[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
[February 22, 2005]
[Pages 290-294]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference With European Union Leaders in Brussels
February 22, 2005

    President Juncker. Good evening, 
ladies and gentlemen. As heads of state and government of the European 
Union, we've been very happy to welcome the U.S. President, Mr. George 
Bush, to the heart of the European institutions. And once again, I would 
like to thank him for this visit and for the fact that he has taken the 
initiative of coming to Europe so soon after his Inauguration for his 
second term as President of the United States.
    In the course of our discussions, we have touched on a whole range 
of issues, which it is clearly impossible for me--[inaudible]--that 
wasn't me; that was the microphone--[laughter]--a whole series of issues 
which we cannot summarize here. What I would say is that what we have 
established is that, as so often in our past, if we work together, if we 
pool our strengths, we as Europeans and Americans can make the 
difference. We have the strength; we have the legitimacy; and we have 
the means--because we have the same ambitions for the world, ambition of 
democracy, of freedom, of fighting together against terrorism, the 
ambition to end the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
    On our flags, we have the words ``freedom'' and ``democracy.'' And 
we recognize the obligations that result from this, the fight against 
poverty, the fight against underdevelopment. And so, in a very studious, 
constructive, and friendly atmosphere, we addressed a number of issues.
    Middle East: We both do consider that peace prospects are better 
than they have been for a long time, and we are looking forward to 
cooperate in close partnership with the U.S. and with other Quartet 
members. It is of crucial importance, we do think, to go back to the 
implementation of the roadmap. In Gaza, we do all hope and prospect for 
a negotiated, two-state solution as defined in this roadmap. That means 
that we have to make sure for Israel that peace, security, and 
recognition by all countries in the region are guaranteed. And that 
means for the Palestinians that they have the right to have a viable, 
democratic, independent, and totally contiguous state.
    As regards Iraq, we applauded the courage of the Iraqi people and 
the results of recent Iraqi elections as far as the out-turn was 
concerned. We are pursuing our common engagement in Iraq. The United 
States and the U.S. stand together in support of the Iraqi people and 
the new Iraqi Government, which will soon come into action. To that end, 
should the new Iraqi Government request it, the United States and 
European Union are prepared to cohost an international conference to 
provide a forum to encourage and coordinate international support for 
Iraq.
    We spoke at length about the Middle East and in particular about 
Lebanon--Lebanon, this country which is lurching from misfortune to 
misfortune, from tragedy to tragedy. And we condemned vigorously the 
assassination of the former Prime Minister. We insisted on full 
compliance and immediate compliance with the Security Council 
resolution, and we, the U.S. and the European Union, have called for a 
joint committee of investigation.

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    [Inaudible]--discussed, I leave this to the President of the U.S.
    George.
    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thanks. Jose, it's good to see you, sir; thank you. I'm looking 
forward to having dinner with you and Javier Solana and Jean-Claude 
tonight.
    Listen, it's an honor to be here. I appreciate the invitation. You 
called an extraordinary meeting, and I'm honored you did so. My first 
trip after my Inauguration was to Europe, and that's the way it should 
be because Europe and the United States are close friends.
    In my talk to the leaders in the room, I started by saying this: 
There should be no doubt in your mind that my Government and the United 
States wants the European project to succeed. It's in our interests that 
Europe be strong. It's in our interests that the European Union work out 
whatever differences there are and become a continued, viable, strong 
partner. It's in our interests for commercial reasons; we trade a lot. 
And I talked about the need to continue trade and to work out our 
disputes in a sensible way.
    It's in our interests because the values that caused the European 
Union to exist in the first place, the values of human rights and human 
dignity and freedom, are the same values we share. And we have an 
opportunity to work together to spread those values. We talked about 
Iraq, and I appreciate the contributions and the new suggestion. I 
appreciate your contributions in Afghanistan.
    We talked about how hopeful the Middle Eastern peace situation 
looks. And I told the leaders that my Government will be very much 
involved in the process. We believe peace is within reach. Therefore, I 
want to work with the European Union to achieve that objective.
    We talked about aid, the need to work together to fight disease like 
HIV/AIDS, which we are doing and will continue to do.
    I brought up global warming. I said that the Kyoto debate is beyond 
us, as far as I'm concerned; now is the time to focus on our abilities 
and research and capacity to develop technologies to make the air 
cleaner so that our people can have the standard of living they expect, 
at the same time that we're good stewards of the Earth.
    So it was a very optimistic, hopeful meeting. I appreciate so very 
much the hospitality of the leaders, and I'm anxious to continue our 
dialog after this press conference.
    President Juncker. Jose Manuel.
    President Durao Barroso. Thank 
you. I think that, on behalf of the European Commission, that the visit 
of President Bush is really a very, very important one. Europe and 
America have reconnected. This visit has highlighted all that unites 
Europe and America. It has focused the eyes of the world on all that we 
share. I believe that the relationship between the United States and 
Europe is the world's strongest, most comprehensive and strategically 
important partnership. The United States, a united Europe--this is 
really the indispensable partnership.
    If you look at the scale of the challenges ahead, like terrorism, 
poverty, one thing is certain: These are not challenges that any nation 
can tackle alone. Europe knows that; the United States know that. Even 
working together, it's not sure that we will solve these problems 
because of their magnitude. But we must try, and I believe that 
together, we will prevail. The reality is that the world is safer and 
more prosperous when Europe and America work together as global 
partners.
    Today we have had opportunity to discuss many of the challenges on 
the transatlantic agenda, on the Middle East, on transatlantic trade. 
There is a common outlook on many fronts. I believe that the European 
Union and America will be very strong partners in supporting the efforts 
of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to move towards a lasting peace 
in the Middle

