    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [June 20, 2005]
    [Pages 1019-1025]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With European Union Leaders
    June 20, 2005

        President Bush. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for coming.
    There will be opening statements from the three leaders, and then we'll
    take two questions from the American side, two questions from the
    European side.
        I want to appreciate Council President Juncker and Commission President Barroso, the High Representative Solana and the delegation for coming to the White House
    today. I've really enjoyed our conversation and enjoyed our lunch. We've
    covered a lot of topics, and they're important topics.
        During the conversation, our talks reminded me about the importance
    of our partnership and the fact that this partnership is based on common
    values and shared aspirations, a partnership that really has helped
    build a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. The United States
    continues to support a strong European Union as a partner in spreading
    freedom and democracy and security and prosperity throughout the world.
    My message to these leaders and these
    friends was that we want a Europe strong so we can work together to
    achieve important objectives and important goals.
        One of those important objectives and important goals is the advance
    of freedom in order to spread peace. We talked about the Middle East. We
    support the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine living
    side by side in peace.
        We talked about Iraq. This week in Brussels, the EU and the U.S. are
    cohosting a conference of over 80 countries and international
    organizations to build support for a free and prosperous Iraq. And I
    want to thank the leaders for that important initiative. I think it's an
    important signal for people to hear loud and clear that there may have
    been past differences over Iraq, but as we move forward, there is a need
    for the world to work together so that Iraq's democracy will succeed.
        We talked about Afghanistan, and I appreciate the contributions of
    EU member nations to--efforts of--within Afghanistan. After all, 23
    members of the EU are contributing troops in Afghanistan, and 12 members
    of the EU are contributing troops in Iraq, and we appreciate those
    contributions.
        We talked about the broader Middle East. We talked about the need
    for us to continually support democratic movements. We talked about the
    Ukraine and Georgia as well as the Balkans. The point is, is that we
    understand that democratic nations are nations that are--will answer to
    the hopes and aspirations of their people, and democratic nations are
    nations that will help us keep the peace.
        We talked about terrorism. We talked about visas. We talked about
    the need to continue to share information to make sure that we cut off
    money flows to terrorist groups and prevent terrorist organizations from
    obtaining weapons of mass destruction.

    [[Page 1020]]

        We talked about Iran, and I complimented the EU, complimented Mr.
    Solana as well as the Foreign Ministers from
    Great Britain and Germany and France for
    sending a clear message to the leadership in Iran that we're not going
    to tolerate the development of a nuclear weapon.
        We talked about our collaborative efforts in Darfur. The EU and NATO
    are working together to help deploy AU peacekeepers in Darfur. And I
    want to thank the leadership here.
        We talked about our economies. There's about a trillion dollars'
    worth of trade that takes place on an annual basis between the EU and
    the United States, and that's important. It's important for people
    working here in the United States and people working in Europe to
    understand that trade helps keep--people keep a job. And I recognize
    that when there's that much trade, there's going to be disputes. But
    we'll work those disputes out for the sake of our respective countries.
        We're committed to the Doha round of the WTO. We're committed to
    trade that is fair and free. We spent a lot of time talking about China
    and how to make sure that China understands there are WTO rules that
    must be adhered to and that China should work to do something with her
    currency so that the trade between our respective countries is fair.
    That's all we want. We just want there to be a level playing field. The
    people in Europe can compete and the people in the United States can
    compete if we have fair rules and fair trade. And so we talked about how
    we can work together to make sure that the world trades more freely and
    more fairly for the sake of our peoples.
        All in all, we've had a great discussion. And I'm proud to welcome
    these two men here to the podium here in the East Room of the White
    House. I want to thank you for coming. I want to thank you for your
    friendship.
        Which one wants to go first? The oldest guy. [Laughter]
        Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
    As the Commission--as the Commission is slow in decisions, I'll take the
    floor immediately. [Laughter]
        President Barroso and myself, we were pleased with the meeting we
    had with President Bush, the Vice President, and a certain number of
    Secretaries. We informed our strongest ally of recent developments and
    events in the European Union. We explained in detail what the real
    meaning of the French ``no'' and the Dutch ``no'' in the recent
    constitution referenda really are about. We were informing the President
    on the budgetary issue. As you know, we were unable during the recent
    European summit to agree on the so-called financial prospectus for the
    period 2007-2013.
        We made clear in our frank and open and friendly talks with the
    President that the European is not at its knees but that the European
    Union is playing the role it has on the international scene, that we
    feel strongly committed to the relations we have established with
    partners throughout the world and mainly with the U.S., the U.S. being
    not only a strategic partner but the most important partner we have, not
    only as far as political strength relations are concerned but also as
    far as heart relations are concerned, that the European Union will table
    its decisions after the next coming months and probably years on the
    Nice Treaty, which is in place and which allows the European Union to
    function in a proper way and not as proper way as the constitution would
    have allowed us to do, but the European Union is there.
        We were discussing, which was of quite huge importance, economic
    reform in the European Union. We adopted a few months ago in March the
    midterm review, the Lisbon Strategy. This is a huge program of economic
    and social reforms. It's clearly paving the way for a more competitive
    Europe, for a Europe taking its part in the

