    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 5, 2008]
    [Pages 468-469]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Zagreb
    April 5, 2008

        The President.  Thank you all. Dobro jutro. Mr. Prime
    Minister, thank you very much. I'm honored to be
    here with the leaders from Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia. The United
    States appreciates the leadership you have shown in the cause of
    freedom. We're pleased Albania and Croatia have been invited to join
    NATO, and we look forward to Macedonia taking its place very soon in
    this great alliance for freedom.
        Laura, who has joined me today, and I are
    proud to stand on the soil of an independent Croatia. Our countries are
    separated by thousands of miles, but we're united by a deep belief in
    God and the blessings of liberty He gave us. And today, on the edge of a
    great Adriatic, we stand together as one free people.
        Croatia is a very different place than it was just a decade ago. The
    Croatian people have overcome war and hardship to build peaceful
    relations with your neighbors and to build a maturing democracy in one
    of the most beautiful countries on the face of the Earth. Americans
    admire your courage and admire your persistence. And we look forward to
    welcoming you as a partner in NATO.
        The invitation to join NATO that Croatia and Albania received this
    week is a vote of confidence that you will continue to make necessary
    reforms and become strong contributors to our great alliance.
    Henceforth, should any danger threaten your people, America and the NATO
    alliance will stand with you, and no one will be able to take your
    freedom away.
        I regret that NATO did not extend an invitation to Macedonia at this
    week's summit. Macedonia has made difficult reforms at home and is
    making major contributions to NATO missions abroad. Unfortunately,
    Macedonia's invitation was delayed because of a dispute over its name.
    In Bucharest, NATO allies declared that as soon as this issue is
    resolved, Macedonia will be extended an invitation to join the alliance.
    America's position is clear: Macedonia should take its place in NATO as
    soon as possible.
        The NATO alliance is open to all countries in the region. We welcome
    the decisions of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro to take the next
    steps toward membership called intensive dialogue. And we hope that soon
    a free and prosperous Serbia will find its rightful place in the family
    of Europe and live at peace with its neighbors.
        With the changes underway in this region, Europe stands on the
    threshold of a new and hopeful history. The ancient and costly rivalries
    that led to two World Wars have fallen away. We've seen the burning
    desire for freedom melt even the Iron Curtain. We've witnessed the rise
    of strong and vibrant democracies and free and open markets. And today,
    the people of Europe are closer than ever before to a dream shared by
    millions: a Europe that is whole, a Europe that is at peace, and a
    Europe that is free.
        The people of this region know what the gift of liberty means. You
    know the death and destruction that can be caused by the followers of
    radical ideologies. You know that in the long run, the only way to
    defeat a hateful ideology is to promote the hopeful alternative of human
    freedom. And that is what our nations are doing today in the Middle
    East. The lack of freedom and opportunity in that region has given aid
    and comfort to the lies and ambitions of violent extremists. Resentments
    that began on the streets of the Middle East have resulted in the
    killing innocent people across the world. A great danger clouds the
    future of all free men and women, and this danger sits at the doorstep
    of Europe.

    [[Page 469]]

        Together, the people of this region are helping to confront this
    danger. Today, soldiers from Croatia, Albania, and Macedonia are serving
    bravely in Afghanistan, helping the Afghan people defeat the terrorists
    and secure their future of liberty. Forces from Albania and Macedonia
    are serving in Iraq, where they're helping the Iraqi people build a
    society that rejects terror and lives in freedom. It's only a matter of
    time before freedom takes root across that troubled region. And when it
    does, millions will remember the people of your nation stood with them
    in their hour of need.
        At this great moment in history, you have a vital role. There are
    many people who don't appear to understand why it takes so long to build
    a democracy. You can tell them how hard it is to put in place a new and
    complex system of government for the first time. There are those who
    actually wonder if people were better off under their old tyranny. You
    can tell them that freedom is the only real path to prosperity and
    security and peace. And there are those who ask whether the pain and
    sacrifices for freedom are worth the costs. And they should come to
    Croatia, and you can show them that freedom is worth fighting for.
        The great church in this square has stood since the Middle Ages.
    Over the centuries, it has seen long, dark winters of occupation and
    tyranny and war. But the spring is here at last. This is an era in
    history that generations of Croatians have prayed for. It is an era that
    Pope John Paul II envisioned when he came to this land and prayed with
    the Croatian people and asked for ``a culture of peace.'' Today in this
    square, before this great church, we can now proudly say those prayers
    have been answered.
        Interpreter. [Inaudible]
        The President. They can't hear you. Don't worry about it.
        May you always remember the joy of this moment in your history. And
    may the hopeful story of a peaceful Croatia find its way to those in the
    world who live as slaves and still await a joyful spring.
        May God bless Croatia. And thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:49 a.m. in St. Mark's Square. In his
    remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Ivo Sanader of Croatia. The
    transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included
    the remarks of Prime Minister Sanader.