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East. We know that President Bush and America are fully engaged. There 
is a unique opportunity for peacemaking.
    The European Union and the United States are committed to continue 
to bring prosperity and solidarity across the broader Middle East, 
building, on the Europe Union's side, on the decade of dialog and 
assistance through the Barcelona process.
    On Iraq, the Commission is and will remain committed to a stable and 
democratic country. We will continue to offer substantial political and 
financial support for the process of democratic transition. And we hope 
that if the new Iraqi Government makes a concrete proposal for joint 
action, we'll be ready to assist.
    We also have a shared commitment to development, and I would add 
that we must measure ourselves by results, helping countries to progress 
towards the Millennium goals. We must give urgent attention to Africa. 
We need a quantum leap in terms of resources and policy.
    We'll talk later about how we can work together also to fight 
climate change. The United States and Europe, I think I can say this, 
agree that climate change constitutes a major challenge. Now, we need to 
develop new methods of working together to get results that are 
effective over the long term. President Bush mentioned, for instance, 
the prospects offered now by new technologies. We are very much wishing 
to work together with the United States in that field.
    The United States and Europe are the two largest economies in the 
world. We are determined to deepen the transatlantic economic 
partnership. Trade and investment are the bedrock of transatlantic 
relations. We want to build on this. Our common objective must be to 
remove obstacles to transatlantic trade and investment as well as making 
a success of Doha development round, which is a catalyst for global 
growth. Europe is committed to promote growth and jobs through 
knowledge, innovation, and opportunity. That is what the Lisbon agenda 
stands for.
    This visit has given new life to the partnership between Europe and 
United States. I believe that transatlantic relations have turned a 
corner. A new listening partnership is emerging. The challenge now is to 
turn this new spirit into reality and show the world we are able to 
translate it into concrete results.
    President Juncker. Thank you. So, 
we'll take three or four questions, two coming from the European side, 
two from the U.S. side. [Inaudible]--please.

European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization

    Q. [Inaudible]--a question to U.S. President and to Prime Minister 
of Luxembourg. This EU-U.S. summit fueled speculation that there will be 
now two transatlantic tracks on foreign and security policy. One is the 
good old NATO and then the other one is the new one that's direct EU-
U.S. strategic talk. So is this meeting between EU and U.S., this 
special summit, a kind of historic foundation of a new second track 
outside of NATO on EU-U.S. relations?
    President Juncker. I always wanted 
to make history, but I don't think that this time--[laughter]--is the 
moment for doing so. We have an ongoing transatlantic dialog inside 
NATO. It can be improved, and we discussed this this morning together 
with the President. And we have an ongoing transatlantic dialog inside 
the framework between U.S. and European Union. We'll have another summit 
by the end of this semester in June in Washington, where we are trying 
to deliver as concrete results as possible, on the basis of the good 
atmosphere we laid down in the course of this meeting.
    We shouldn't make a distinction between NATO and between the 
European Union. These are two different things, but there are strong 
family relations and links between the two. This is not a question or/
or; it is a question and/and.

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    President Bush. I agree. I mean, I don't view these two meetings as 
mutually exclusive meetings. I think they're both important; they're 
both a part of an important dialog with Europe. NATO was set up for 
security matters. The EU is set up as a way to make Europe function 
better, to be able to achieve objectives for her people. And the United 
States looks forward to working with Europe both within NATO and as the 
European Union.
    I've been meeting with the European Union a lot since I've been the 
President. This isn't the first meeting--your question kind of made it 
sound like, ``He finally showed up and met.'' This isn't the first time 
we've met with the European Union in my Presidency. As a matter of fact, 
we do so on an annual basis, and I look forward to the meetings. And 
they're constructive, and they're important.
    Plante [Bill Plante, CBS News].