    [[Page 1021]]

    world's economic development. We were discussing a certain number of
    monetary issues concerning both the U.S. and the European Union,
    discussing our relations with other trade partners in the world and with
    other monetary players in the world.
        In fact, the visit we paid to President Bush at the end of the
    Luxembourg's Presidency of the Council is a happy conclusion of the 6
    months, Luxembourg's period. In Europe, we had the pleasure for having
    President Bush with us in Europe on the 22d of February. This was a huge
    signal the President was sending to Europe. It was in the course of that
    meeting that, in fact, both the President and myself, we decided to call
    for this Iraq conference, which will take place the other day in
    Brussels.
        Although some of us had some differences and divergences with the
    U.S. when it came to Iraq, this--the fact that we are co-organizing and
    co-sharing this very important Iraq conference is showing that when it
    comes to substance, when it comes to progress, when it comes to
    democracy, to freedom, and to liberty, both the U.S. and the European
    Union are cooperating closely together and working in the same
    direction.
        So it was an excellent moment.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        Mr. President.
        President Jose Manual Durao Barroso. Thank you. Thank you very much. It was indeed a
    pleasure for me, for President Juncker, for all the European Union team
    to be here. We remember the very successful visit of President Bush to
    Brussels recently, to the European institutions. We really believe the
    world is a better place when Europe and the United States work well
    together and we can show results. We have been together promoting
    democracy, for instance, in Ukraine and in Lebanon, cohosting now the
    international conference on Iraq. We will continue our close cooperation
    on Iran and the Middle East, and we will make sure that the Doha round
    is a success.
        Today we also adopted important decisions concerning, for instance,
    the economic cooperation. We have decided to go even further in our
    economic relations. Let me tell you that, per a day, our trade is around
    $1.8 billion. It shows how important our relation is. We will act
    together decisively to enhance our economic integration, namely in the
    field of regulatory environment. We believe a regulatory environment, as
    much as close as possible, is good for the economy of our space.
        The European Union is and will remain a very strong and reliable
    partner for the United States. It's true that we have complex systems in
    Europe. We are now 25 countries. Very soon we will be 27, about 500
    million of people. And we went through a very important enlargement,
    that it was, indeed, the reunification of Europe, 25, and very soon 27,
    countries that were very recently divided and now are together, sharing
    their sovereignty.
        So it's no surprise that in this process, some problems may occur.
    But the European Union is there. We are on business. We are deciding. We
    are taking decisions every day, internally and externally, and we are
    committed to this very close relation with the United States.
        Let me just underline two points that are very important also in our
    relation that we will be going on discussing in Gleneagles in the next
    G-8 summit in Scotland, is the cooperation in terms of environment. We
    are looking forward--our dialog in United States about climate change,
    new technologies to face those challenges, energy efficiency, energy
    security--we adopted an important statement on that--and also
    development, what we can do together for Africa and for the developing
    world.
        We also adopted a common statement on Africa that shows our
    commitment. I think this is a real problem, and this is a task of a
    generation. We are, together,

    [[Page 1022]]

    promoting democracy and freedom, but every day 25,000 people die because
    they don't have enough to eat or they don't have clean water to drink.
    This is really a shame for our generation, and you cannot accept it as a
    kind of a natural order of things. It's not natural. Now nobody thinks
    that slavery is natural, but it was natural for centuries--we could live
    with slavery. How can we go on living with people dying because they
    don't have the basic needs? There are enough resources in the world.
    There are enough resources in the world. What we need is political will
    and good organization.
        And when I say good organization, I say good organization on the
    donors community but also on them, on the African leaders, on the third
    world leaders, that they can also work with us for better governance,
    for the rule of law, for accountability in their societies, and
    transparency in their societies. And I hope that this year we can take
    all advantage of this year with a high-level event in September in New
    York, with all--the Gleneagles summit and other occasions so that the
    United States and Europe will be in front running this battle against
    absolute poverty and also for freedom and democracy around the world.
        Thank you.
        President Bush. Thank you, Jose.
        Couple of questions. Tom [Tom Raum, Associated Press].

