    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 4, 2008]
    [Pages 464-466]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Discussion With Prime Minister Calin Popescu-
    Tariceanu of Romania in Bucharest
    April 4, 2008

        Interpreter. Hello, good day. Of course, our discussion was a very
    useful and very pleasant one. We discussed both bilateral issues between
    Romania and the United States. I expressed to the--to President Bush our
    gratitude for having had the trust to have Romania organize this
    important NATO summit in Bucharest.
        The organization of the NATO summit in Bucharest was very symbolic.
    It is part of a much larger vision and concept, this vision being that
    to strengthen and to unify Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
    And the idea was to foster, to strengthen the alliance in the eastern
    and southeastern flank, from the Baltic Sea all the way to the Black Sea
    and the Mediterranean. That is how we have to interpret the membership
    of Albania and Croatia to NATO, the future membership of Macedonia, and
    eventual Georgia and Ukraine membership as well.
        But our discussion was not limited to that. We also discussed other
    issues of political and economic relationship between our countries and
    about the U.S. investments in our country. And I shared with President
    Bush my ambition, my hope, and actually, my dream that to see a very
    important industrial investment from the United States in Romania, an
    investment with which generate common interests and would foster even
    more our partnership. And I'm referring to the Ford company, and of
    course, a common interest like this would make me feel, as a citizen and
    as a Prime Minister, much more protected by our common interests.
        I would like to also mention another initiative which was announced
    by the President yesterday, which was the creation of an American-
    Romanian foundation which will set up educational programs and grants
    for Romanian students. I'm talking about the seed money of $100 million,
    which could be----
        Prime Minister Popescu-Tariceanu. Hundred and fifty.
        President Bush. Hundred fifty. Don't shortchange it.
        Interpreter. ----$150 million, which in time will arrive at $1
    billion investment, which will create--which would be an investment in
    the future, creating the future--Romanian Ambassadors to United States
    or the American Ambassadors to Romania--it would be our hope.
        Prime Minister Popescu-Tariceanu. Thank you.
        President Bush. Yes, thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. We just had a
    great--we had a good meeting, because we're good friends. All right.
    Okay, I'll just keep going.
        Interpreter. I was actually told that everybody speaks English, so I
    should not interpret.

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        President Bush. Okay, fine. I'll speak in Romanian. [Laughter]
    Anyway, we had a very good meeting, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you for
    your time. First of all, I want to congratulate the Government,
    yourself, for hosting a very successful NATO summit. It's not easy to
    host as many automobiles, bodyguards, world leaders, hanger-on-ers as
    you did. And yet you did it and you organized well. Everybody who came
    to the summit was most impressed. I really do want to thank you, and I
    want to thank the people of Bucharest for their patience. I apologize
    for the inconvenience, but I do think it was a good sign, and it was
    important for your country to be the host of this important event. And
    it was a very successful summit.
        We had good discussions about a successful bilateral relationship as
    well. I told the Prime Minister, one reason why capital comes to a
    country is because people feel comfortable about taking risk. I also
    congratulated him on these big investments that are coming; it's a good
    sign. And the people of Romania ought to be--appreciate the fact that
    the conditions are such that people are willing to invest. And by the
    way, investment creates jobs, which is also--will have a direct benefit
    for the people of Romania.
        I also congratulated the Prime Minister on having a 16-percent flat
    tax. I'm a little envious. I would like to have been able to achieve the
    same objective for our Tax Code. And it was a smart thing to get done,
    cause I think those kinds of policies will enable the Romanian folks to
    have a bright future.
        We talked about energy; we also talked about visas. There is a real
    contradiction here that's hard for the people of Romania to understand
    in that, on the one hand, how can certain people within the EU be
    treated one way and Romanians be treated another way, when it comes to
    visas? And I fully understand that contradiction, Mr. Prime Minister.
    Our Congress passed new law--it frankly wasn't as good as I thought it
    should be, but nevertheless, it is the law of the land cause I signed it
    into law.
        And we will work with your Government on a couple of matters: one,
    to figure out why the rejection rate is so high. There needs to be more
    transparency, and the Prime Minister made it very clear that we have an
    obligation to explain why certain folks are not getting visas. And we'll
    do that. And----
        Prime Minister Popescu-Tariceanu. Thank you.
        President Bush. ----the other thing is, obviously, we've got law on
    our books that we need to work with you, to help everybody understand in
    the process what compliance means.
        Overall, the trip here has been great. This is the second time I've
    come. I didn't have quite the dramatic rainbow scene this time as I did
    the first time I came, but it's--clearly there's been a lot of progress.
    The city looks different to me. The spirit is still strong. Freedom has
    taken hold, and I congratulate you, the Government, and all involved for
    the progress you've made. Thank you.
        Prime Minister Popescu-Tariceanu. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:03 p.m. at the Victoria Palace. Prime
    Minister Popescu-Tariceanu spoke partly in Romanian, and those portions
    of his remarks were translated by an interpreter.

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