Democracy in Russia

    Q. Mr. President, the Russians seem to be pushing back against some 
of the things that you've said, Mr. President. Their Ambassador to the 
U.S. wrote today that ``there cannot . . . be a sole standard for 
democracy.'' So what I'm asking is just how flexible you think the 
standards for democracy can be.
    President Bush. First, we've got a constructive relationship with 
Russia, and that's important. I've got a very good personal relationship 
with President Putin, and that's important. 
And it's important because it enables me and our country to remind 
President Putin that democracies are based upon rule of law and the 
respect for human rights and human dignity and a free press--you'll be 
happy to hear. And that--a constructive relationship allows me to remind 
him that I believe Russia is a European country, and European countries 
embrace those very same values that America embraces. And I'm looking 
forward to continuing my dialog with him.
    President Juncker. Next European 
question. [Laughter]
    President Bush. I see you wanted to ask a question, yes.

Iran/Upcoming London Meeting on the Middle East

    Q. A question for President Bush. President, you came to Europe with 
a very constructive speech, and, indeed, you said very few things the 
Europeans couldn't agree with. But actions speak louder, so do you 
actually commit to taking more into account the European's positions on 
international matters? And do you actually commit to, for instance, 
prevent from launching action, strikes against a sovereign member state, 
state like Iran, without a mandate from the United Nations Security 
Council?
    President Bush. I--You know, look, I'm--let me talk about Iran. 
That's a place where I'm getting good advice from European partners. 
After all, Great Britain, Germany, and France are negotiating with the 
ayatollahs to achieve a common objective, something that we all want, 
and that is for them not to have a nuclear weapon. It's in our interests 
for them not to have a nuclear weapon. It's also in our interests for 
them not to continue funding terrorist organizations like Hizballah, 
which has the desire to stop the Middle East peace process from going 
forward. And so these are great interlocutors on behalf of the position 
we share. So there's an example of concrete action.
    I'm also looking forward to working with our European partners on 
the Middle Eastern peace process. Tony Blair is 
hosting a very important meeting in London, and that is a meeting at 
which President Abbas will hear 
that the United States and the EU is desirous of helping this good man 
set up a democracy in the Palestinian Territories, so that Israel will 
have a democratic partner in peace. I laid out a vision--the first U.S. 
President to do so--which said that our vision is two states, Israel and 
Palestine, living side by side in peace. That

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is the goal. And I look forward to working concretely with our European 
friends and allies to achieve that goal.
    And finally, this notion that the United States is getting ready to 
attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are 
on the table. [Laughter]
    Bob [Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers].

Democracy in Russia

    Q. Mr. President, I wanted to follow up on Plante's question, if I 
could. I wanted to follow up on----
    President Bush. Is this a question on Russia?
    Q. Sir?
    President Bush. This is a question on Russia?
    Q. Yes, sir.
    President Bush. Okay.
    Q. Do you believe, sir, that Russia is backsliding in its march 
toward democracy? What troubles you the most about that, and how is that 
going to shape your conversation with President Putin in 2 days from 
now?
    President Bush. I like a country with a free press--an independent, 
free press. And there has been some moves where the Russian Government, 
I guess, for better use of the word, didn't license certain members of 
the press. I think it's very important that President Putin hear not only from me in a private way, which he 
will, but also hear some of the concerns that I heard around the table 
today. There were some concerns from the Baltic nations. And I look 
forward to carrying their message that it's very important for President 
Putin to make very clear why he's made some of the decisions he's made 
and as well as respect his neighbors.
    And I'm confident that can be done in a cordial way. It's important 
for us to keep a constructive relationship with Russia. We've got a lot 
to do together. We've got a lot of common projects that will make people 
more secure around the world, one of which is to make sure that nuclear 
stockpiles are safeguarded. I look forward to talking to him about that. 
But I also will remind him that the United States believes strongly in 
democratic values.
    Thank you.
    President Juncker. That was it. 
Thank you.

Note: The President's news conference began at 6:58 p.m. at the Justus 
Lipsius Building. The President met with Prime Minister Jean-Claude 
Juncker of Luxembourg, in his capacity as President of the European 
Council; President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of the European Commission; 
and Secretary General Javier Solana of the European Council. President 
Juncker made a portion of his remarks in French, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter. In his remarks, President Bush referred to 
President Vladimir Putin of Russia; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the 
United Kingdom; and President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the 
Palestinian Authority. President Juncker referred to former Prime 
Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon, who was assassinated on February 14 in 
Beirut. A reporter referred to Russia's Ambassador to the U.S. Yuriy 
Viktorovich Ushakov.