[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 24 (Monday, June 18, 2001)]
[Pages 899-904]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's News Conference With European Union Leaders in Goteborg, 
Sweden

June 14, 2001

    Prime Minister Goran Persson. Mr. President, Mr. President; welcome 
to the press conference. All members of the media. We have had a very 
productive summit between the European Union and the United States. We 
have been discussing, as you realize, matters that is on our common 
agenda. First of all, world trade, the necessity to go ahead with a new 
round to liberalize trade to give a clear signal about the need to 
create growth in the world economy.
    We realize the clear linkage between the last Uruguay Round and the 
consecutive years of good economic growth in the world economy. Now we 
are in a little bit more, if not stagnant phase, at least a phase with 
lower growth. We need a new impetus. We need a new stimulus to the 
economy. And the best thing to do is to go for a new round about how to 
liberalize trade.
    We have discussed that--also some disputes and mechanism to solve 
disputes. This is the main message: Go along with the liberalization of 
trade to support and stimulate growth, the common responsibility for the 
European Union and the United States.
    The second thing we have discussed was about how to find a way to 
cooperate--about to combat climate change, because you know that's not a 
secret. We don't agree upon how we regard the Kyoto Protocol--so to say 
we agree to disagree about substance, according to the Kyoto Protocol. 
The European Union will stick to the Kyoto Protocol and go for a 
ratification process. The U.S. has chosen another policy.
    But we have the same targets, and we have to meet the same problems. 
Climate change is not isolated to Europe or to America. It's a global 
threat. So nevertheless, if you are in favor or against the Kyoto 
Protocol, you have to take action. So we agreed to disagree about 
substance, but agreed to go on with some type of procedure that can lead 
us back to a position that we can cooperate and try to support each 
other.
    We will call for personal representatives to follow up our 
discussion. And that will mean that we send a signal that we go on ahead 
with the Kyoto Protocol, the American Government go on ahead with their 
policy, but we'll try to cooperate as much as possible and try to find a 
process for that. That was the second thing we discussed.
    The third thing was about HIV/AIDS. There is a terrible threat for 
many millions, not least in Africa. A generation can be swept away, 
children without parents and children born with HIV. It's a tremendous 
threat, and something we just can't neglect. We have to take our part of 
the responsibility. The American President proposed a fund together with 
the U.N., and we discussed also how the European Union could support in 
that work. That was the third thing we discussed.
    Then we also discussed, of course, the situation of the Balkans. We 
are close Allies. We cooperate, and we said that we came in together, 
and then the day come--we don't know when--we will go out together. That 
is important to say. And then, we'll do everything we can to support the 
governments around in the region and to stay as constructive, reliable 
partners for the good progress according democracy and economy. It's not 
easy, but our presence is necessary.
    We discussed, also, the situation in the Middle East. And we have a 
joint statement, the first time the European Union and the U.S., how to 
support the road back for peace and reconciliation. And that is to say 
that we urge the partners to live up to the cease-fire, because without 
an ending of violence, there will be no possibilities to go on with the 
so-called Mitchell report that after the end of violence, we call for 
confidence-building measures, and then negotiations about peace and 
reconciliation. We stand together. We urge both partners to go for the 
cease-fire and stick to it.
    As you can hear, this is an agenda covering different subjects. But 
it's also, of course, a way to express our common values, how to 
cooperate about the economy, how to take

