    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 7, 2005]
    [Pages 765-770]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Riga
    May 7, 2005

        Sveiki Draugi. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warm welcome.
    Madam President, Laura and I thank you for your kind words of introduction. We
    thank you for your principled leadership. I thank you for your
    friendship, and we thank you for the hospitality that you and Dr.
    Freibergs have shown us.
        I want to thank the people of the Republic of Latvia for being such
    gracious hosts for my visit here. And I want to also thank the Prime
    Minister for joining us, and members of the
    Government. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
        Laura and I are so pleased to make this
    second journey to the Baltic States and our first visit to the great
    land of Latvia. We're honored as well to be in the company of President
    Ruutel of Estonia and President
    Adamkus of Lithuania. Thank you both for
    coming. These are good friends to Latvia and good friends to America.
        The Baltic countries have seen one of the most dramatic
    transformations in modern history, from captive nations to NATO Allies
    and EU members in little more than a decade. The Latvian, Estonian, and
    Lithuanian people showed that the love of liberty is stronger than the
    will of an empire. And today, you're standing for liberty beyond your
    borders, so that others do not suffer the injustices you have known. The
    American people admire your moral courage in the cause of freedom.
        This week, nations on both sides of the Atlantic observe the 60th
    anniversary of Hitler's defeat. The evil that seized power in Germany
    brought war to all of Europe and waged war against morality itself. What
    began as a movement of thugs became a Government without conscience and
    then an empire of bottomless cruelty. The Third Reich exalted the strong
    over the weak, overran and humiliated peaceful countries, undertook a
    mad quest for racial purity, coldly planned and carried out the murder
    of millions, and defined evil for the ages. Brave men and women of many
    countries faced that evil and fought through dark and desperate years
    for their families and their homelands. In the end, a dictator who
    worshiped power was confined to four walls of a bunker, and the fall of
    his squalid tyranny is a day to remember and to celebrate.
        Causes can be judged by the monuments they leave behind. The Nazi
    terror is remembered today in places like Auschwitz, Dachau, Rumbula
    Forest, where we still hear the cries of the innocent and pledge to God
    and history: Never again. The Alliance that won the war is remembered
    today in carefully tended cemeteries in Normandy, Margraten, St.
    Petersburg, and other places across Europe where we recall brief lives
    of great honor, and we offer this pledge: We will always be grateful.
        The Baltic States had no role in starting World War II. The battle
    came here because of a secret pact between dictators. And when the war
    came, many in this region showed their courage. After a puppet

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    government ordered the Latvian fleet to return to port, sailors on eight
    freighters chose to remain at sea under the flag of free Latvia,
    assisting the United States Merchant Marine in carrying supplies across
    the Atlantic. A newspaper in the State of South Carolina described the
    Latvian crew this way: ``They all have beards and dressed so differently
    . . . They are . . . exhausted, but full of fighting spirit.''
        By the end of the war, six of the Latvian ships had been sunk and
    more than half the sailors had been lost. Nearly all of the survivors
    settled in America and became citizens we were proud to call our own.
    One American town renamed a street Ciltvaira to honor a sunken ship that
    sailed under a free Latvian flag. My country has always been thankful
    for Latvia's friendship, and Latvia will always have the friendship of
    America.
        As we mark a victory of 6 days ago--six decades ago, we are mindful
    of a paradox. For much of Germany, defeat led to freedom. For much of
    Eastern and Central Europe, victory brought the iron rule of another
    empire. V-E Day marked the end of fascism, but it did not end
    oppression. The agreement at Yalta followed in the unjust tradition of
    Munich and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Once again, when powerful
    governments negotiated, the freedom of small nations was somehow
    expendable. Yet this attempt to sacrifice freedom for the sake of
    stability left a continent divided and unstable. The captivity of
    millions in Central and Eastern Europe will be remembered as one of the
    greatest wrongs of history.
        The end of World War II raised unavoidable questions for my country:
    Had we fought and sacrificed only to achieve the permanent division of
    Europe into armed camps? Or did the cause of freedom and the rights of
    nations require more of us?
