[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.
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    * White House correction.
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    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.