    Nomination of United Nations Ambassador

        Q. Mr. President, by all accounts, the votes just aren't there to
    end the filibuster against your nomination of John Bolton to go to the
    U.N. Your Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, wouldn't rule out a
    recess appointment. There is a recess coming up. Where do you go from
    here? And would a recess appointment give Mr. Bolton enough time to do
    the kind of changes at the U.N. that you are looking for?
        President Bush. I think Mr. Bolton ought
    to get an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. That's my call to the
    Senate. I nominated John Bolton to be the Ambassador to the United
    Nations for a reason. I'm sharing this now with my friends here. The
    American people know why I nominated him, because the U.N. needs reform,
    and I thought it made sense to send a reformer to the United Nations.
    The U.N. is an important organization, and the American people, I think,
    will take--will understand how important it is when the U.N. is reformed
    and is held to account. And so we want more accountability and
    transparency and less bureaucracy, and John Bolton will help achieve
    that mission. And so I think it's time for the Senate to give him an up-
    or-down vote, now. And I'm not sure if they've made the decision to have
    that vote. I think tomorrow there is going to be an up-or-down vote, if
    I'm not mistaken, Tom.
        Q. Tonight.
        President Bush. Tonight? Tonight. Yes. Well, put him in. If they're
    interested in reforming the United Nations, they ought to approve John
    Bolton.
        Do you want to call on somebody?

    European Union-U.S. Relations

        Q. Mr. President, you spoke of common values were with Europe and
    the United States, and a strong Europe. Would you say that today, after
    the two summits between the European Union and the United States, that
    the partnership has even become again a friendship between Europe and
    the United States, and how do you see the role of the Luxembourg
    Presidency in that issue?
        President Bush. Well, I appreciate that. First, the relations with
    Europe are important relations, and they've--because we do share values.
    And they're universal values. They're not American values or European
    values; they're universal values. And those values, being universal,
    ought to be applied everywhere. And that's human rights, human dignity,
    rule of law, transparency when it comes to government, decency.

    [[Page 1023]]

    And obviously, if the EU and the U.S. speak with one voice on these
    issues, it's more likely to hear--people will hear it.
        I think the friendship between our respective countries in the EU
    are strong. Obviously, there's been a difference of opinion recently on
    certain issues, but that doesn't prevent the American people from
    holding the good folks of Luxembourg or Portugal in high esteem. There's
    a lot of traffic between our country, a lot of tourism, a lot of trade,
    a lot of commerce between individual countries within the EU and the
    United States. And that's because of mutual respect and the desire for
    people to get to know the world better.
        In terms of your Prime Minister,
    he's an interesting guy. [Laughter] He's a lot of fun to be around. He
    promotes serious business in a way that endears himself to people. And
    so I think his Presidency has been an important Presidency for the EU
    during difficult times, and he's handled it well. And I was going to say
    he's a piece of work, but that might not translate too well. Is that all
    right, if I call you a ``piece of work''? [Laughter]
        Prime Minister Juncker. Okay.
        President Bush. He's done a good
    job, and I value his friendship. I think--I know it's really important
    for people at our--when we sit down at the table, to have a friendship,
    so we can discuss things in a frank way, in an honest way, without fear
    of being able to tell people what's on our mind. That's the best way to
    get things done, and Jean-Claude certainly has been that way, as has
    Jose.
        Adam [Adam Entous, Reuters].

    Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, we were told that you planned to sharpen your
    focus on Iraq. Why did this become necessary? And given the recent surge
    in violence, do you agree with Vice President Dick Cheney's assessment
    that the insurgency is in its last throes?
        President Bush. Adam, I think about Iraq every day--every single
    day--because I understand we have troops in harm's way, and I understand
    how dangerous it is there. And the reason it's dangerous is because
    there's these coldblooded killers that will kill Americans or kill
    innocent Iraqis in order to try to drive us out of Iraq. I spoke to our
    commanders today--Commander Abizaid today
    and will be speaking to General Casey
    here this week, getting an assessment as to how we're proceeding, if
    we're making progress toward the goal, which is, on the one hand, a
    political process moving forward in Iraq, and on the other hand, the
    Iraqis capable of defending themselves. And the report from the field is
    that while it's tough, more and more Iraqis are becoming battle-hardened
    and trained to defend themselves. And that's exactly the strategy that's
    going to work. And it is going to work. And we will complete this
    mission for the sake of world peace.
        And you just heard the EU is willing to host this conference with
    the United States in order to help this new democracy move forward. And
    the reason why is many countries understand that freedom in the heart of
    the Middle East will make this world more peaceful.
        And so, you know, I think about this every day--every single day--
    and will continue thinking about it, because I understand we've got kids
    in harm's way. And I worry about their families, and I--obviously, any
    time there's a death, I grieve. But I want those families to know, one,
    we're not going to leave them--not going to allow their mission to go in
    vain, and two, we will complete the mission and the world will be better
    off for it.
        Q. Mr. President, many in Europe----
        President Bush. You're offending people here, we got two other--
    [laughter]----

    [[Page 1024]]

    Detainees of the War on Terror

        Q. Mr. President, many in Europe are worrying that with the fight
    against terrorism the commitment of the United States to human rights is
    not as big as it used to be--that has not only to do with Guantanamo but
    also with the secret prisons where the CIA holds terror suspects. My
    question is, what will happen to these people who are held in these
    secret prisons by the CIA? Will they ever see a judge? Or is your
    thinking that with some terror suspects, the rule of law should not
    apply or does not have to have applied?
        President Bush. First of all, I appreciate that question, and I
    understand we--those of us who espouse freedom have an obligation and
    those who espouse human rights have an obligation to live that--to
    those--to live up to those words. And I believe we are in Guantanamo. I
    mean, after all, there's 24-hour inspections by the International Red
    Cross. You're welcome to go down yourself--maybe you have--and taking a
    look at the conditions. I urge members of our press corps to go down to
    Guantanamo and see how they're treated and to see--and to look at the
    facts. That's all I ask people to do. There have been, I think, about
    800 or so that have been detained there. These are people picked up off
    the battlefield in Afghanistan. They weren't wearing uniforms. They
    weren't state sponsored, but they were there to kill.
        And so the fundamental question facing our Government was, what do
    you do with these people? And so we said that they don't apply under the
    Geneva Convention, but they'll be treated in accord with the Geneva
    Convention.
        And so I would urge you to go down and take a look at Guantanamo.
    About 200 or so have been released back to their countries. There needs
    to be a way forward on the other 500 that are there. We're now waiting
    for a Federal court to decide whether or not they can be tried in a
    military court, where they'll have rights, of course, or in the civilian
    courts. We're just waiting for our judicial process to move the process
    along.
        Make no mistake, however, that many of those folks being detained--
    in humane conditions, I might add--are dangerous people. Some have been
    released to their previous countries, and they got out, and they went on
    to the battlefield again. And I have an obligation, as do all of us who
    are holding office, to protect our people. That's a solemn obligation we
    all have. And I believe we're meeting that obligation in a humane way.
        As well as--we've got some in custody--Khalid Sheikh
    Mohammed is a classic example, the
    mastermind of the September the 11th attack that killed over 3,000 of
    our citizens. And he is being detained because we think he could
    possibly give us information that might not only protect us but protect
    citizens in Europe. And at some point in time, he'll be dealt with, but
    right now, we think it's best that he be kept in custody.
        We want to learn as much as we can in this new kind of war about the
    intention and about the methods and about how these people operate. And
    they're dangerous, and they're still around, and they'll kill in a
    moment's notice.
        In the long run, the best way to protect ourselves is to spread
    freedom and human rights and democracy. And--but if you've got questions
    about Guantanamo, I seriously suggest you go down there and take a look.
    And--seriously, take an objective look as to how these folks are treated
    and what has happened to them in the past, and when the courts make the
    decision they make, we'll act accordingly.
        Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you all very much for coming.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 1:11 p.m. in the East
    Room at the White House. Participating in the event were Prime Minister
    Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, in his capacity as President of the

    [[Page 1025]]

    European Council; and President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of the
    European Commission. President Bush referred to Secretary General Javier
    Solana of the European Council; Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA, combatant
    commander, U.S. Central Command; Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA,
    commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; and Khalid Sheikh
    Mohammed, senior Al Qaida leader responsible for planning the September
    11, 2001, terrorist attack, who was captured in Pakistan on March 1,
    2003.