest in a democratic, independent Lebanon. My
    Nation and France worked to pass Security Council Resolution 1559, which
    demands that Lebanon's sovereignty be respected, that foreign troops and
    agents be withdrawn, and that free elections be conducted without
    foreign interference. In the last several months, the world has seen men
    and women voting in historic elections from Kabul to Ramallah to
    Baghdad, and without Syrian interference, Lebanon's parliamentary
    elections in the spring can be another milestone of liberty.
        Our commitment to democratic progress is being honored in
    Afghanistan. That country is building a democracy that reflects Afghan
    traditions and history and shows the way for other nations in the
    region. The elected President is working to
    disarm and demobilize militias in preparation for the National Assembly
    elections to be held this spring. And the Afghan people know the world
    is with them. After all, Germany is providing vital police training. The
    United Kingdom is helping to fight drug trade. Italy is giving
    assistance on judicial reform. NATO's growing security mission is
    commanded by a Turkish general. European
    Governments are helping Afghanistan to succeed, and America appreciates
    your leadership.
        Together, we must make clear to the Iraqi people that the world is
    also with them, because they have certainly shown their character to the
    world. An Iraqi man who lost a leg in a car bombing last year made sure
    he was there to vote on January the 30th. He said, ``I would have
    crawled here if I had to. I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis
    like they tried to kill me. Today I am voting for peace.'' Every vote
    cast in Iraq was an act of defiance against terror, and the Iraqi people
    have earned our respect.
        Some Europeans joined the fight to liberate Iraq, while others did
    not. Yet all of us recognize courage when we see it, and we saw it in
    the Iraqi people. And all nations now have an interest in the success of
    a free and democratic Iraq, which will fight terror, which will be a
    beacon of freedom, and which will be a source of true stability in the
    region. In the coming months, Iraq's newly elected assembly will carry
    out the important work of establishing a government, providing security,
    enhancing basic services, and writing a democratic constitution. Now is
    the time for established democracies to give tangible political,
    economic, and security assistance to the world's newest democracy.
        In Iran, the free world shares a common goal. For the sake of peace,
    the Iranian regime must end its support for terrorism and must not
    develop nuclear weapons. In safeguarding the security of free nations,
    no option can be taken permanently off the table. Iran, however, is
    different from Iraq. We're in the early stages of diplomacy. The United
    States is a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, which has taken the
    lead on this issue. We're working closely with Britain, France, and
    Germany as they oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions and as they insist that
    Tehran comply with international law. The results of this approach now
    depend largely on Iran. We also look for Iran to finally deliver on
    promised reform. The time has arrived for the Iranian regime to listen
    to the Iranian people and respect their rights and join in the movement
    toward liberty that is taking place all around them.
        Across the Middle East, from the Palestinian Territories to Lebanon
    to Iraq to Iran, I believe that the advance of freedom within nations
    will build the peace among nations. And one reason for this belief is
    the experience of Europe. In two World Wars, Europe saw the aggressive
    nature of tyranny and the terrible cost of mistrust

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    and division. In the cold war, Europe saw the so-called stability of
    Yalta was a constant source of injustice and fear, and Europe also saw
    how the rise of democratic movements like Solidarity could part an Iron
    Curtain drawn by tyrants. The spread of freedom has helped to resolve
    old disputes, and the enlargement of NATO and the European Union have
    made partners out of former rivals. America supports Europe's democratic
    unity for the same reason we support the spread of democracy in the
    Middle East, because freedom leads to peace. America supports a strong
    Europe because we need a strong partner in the hard work of advancing
    freedom and peace in the world.
        European leaders demonstrated this vision in Ukraine. Presidents
    Kwasniewski of Poland,
    Adamkus of Lithuania, Javier Solana of the EU helped to resolve the election crisis and
    bring Ukraine back into the camp of freedom. As a free Government takes
    hold in that country and as the Government of President
    Yushchenko pursues vital reforms, Ukraine
    should be welcomed by the Euro-Atlantic family. We must support new
    democracies, so members of our Alliance must continue to reach out to
    Georgia, where last year peaceful protests overturned a stolen election
    and unleashed the forces of democratic change.
        I also believe that Russia's future lies within the family of Europe
    and the transatlantic community. America supports WTO membership for
    Russia, because meeting WTO standards will strengthen the gains of
    freedom and prosperity in that country. Yet for Russia to make progress
    as a European nation, the Russian Government must renew a commitment to
    democracy and the rule of law. We recognize that reform will not happen
    overnight. We must always remind Russia, however, that our alliance
    stands for a free press, a vital opposition, the sharing of power, and
    the rule of law. And the United States and all European countries should
    place democratic reform at the heart of their dialog with Russia.
        As we seek freedom in other nations, we must also work to renew the
    values that make freedom possible. As I said in my Inaugural Address, we
    cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the
    same time. We must reject anti-Semitism from any source, and we must
    condemn violence such as we have witnessed in the Netherlands. All our
    nations must work to integrate minorities into the mainstream of society
    and to teach the value of tolerance to each new generation.
        The nations in our great alliance have many advantages and many
    blessings. We also have a call beyond our comfort; we must raise our
    sights to the wider world. Our ideals and our interests lead in the same
    direction: By bringing progress and hope to nations in need, we can
    improve many lives and lift up failing states and remove the causes and
    sanctuaries of terror.
        Our alliance is determined to promote development and integrate
    developing nations into the world economy. The measure of our success
    must be the results we achieve, not merely the resources we spend.
    Together, we created the Monterrey Consensus, which links new aid from
    developed nations to real reform in developing ones. This strategy is
    working. Throughout the developing world, governments are confronting
    corruption, the rule of law is taking root, and people are enjoying new
    freedoms. Developed nations have responded by increasing assistance by a
    third.
        Through the Millennium Challenge Account, my Nation is increasing
    our aid to developing nations that govern justly, expand economic
    freedom, and invest in the education and health of their people. While
    still providing humanitarian assistance and support, developed nations
    are taking a wiser approach to other aid. Instead of subsidizing failure
    year after year, we must reward progress and improve lives.
        Our alliance is determined to encourage commerce among nations,
    because open markets create jobs and lift income and

