    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [October 9, 2008]
    [Pages 1291-1292]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President Ivan Gasparovic of Slovakia
    October 9, 2008

        President Bush. It is my honor to welcome the President of Slovakia
    to the Oval Office. Slovakia is an ally and friend of the United States.
    And in my time as President, I have come to admire this President. He's
    an easy man to talk to. He's got good, strong opinions, and I appreciate
    his values.
        We talked about a variety of subjects. I assured him that the United
    States will take strong action in dealing with the current economic
    situation. And I also talked about our common desire to have a--to work
    with our European friends to develop as best as possible common policy.
        During my Presidency, I was pleased to support Slovakia's ascension
    into NATO. I was confident that Slovakia would be an excellent partner
    and ally in NATO, and history has proven me correct. And I thank the
    people of Slovakia for supporting the Government's decision to deploy
    troops into Afghanistan to help that young democracy never again be a
    safe haven for terrorists and to serve as an example of the
    transformative power of freedom.
        Finally, we talked about visa waiver. I told the President that
    Slovakia has made a lot of progress on visa waiver. And I expect that in
    mid-November there will be a positive decision for the people of your
    good country, Mr. President. And I congratulate you and your Foreign
    Ministry for working hard on this issue. And I'm glad to welcome you to
    the Oval Office.
        President Gasparovic. Mr. President, allow me to start by thanking
    you for inviting me. This is an extraordinary day for me. And I believe
    it is also a satisfaction to the people of Slovakia for them to see that
    Slovakia has a favorable disposition towards our country, and that we
    have good relations. I believe that in the history of our relations, we
    are currently at our highest point.
        It was during his Presidency that President Bush supported Slovakia
    on its way to NATO, which in turn helped Slovakia to become a member of
    the European Union. These were two very important steps and decisions
    that allowed Slovakia to build its reputation as a credible country. And
    it is this credibility that allows Slovakia to attract foreign
    investment into our country. Slovakia continues to be a prosperous
    country and a country that has and maintains its credibility in foreign
    policy as well.
        We talked about many difficult issues. We talked also about the
    financial crisis and about the steps that need to be taken in order to
    overcome this crisis and to reinvigorate the financial system.
        I'm very glad that Slovakia and its economy is currently in a
    situation where we will not likely be taking a direct hit from this
    financial crisis. Slovakia is in a position where we're able to mitigate
    many impacts of this crisis. On the other hand, Slovakia is the world's
    largest per capita car producer. This means that Slovakia's exports and
    foreign trade will suffer. However, we believe that we can take steps to
    mitigate this impact.
        I was glad that in my capacity as the President of the Slovak
    Republic, I was able to reassure the President that Slovakia will
    continue to stand behind its commitments and its dedication to NATO and
    that we will continue to be present in Afghanistan. Moreover, Slovakia
    will increase the

    [[Page 1292]]

    number of troops deployed to Afghanistan by 100 percent.
        In closing, I want to say that I believe, Mr. President, our meeting
    today was a very strong message of the good relations that Slovakia has
    with the United States, and vice versa.
         I believe that this will continue----
        President Bush. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:16 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Gasparovic spoke in Slovak, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.