[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.