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    draw whole nations into an expanding circle of freedom and opportunity.
    Europe and America will continue to increase trade, and as we do so,
    we'll resolve our trade disagreements in a cooperative spirit. And we
    should share the benefits of fair and free trade with others. That's why
    we'll continue to advance the Doha Development Agenda and bring global
    trade talks to a successful conclusion. We should all pursue fiscal
    policies in our nations, sound fiscal policies of low taxes and fiscal
    restraint and reform, that promote a stable world financial system and
    foster economic growth.
        Our alliance is determined to show good stewardship of the earth,
    and that requires addressing the serious, long-term challenge of global
    climate change. All of us expressed our views on the Kyoto Protocol, and
    now we must work together on the way forward. Emerging technologies,
    such as hydrogen-powered vehicles, electricity from renewable energy
    sources, clean coal technology, will encourage economic growth that is
    environmentally responsible. By researching, by developing, by promoting
    new technologies across the world, all nations, including the developing
    countries, can advance economically while slowing the growth in global
    greenhouse gases and avoid pollutants that undermines public health. All
    of us can use the power of human ingenuity to improve the environment
    for generations to come.
        Our alliance is determined to meet natural disaster, famine, and
    disease with swift and compassionate help. As we meet today, American
    and European personnel are aiding the victims of the tsunami in Asia.
    Our combined financial commitment to tsunami relief and reconstruction
    is nearly $4 billion. We're working through the Global Fund to combat
    AIDS and other diseases across the world. And America's Emergency Plan
    has focused additional resources on nations where the needs are
    greatest. Through all these efforts, we encourage stability and
    progress, build a firmer basis for democratic institutions, and above
    all, we fulfill a moral duty to heal the sick and feed the hungry and
    comfort the afflicted.
        Our alliance is also determined to defend our security, because we
    refuse to live in a world dominated by fear. Terrorist movements seek to
    intimidate free peoples and reverse the course of history by committing
    dramatic acts of murder. We will not be intimidated, and the terrorists
    will not stop the march of freedom. I thank the nations of Europe for
    your strong cooperation in the war on terror. Together, we have
    disrupted terrorist financing, strengthened intelligence sharing,
    enhanced our law enforcement cooperation, and improved the security of
    international commerce and travel.
        We're pursuing terrorists wherever they hide. German authorities
    recently arrested two terrorists plotting to attack American interests
    in Iraq. Both will be prosecuted under new German laws enacted after
    September the 11th. Just last week, the United Nations added Muhsin al-
    Fadhli to its Al Qaida and Taliban
    Sanctions Committee list. This man is a known Al Qaida operative and
    Zarqawi associate, provided support to
    the terrorists who conducted the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker.
    Working together, America, France, and other nations will bring him to
    justice. For the sake of the security of our people, for the sake of
    peace, we will be relentless in chasing down the ideologues of hate.
        On September the 11th, America turned first to our immediate
    security and to the pursuit of an enemy, and that vital work goes on. We
    also found that a narrow definition of security is not enough. While
    confronting a present threat, we have accepted the long-term challenge
    of spreading hope and liberty and prosperity as the great alternatives
    to terror. As we defeat the agents of terror, we will also remove the
    sources of terror.
        This strategy is not an American strategy or a European strategy or
    a Western strategy. Spreading liberty for the sake of peace

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    is the cause of all mankind. This approach not only reduces a danger to
    free peoples; it honors the dignity of all peoples by placing human
    rights and human freedom at the center of our agenda. And our alliance
    has the ability and the duty to tip the balance of history in the favor
    of freedom.
        We know there are many obstacles, and we know the road is long.
    Albert Camus said that ``freedom is a long-distance race.'' We're in
    that race for the duration, and there is reason for optimism. Oppression
    is not the wave of the future; it is the desperate tactic of a few
    backward-looking men. Democratic nations grow in strength because they
    reward and respect the creative gifts of their people. Freedom is the
    direction of history, because freedom is the permanent hope of humanity.
        America holds these values because of ideals long held on this
    continent. We proudly stand in the tradition of the Magna Carta, the
    Declaration of the Rights of Man, and the North Atlantic Treaty. The
    signers of that treaty pledged ``to safeguard the freedom, common
    heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles
    of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.'' In this new
    century, the United States and Europe reaffirm that commitment and renew
    our great alliance of freedom.
        May God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:08 p.m. at the Concert Noble. In his
    remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium; Prime
    Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
    Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; President Hamid Karzai of
    Afghanistan; Lt. Gen. Ethem Erdagi, commander, International Security
    Assistance Force, NATO; President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland;
    President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania; Secretary General Javier Solana
    of the European Council; President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine; and
    senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.