    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 10, 2008]
    [Pages 339-342]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland and an Exchange With Reporters
    March 10, 2008

        President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of
    our very close ally and strategic partner, Poland. We'll both have
    opening statements, and then we'll take two questions a side.
        I want to thank you for your candor, thank you for your friendship.
    The people of Poland stand as a great example of freedom and liberty.
    This is a nation with a proud history, a nation that has resisted
    tyranny and now lives as an example of a free society. And there are
    millions of Americans who are proud of their heritage, Mr. Prime
    Minister. They're proud to be called Polish Americans. And we welcome
    you.
        I want to thank you for your nation's contributions to the
    liberation of people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Your troops have performed
    brilliantly, and they'll be coming home based upon success. And I thank
    your Government, and I thank the people of Poland for the sacrifices. I
    also thank you to help the young democracy in Afghanistan survive and
    thrive and flourish. And someday, Mr. Prime Minister, people are going
    to say, Afghanistan did exactly the same thing that happened in Poland:
    The people realized the blessings of liberty, and out of those blessings
    flowed peace.
        The Prime Minister and I had a long discussion about a lot of
    subjects. One in particular I want to talk about, and that is our mutual
    security. The United States recognizes the need for Polish--the forces
    to be modernized. It's important for our allies to--when they are
    worried about the modernization of their forces, that friends respond,
    and we're responding. The first part of a response, of course, is to
    take inventory of needs. And, Mr. Prime Minister, before my watch is
    over, we will have assessed those needs and come up with a modernization
    plan that's concrete and tangible.
        And along those lines, we talked about the need for mutual security
    and that the significant threats of the 21st century--or

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    perhaps the most significant is a launch of a missile with dangerous
    materials in its warhead. Technologies are developing that will enable
    the free world to be able to defend itself from blackmail and/or strike
    from these such types of launches.
        And we're in discussions with Poland about how we can help the
    mutual security of the region. I've assured the Prime Minister that any
    decisions made will reflect the sovereignty of Poland. I've assured the
    Prime Minister that this system is not aimed at Russia. And I will
    continue to work with President Putin to
    give him those assurances as well. This system is designed for the
    threats of the 21st century.
        And so I want to thank you very much for your candor and your
    friendship. And we're glad you're here. Thank you, sir.
        Prime Minister Tusk. I want to thank very much you, Mr. President,
    for your hospitality and genuine warmth. It doesn't really happen often
    that people of such a high position are so open and so friendly as you.
        President Bush. Thank you.
        Prime Minister Tusk. From the very beginning, I was absolutely
    convinced that this meeting can bring us definitely closer to the work
    for good solutions.
        I am also very glad, Mr. President, that both during our meeting and
    also here, you appreciate very much the contribution we are making with
    our troops in Iraq and in Afghanistan. For us Poles, it is really a very
    big effort, and we really are happy that such an important ally
    appreciates it.
        What really is most important from this meeting, Mr. President, that
    in the spirit of those talks and also in the agreement, which we have
    made during this conversation, we can draw the conclusion from that that
    the United States can count on Poland whenever it needs, and Poland can
    count on the United States whenever Poland is in need. And this is our
    belief, the embodiment of the idea of solidarity in the international
    dimension. And I want to thank you very much for this.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you.
        Prime Minister Tusk. And what is really important for both parties--
    we came to a conclusion, both during the talks and also the cooperation
    which we would like to develop together--is that both the missile
    defense system and the modernization of the Polish forces, as well as
    the reinforcement of the global security system, which also influences
    the Polish security system, that all these issues come in one package,
    and that this is really something which gives us very much good hope for
    the future. This is a very important declaration for us, and once again,
    I want to thank you for that.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Feller [Ben Feller, Associated
    Press].
        Q. Mr. President----
        President Bush. Hold on for a second, please.
        Q. When----
        President Bush. Ben. Excuse me, please. Ben.

    Vice President's Visit to the Middle East

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Secretary Rice was able to help get
    peace talks restarted in the Mideast during her trip. So what is it now
    that you want Vice President Cheney to get? What is your specific goal
    for him?
        President Bush. The Vice President will be on an extensive
    itinerary, as you know. His goal is to reassure people that the United
    States is committed to a vision of peace in the Middle East; that we
    expect relevant parties to obligate themselves--uphold their obligations
    on the roadmap; that we fully see the threats facing the Middle East--
    one such threat is Iran; and that we will continue to bolster our
    security agreements and relationships with our friends and allies.
        The Vice President will be taking a very hopeful message to the
    Middle East, that progress in Iraq is necessary for peace in the Middle
    East. And so it's--I'm looking

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    forward to his trip, and I'm really appreciative of the fact that he's
    going.
        Do you want to call on somebody from the Polish media?