        Eventually, America and our strong allies made a decision: We would
    not be content with the liberation of half of Europe, and we would not
    forget our friends behind an Iron Curtain. We defended the freedom of
    Greece and Turkey and airlifted supplies to Berlin and broadcast the
    message of liberty by radio. We spoke up for dissenters and challenged
    an empire to tear down a hated wall.
        Eventually, communism began to collapse under external pressure and
    under the weight of its own contradictions. And we set the vision of a
    Europe whole, free, and at peace, so dictators could no longer rise up
    and feed ancient grievances, and conflict would not be repeated again
    and again.
        In these decades of struggle and purpose, the Baltic peoples kept a
    long vigil of suffering and hope. Though you lived in isolation, you
    were not alone. The United States refused to recognize your occupation
    by an empire. The flags of free Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, illegal
    at home, flew proudly over diplomatic missions in the United States. And
    when you joined hands in protest and the empire fell away, the legacy of
    Yalta was finally buried, once and for all. The security and freedom of
    the Baltic nations is now more than a noble aspiration. It is the
    binding pledge of the alliance we share. The defense of your freedom--in
    defense of your freedom, you will never stand alone.
        From the vantage point of this new century, we recognize the end of
    the cold war as part of an even broader movement in our world. From
    Germany and Japan after World War II to Latin America to Asia and
    Central and Eastern Europe and now to the broader Middle East, the
    advance of freedom is the great story of our age. And in this history,
    there are important lessons.
        We have learned that free nations grow stronger with time, because
    they rise on the creativity and enterprise of their people. We have
    learned that governments accountable to citizens are peaceful, while
    dictatorships stir resentments and hatred to cover their own failings.
    We have learned

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    that the skeptics and pessimists are often wrong, because men and women
    in every culture, when given the chance, will choose liberty. We have
    learned that even after a long wait in the darkness of tyranny, freedom
    can arrive suddenly, like the break of day. And we have learned that the
    demand for self-government is often driven and sustained by patriotism,
    by the traditions and heroes and language of a native land.
        Yet we've also learned that sovereignty and majority rule are only
    the beginnings of freedom. The promise of democracy starts with national
    pride and independence and elections, but it does not end there. The
    promise of democracy is fulfilled by minority rights and equal justice
    under the rule of law and an inclusive society in which every person
    belongs. A country that divides into factions and dwells on old
    grievances cannot move forward and risks sliding back into tyranny. A
    country that unites all its people behind common ideals will multiply in
    strength and confidence. The successful democracies of the 21st century
    will not be defined by blood and soil. Successful democracies will be
    defined by a broader ideal of citizenship, based on shared principles,
    shared responsibilities, and respect for all.
        For my own country, the process of becoming a mature, multiethnic
    democracy was lengthy and violent. Our journey from national
    independence to equal injustice [justice] * included the enslavement of
    millions and a 4-year civil war. Even after slavery ended, a century
    passed before an oppressed minority was guaranteed equal rights.
    Americans found that racial division almost destroyed us, and the false
    doctrine of ``separate but equal'' was no basis for a strong and unified
    country. The only way we found to rise above the injustices of our
    history was to reject segregation, to move beyond mere tolerance, and to
    affirm the brotherhood of everyone in our land.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        * White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Latvia is facing the challenges that come with ethnic diversity, and
    it's addressing these challenges in a uniformly peaceful way. Whatever
    the historical causes, yours is now a multiethnic society, as I have
    seen on my visit. No wrongs of the past should ever be allowed to divide
    you or to slow your remarkable progress. While keeping your Latvian
    identity and language, you have a responsibility to reach out to all who
    share the future of Latvia. A welcoming and tolerant spirit will assure
    the unity and strength of your country. Minorities here have a
    responsibility as well, to be citizens who seek the good of the country
    in which they live. As inclusive, peaceful societies, all of the Baltic
    nations can be models to every nation that follows the path of freedom
    and democracy.
