    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 11, 2007]
    [Pages 733-734]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Luncheon Hosted by President Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria in Sofia
    June 11, 2007

        Mrs. Parvanova, Prime
    Minister, Mr. Speaker, members of the Government, and distinguished guests:
    Laura and I are thrilled to be with you, and
    we're really happy to be in your country.
        You know, sitting here in this beautiful museum reminds me of the
    great history of Bulgaria. And it was important for me to be with
    leaders who are still writing a history of this important country. And
    for a person who was raised in the deserts of Texas, this is a
    magnificent view. It reminds me of the beauty of your country. I was
    telling the President, my only regret is that we didn't have this
    meeting on the beaches.
        I congratulate you on your admission into the EU. A lot of people
    said, there is no way that Bulgaria can do the necessary things to join
    the EU. And you proved the critics wrong. We're proud to be a member of
    NATO with you. Bulgaria is a valued ally of all of us in NATO and a
    valued ally of the United States.
        I thank you for your strong stand for freedom. I thank you for
    helping spread liberty into places like Iraq and Afghanistan, where
    people want to live a peaceful

    [[Page 734]]

    and free life. I appreciate the sacrifices the people of this country
    have made to support the troops and their families. I firmly believe
    that the actions we're taking are laying the foundation of peace for
    generations to come. I think people will look back at this moment in
    history and say: Thank God there were people who still stood strong for
    liberty and freedom as the alternative to tyranny and oppression.
        We discussed a lot of issues. I appreciated your leader's advice on
    Kosovo. It's important advice, and I took it seriously. Kosovo must be
    independent, and I thank them for their advice as to how to best achieve
    that.
        I made it clear the visa policy needs to be changed. And I care
    deeply about the Bulgarian nurses. We're working on a strategy to make
    sure that these nurses come home as quickly as possible.
        We had a constructive, candid, important conversations today. Our
    friendship is strong, and we intend to keep it that way.
        So I'd like to propose a toast to the President, his good
    wife, to the people of Bulgaria, and
    to the friendship between the United States and Bulgaria.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 12:36 p.m. in Sunny Hall at
    the National Museum of History. In his remarks, he referred to Zorka
    Petrova Parvanova, wife of President Parvanov; Prime Minister Sergei
    Stanishev of Bulgaria; and Georgi Georgiev Pirinski, chairman, Bulgarian
    National Assembly. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of President Parvanov.