    Missile Defense System

        Q. Mr. President, is there any breakthrough as far as the missile
    defense system is concerned?
        President Bush. Well, I think there's a commitment to a system that
    respects Polish sovereignty, will--that will ensure that the people of
    Poland will not be subjected to any undue security risks, that the
    system is necessary to deal with the realities of the threats.
    Obviously, there's a lot of work to do because many times a strategy on
    paper is a little different from the details. And so our experts are
    working through the system to make sure that the people of Poland are
    comfortable with the idea. It's a--look, I mean--you know, I--this is
    the kind of issue that all kinds of rumors and worries can grow out of.
    And we just want to assure people that it's necessary, and at the same
    time, there will be this modernization effort that takes place.
        Prime Minister Tusk. What is really very important is what we
    stressed in the conclusions of this meeting today, that we really want
    to stop the speculations on intentions expressed by the United States
    and expressed by Poland. Our joint intention is to cooperate in all
    aspects of global security, American security, and Polish security. And
    an element of this security is the missile defense system.
        What I would call a breakthrough is my conviction that both the
    President of the United States and the American party understand quite
    clearly our expectations. And if I may use this expression, I think that
    you have set the perspective of Poland on the principle of the
    cooperation here. And as you said, Mr. President, all the technicalities
    pertaining to the face of the negotiations and all those technical
    issues, they will be solved by experts.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Matt [Matt Spetalnick, Reuters].

    Middle East Peace Process

        Q. Yes, sir. Back on the Middle East, what do you think of Israel's
    plan to build 750 new homes in a settlement near Jerusalem? And what, if
    any, threat or complication do you see to your administration's peace
    efforts?
        President Bush. We expect both parties to--involved in the Middle
    Eastern peace process to adhere to their obligations in the roadmap. And
    those obligations are clear. And to this end, the Secretary of
    State is dispatching the general that we named to be the coordinator of
    roadmap activities to the Middle East--for him to conduct meetings with
    the relevant parties.
        The key question is whether or not a vision can prevail that will
    enable people who reject violence and extremists--enable them to see a
    better tomorrow. That's what we're working toward. And you know, this is
    a part of the world where people have heard promises before, and they've
    been vague promises. Now they've got a President and an administration willing to work for two states,
    two democracies, side by side in peace.
        There are three major forces that are--we're now witnessing in the
    Middle East. Two of those forces adhere to peace: Israel and the forces
    of President Abbas. And then there's one force
    in the Middle East, and some suspect that they're funded from outside
    governments and outside movements, all aiming to destabilize democracy,
    all aiming to prevent the vision of--where people can live side by side
    in peace, all wanting to destroy Israel.
        And the fundamental question is, will there be enough will and
    determination to reject those forces of extremism and to stand up and
    support those who long for peace? And our mission is exactly along those
    lines. And I'm optimistic that we'll be able to achieve a vision that
    shows a way forward, and I'm optimistic leaders will

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    step forward and do the hard things necessary so people don't have to
    live in deprivation and fear. And so that's our focus, and that's our
    mission.
        You want to----

    [At this point, Prime Minister Tusk spoke in Polish, and no translation
    was provided.]

    U.S. Visa Policy

        Q. Mr. President, it's getting to be embarrassing for Polish
    politicians to talk about visas in the Oval Office, but it's even more
    embarrassing for my countrymen to apply for visas.
        President Bush. Yes.
        Q. And it would be really ironic if Poland would become a third
    missile defense site, and Polish citizens would still have to apply for
    visas. So can we expect that before your watch is over something will
    change, and maybe we'll convince the lawmakers on Capitol Hill to do
    something about this?
        President Bush. Well, thank you very much. First of all, the Prime
    Minister, of course, brought up the issue. And he was very firm about
    the need for a friend to treat a friend as a friend when it comes to
    visas.
        Look, this is a tough issue. And we changed law. And now there are
    ways forward for the people applying for visas. A lot of it has to do
    with rejection rates. And as the Prime Minister noted, the rejection
    rates are changing quite dramatically. And so of course, this will be
    taken into account.
        I fully understand the frustrations. And if I were living in Poland,
    I'd be--and wanted to come to America, I'd be frustrated too. And the
    truth of the matter is, we're going from one era to the next. We're
    going from a time when the--during the Soviet era, when there was a
    different motivation by the people. And we're adjusting. And I fully
    understand the pace of adjustment doesn't meet expectations inside
    Poland.
        And so I'm very sympathetic. But the law is changing. The paradigm
    is shifting. And I hope at some point in time, obviously, that the
    frustrations of our friends and allies are able to be eased with more
    moderate visa policy.
        Thank you, sir. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:13 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Vladimir V. Putin of
    Russia; Lt. Gen. William M. Fraser III, USAF, U.S. monitor of the
    Israeli-Palestinian roadmap peace plan; and President Mahmoud Abbas of
    the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Tusk spoke in Polish, and his
    remarks were translated by an interpreter.