        In recent months, the Baltic Governments gave assistance during the
    election in Ukraine, and the people of that country chose a wise and
    visionary leader. As President Yushchenko works to strengthen the rule of law and open Ukraine's
    economy, the United States will help that nation join the institutions
    that bind our democracies.
        Later on this trip, I'll travel to Georgia, another country that is
    taking a democratic path and deserves support on its journey. My country
    will stand by Georgian leaders who respect minority rights and work to
    peacefully unify their country and grow closer to the free nations in
    Europe.
        We're also committed to democratic progress in Moldova, where
    leaders have pledged to expand freedom of the press, to protect minority
    rights, and to make Government institutions more accountable.
        All of us are committed to the advance of freedom in Belarus. The
    people of that country live under Europe's last dictatorship, and they
    deserve better. The Governments of Latvia and Lithuania have worked to
    build support for democracy in Belarus and to deliver truthful
    information by radio and newspapers. Together we have set a

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    firm and confident standard: Repression has no place on this continent.
    The people of Minsk deserve the same freedom you have in Tallinn and
    Vilnius and Riga.
        All the nations that border Russia will benefit from the spread of
    democratic values, and so will Russia itself. Stable, prosperous
    democracies are good neighbors, trading in freedom and posing no threat
    to anyone. The United States has free and peaceful nations to the north
    and south of us. We do not consider ourselves to be encircled; we
    consider ourselves to be blessed. No good purpose is served by stirring
    up fears and exploiting old rivalries in this region. The interests of
    Russia and all nations are served by the growth of freedom that leads to
    prosperity and peace.
        Inside Russia, leaders have made great progress over the last 15
    years. President Putin recently stated that
    Russia's future lies within Europe, and America agrees. He also stated
    that Russia's democratic future will not be determined by outsiders, and
    America agrees as well. That nation will follow its own course according
    to its own history. Yet all free and successful countries have some
    common characteristics: Freedom of worship, freedom of the press,
    economic liberty, the rule of law, and the limitation of power through
    checks and balances. In the long run, it is the strength of Russian
    democracy that will determine the greatness of Russia. And I believe the
    Russian people value their freedom and will settle for nothing less.
        For all the problems that remain, it is a miracle of history that
    this young century finds us speaking about the consolidation of freedom
    throughout Europe. And the stunning democratic gains of the last several
    decades are only the beginning. Freedom is not tired. The ideal of human
    dignity is not weary. And the next stage of the world democratic
    movement is already unfolding in the broader Middle East.
        We seek democracy in that region for the same reasons we spent
    decades working for democracy in Europe, because freedom is the only
    reliable path to peace. If the Middle East continues to simmer in anger
    and resentment and hopelessness, caught in a cycle of repression and
    radicalism, it will produce terrorism of even greater audacity and
    destructive power. But if the peoples of that region gain the right of
    self-government and find hopes to replace their hatreds, then the
    security of all free nations will be strengthened.
        We will not repeat the mistakes of other generations, appeasing or
    excusing tyranny and sacrificing freedom in the vain pursuit of
    stability. We have learned our lesson: No one's liberty is expendable.
    In the long run, our security and true stability depend on the freedom
    of others. And so, with confidence and resolve, we will stand for
    freedom across the broader Middle East.
        In this great objective, we need a realism that understands the
    difficulties. But we must turn away from a pessimism that abandons the
    goal and consigns millions to endless tyranny. And we have reason for
    optimism. When the people of Afghanistan were finally given the vote,
    they chose humane rulers and a future of freedom. When the people of the
    Palestinian Territories went to the polls, they chose a leader committed to negotiation instead of
    violence. When Iraqi voters turned out by the millions, they repudiated
    the killers who hate and attack their liberty. There's much work ahead,
    but the direction of events is clear in the broader Middle East: Freedom
    is on the march.
