    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 11, 2007]
    [Pages 734-735]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the American University in Bulgaria in Sofia
    June 11, 2007

        The President. Well, listen, thank you all for introducing
    yourselves. I want to thank you very much, Olga, for giving me a chance to visit with these students.
        First of all, I'm looking forward to hearing about your stories and
    your dreams. There's no question that education is what's going to help
    change the world; it'll certainly change your personal lives. But it
    also has the opportunity to change regions in the world. And I am
    excited that all of you have had a chance to go to higher education and
    that you aspire beyond your current education to achieve new things, new
    dreams--Michigan State Law School--I mean, Michigan Law School--excuse
    me--or mathematics. I mean; it's uplifting for me to be with you.
        America strongly supports education initiatives at home and abroad.
    I think the best thing we can do is to invite students to come to our
    country. You'll see what America is really like when you come. But you
    don't have to, you know, just come to America to study. You can study
    all over the world, and then go back to your countries and become
    productive citizens and apply what you've learned and help your
    countries grow, because the potential in this part of the world is wide
    open. We kind of have to do a little political work in some places, but
    it's wide open. And we wish you all the very best. I'm honored to be
    with you.
        Stanko, why don't you share some thoughts
    with us.
        Stanko Stankov. Well, I have to--I mean,
    I agree with the point about education. There are many challenges here
    in the region, especially after Bulgaria now entered European Union. And
    this period of transition, I think, is going to be best dealt with by
    having a good education and having

    [[Page 735]]

    competent people who can stand up to the challenge and just face it the
    proper way.
        The President. So, Stanko, what was your major?
        Mr. Stankov. My major was business
    administration.
        The President. Oh, that's right. Yeah. And so what are you going to
    do?
        Mr. Stankov. Oh, first I'm going to do
    some work here in Bulgaria, because I need some work experience before I
    apply to a grad school in the United States--that's where I hope to
    apply. And after I do this work for 2 or 3 years, I'm going to go
    probably to the States and study; do my masters there. And after that,
    well, we'll see.
        The President. And have you found a job?
        Mr. Stankov. Yes, I'm being interviewed
    still. And tomorrow I have a very important interview. [Laughter] My
    next job interview. [Laughter]
        The President. Well, if the interviewer is listening--[laughter]--
    Stanko is looking for a little work. [Laughter] It'll make your mother
    happy when you find a job, won't it?
        Mr. Stankov. Yes, she will be happy.
        The President. That's good. Well, thank you very much, Stanko. Thank
    you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:57 p.m. at the Elieff Center for
    Education and Culture. In his remarks, he referred to Olga Borissova,
    director, Centre for European Programmes, American University in
    Bulgaria. Participating in the event were Stanko Stankov, Katya
    Georgieva, Hristina Jordanova, Nita Gojani, and Filjor Broka, recent
    graduates, and Nemanja Gruicic, student, American University in
    Bulgaria; Dilyana Mincheva and Bilyana Hristova, students, University of
    Sofia; and Hawa Ansary and Stanislav Andreev, recent graduates, American
    College of Sofia.