[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
[August 15, 2008]
[Pages 1143-1144]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
August 15, 2008

    Good morning. For more than a week, the people of the nation of 
Georgia have withstood assault from the Russian military. The world has 
watched with alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign, neighboring state and 
threatened a democratic government elected by its people. This act is 
completely unacceptable to the free nations of the world.
    The United States and our allies stand with the people of Georgia 
and their democratically elected Government. We insist that Georgia's 
sovereignty and territorial integrity be respected. And Moscow must 
honor its pledge to withdraw its invading forces from all Georgian 
territory.
    Earlier this week, I directed a series of steps to demonstrate 
America's solidarity with the Georgian people and to help bring about a 
peaceful resolution of the conflict. On Thursday, Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice was in France, where she 
conferred with President Sarkozy about the 
diplomatic effort that the French Government is leading on behalf of the 
European Union.
    Yesterday she was in the Georgian 
capital of Tbilisi, where she conveyed America's support for Georgia's 
democratic Government. And next week, Secretary Rice will travel to 
Brussels, where she will meet with the foreign ministers of our NATO 
allies and EU officials to continue our efforts to rally the free world 
in defense of a free Georgia.
    Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is 
overseeing a mission by the United States military to provide 
humanitarian aid for the people of Georgia. In recent days, U.S. cargo 
planes carrying humanitarian supplies have arrived in Georgia. In the 
days ahead, we will continue using U.S. aircraft and other assets as 
needed to deliver more humanitarian and medical supplies. Russia has 
agreed to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance, and Russia must 
keep open all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, 
airports, roads, and airspace for civilian transit and the delivery of 
humanitarian assistance.
    Some Americans listening today may wonder why events taking place in 
a small country halfway around the world matter to the United States. In 
the years since it gained independence after the Soviet Union's 
collapse, Georgia has become a courageous democracy whose people are 
making the tough choices that are required of free societies.
    Since the Rose Revolution in 2003, the Georgian people have held 
free elections, opened up their economy, and built the foundations of a 
successful democracy. Georgia has sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq to 
help others achieve the liberty that they struggled so hard to attain. 
To further strengthen their democracy, Georgia has sought to join the 
free institutions of the West. The people of Georgia have cast their lot 
with the free world, and we will not cast them aside.
    Georgia's emergence as a young democracy has been part of an 
inspiring and hopeful new chapter in Europe's history. Europe has moved 
beyond the world wars that killed millions of people and the cold war 
that divided its citizens between two superpowers. For the first time in 
memory,

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Europe is becoming a continent that is whole, free, and at peace. And it 
is essential that America and other free nations ensure that an 
embattled democracy seeking to stand with us remains sovereign, secure, 
and undivided.
    Russia's actions in Georgia raise serious questions about its role 
and its intentions in the Europe of the 21st century. In recent years, 
Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, 
and security structures of the West. The United States has supported 
those efforts. Now Russia has put its aspirations at risk by taking 
actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those 
institutions.
    To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United 
States, Europe, and other nations and to begin restoring its place in 
the world, Russia must act to end this crisis.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:30 a.m. on August 15 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 16. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
August 15. In his address, the President referred to President Nicolas 
Sarkozy of France, in his capacity as President of the European Council. 
The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.