        Recent elections have brought a tremendous catalyst for change, and
    more are on the way. Elections are set to start at the end of this month
    in Lebanon, and those elections must go forward with no outside
    interference. The people of Lebanon now have the opportunity to bridge
    old divides and build an independent government. Egypt will hold a
    Presidential election this fall. That election should proceed with
    international monitors and with rules that allow for a real campaign.

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        As in other parts of the world, the work of democracy is larger than
    holding a fair election. It requires building the structures that
    sustain freedom. Selective liberalization--the easing of oppressive
    laws--is progress, but it is not enough. Successful democracies that
    effectively protect individual rights require viable political parties,
    an independent judiciary, a diverse media, and limits on executive
    power. There is no modernization without democracy. Ultimately, human
    rights and human development depend on human liberty.
        As in other parts of the world, successful democracies in the
    broader Middle East must also bridge old racial and religious divides,
    and democracy is the only force capable of doing so. In Iraq, the new
    Cabinet includes members of all of Iraq's leading ethnic and religious
    groups who, despite their differences, share a commitment to democracy,
    freedom, and the rule of law. The new President of Iraq is a member of a minority group that was attacked with
    poison gas by the former regime. Democracy is fostering internal peace
    by protecting individual rights while giving every minority a role in
    the nation's future. Iraq's free Government is showing the way for
    others and is winning the respect of a watching world.
        In the Middle East, we are seeing the rule of law--the rule of fear
    give way to the hope of change. And brave reformers in that region
    deserve more than our praise. The established democracies have a duty to
    help emerging democracies of the broader Middle East. They need our
    help, because freedom has deadly enemies in that region, men who
    celebrate murder, incite suicide, and thirst for absolute power. By
    aiding democratic transitions, we will isolate the forces of hatred and
    terror and defeat them before violence spreads.
        The Baltic States are members of a global coalition, and each is
    making essential contributions every day. Lithuania is preparing to
    deploy a reconstruction team to western Afghanistan and has troops in
    Iraq conducting patrols and aiding in reconstruction. Estonians are
    serving in Afghanistan. They're detecting and removing explosives, and
    Estonian troops serve side by side with Americans in Baghdad. Latvia has
    a team in Kabul, Afghanistan, clearing mines and soldiers in Iraq
    providing convoy security and patrols.
        Your commitment to freedom has brought sacrifice. We remember
    Lieutenant Olafs Baumanis, who was killed in
    Iraq. We ask for God's blessings for his family, and we're honored that
    his wife, Vita, is here with us today.
        It's no surprise that Afghanistan and Iraq find strong allies in the
    Baltic nations. Because you've recently known tyranny, you are offended
    by the oppression of others. The men and women under my command are
    proud to serve with you. Today I'm honored to deliver the thanks of the
    American people.
        Sixty years ago, on the 7th of May, the world reacted with joy and
    relief at the defeat of fascism in Europe. The next day, General Dwight
    D. Eisenhower announced that ``history's mightiest machine of conquest
    has been utterly destroyed.'' Yet the great democracies soon found that
    a new mission had come to us, not merely to defeat a single dictator but
    to defeat the idea of dictatorship on this continent. Through the
    decades of that struggle, some endured the rule of tyrants; all lived in
    the frightening shadow of war. Yet because we lifted our sights and held
    firm to our principles, freedom prevailed.
        Now, ladies and gentlemen, the freedom of Europe, won by courage,
    must be secured by effort and good will. In our time, as well, we must
    raise our sights. In the distance we can see another great goal, not
    merely the absence of tyranny on this continent but the end of tyranny
    in our world. Once again, we're asked to hold firm to our principles and
    to value the liberty of others. And once again, if we do our part,
    freedom will prevail.
        Thank you, and God bless.

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    Note: The President spoke at 5:09 p.m. at the Small Guild Hall. In his
    remarks, he referred to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia and her
    husband, Imants Freibergs; Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis of Latvia;
    President Arnold Ruutel of Estonia; President Valdas Adamkus of
    Lithuania; President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine; President Vladimir
    Putin of Russia; President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian
    Authority; and President Jalal Talabani of the Iraqi Transitional
    Government.