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responsibility for the conditions--living conditions for the next 
generation, how to cooperate for peace and reconciliation around the 
world, based on values and based on the idea that Europe and the United 
States have to take a global responsibility in a global partnership. 
That is the main content during our U.S.-EU Summit today.
    I give the floor to the President of the United States.
    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much. Mr. 
President. I first want to start by thanking our Swedish hosts, 
particularly the King and the Prime Minister, for the generous 
hospitality shown to me and my wife and our delegation. Millions of 
Americans trace their heritage to Sweden, so it's a huge honor for me to 
be the first sitting President of the United States to come to this 
country to be with our friends.
    We had great discussions over lunch and before lunch. I guess my 
summary is, is that friends are able to speak candidly and 
constructively. And our relationship with the United States--between the 
United States and Sweden and the United States and the European Union is 
strong, and it is healthy. Values and the goals we share are durable, 
and they're great goals.
    We resolve to work closely together on issues that confront our 
nations. We share a strong interest in maintaining our economic ties. 
The EU and the United States have got the largest economic relationship 
in the world. Investment and annual trade come to approximately $1.5 
trillion. And that's a relationship that is important to the working 
people of our respective countries.
    Our trade relationship is strong. The recent resolution over the 
dispute on bananas proves that we can work to solve problems. And we'll 
continue to work closely with the EU in supporting a new round on global 
trade negotiations.
    We share a commitment to building a Europe that is whole and free 
and at peace. We believe that we must continue to cooperate in southeast 
Europe. As I told the Prime Minister--same thing I said yesterday at 
NATO--we went into southeast Europe together, and we will leave 
together. That's a commitment of our Government. We must also work to 
build institutions necessary, so that at some point in time, we can take 
our troops out of southeast Europe. But until that happens, our 
Government is committed to working with NATO and the EU to bring peace 
and democracy and stability to that part of the world.
    The EU and the United States also understand we must be partners in 
confronting environmental challenges. The United States is committed to 
addressing climate change. We had a constructive discussion on this 
topic over lunch, and we agreed to create new channels of cooperation on 
this important topic. As the Prime Minister said, we don't agree on the 
Kyoto treaty, but we do agree that climate change is a serious issue, 
and we must work together. We agree that climate change requires a 
global response and agree to intensify cooperation on science and on 
technology.
    And finally, we share important challenges, as the Prime Minister 
mentioned: fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in Africa; 
helping Africa lift itself out of poverty with trade and open markets; 
continuing efforts to ease tension and foster peace on the Korean 
Peninsula. We agree on the need for all parties to halt the violence in 
the Middle East.
    These are great goals, and we share common purposes. And it has been 
my honor to represent our great Nation with the great nations of Europe 
in this fruitful and constructive dialog.
    Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
    Prime Minister Persson. Thank you.
    President Prodi.
    President Romano Prodi. This first summit has shown how solid is our 
partnership. More than solid, it is indispensable for U.S., for Europe, 
and for world peace. When we act together, we do enormous progress for 
peace. And we can--we have taken a few issues this morning in which our 
cooperation has done very concrete results.
    Trade, we can launch a new global trade round in Qatar if we work 
together. We have today committed ourselves to this goal. We agreed on a 
common approach for an inclusive WTO round, and we shall also address 
the specific interest of developing countries and their legitimate 
concern expressed by civil society.

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    Some may think that we work--lose too much time working on trade 
disputes. But it is not true. Now the real disputes are very, very small 
amount. And this morning we worked to make this even smaller. We have 
really stated today that we want to talk rather than to litigate. And we 
shall do --this will be our route. We have had the recent agreement on 
bananas and the gluten. And we are going on in trying agreements, even 
in the hottest spots of the province of trade.
    Of course, for the climate change, I don't repeat the difference we 
have, but we have decided to work together on research. And I think this 
is a real goal because, for the future, we can approach our position. 
Our objective and our duty remain the successful conclusion of the July 
conference in Bonn. And I was pleased to hear that the U.S. will 
participate in this conference. So the dialog goes on, even if there are 
big difference in this.
    So we agreed also on the--to stop the spread of disease, notably in 
Africa. And we are trying to convince to have an agreement in the 
pricing system to make good medicine affordable for the poorest people 
in the world. But on this subject we had the very interesting exchange 
of view and very interesting approach.
    I don't repeat the work we have done together in the Balkans. The 
problems remain, but the European Union is assuming the leading role in 
this common challenge in the Balkans. And the cooperation in the Middle 
East has had results, and we have also started the idea of building up 
some foundation for economic cooperation in the Middle East, because if 
we don't work also in the economic fields, we shall never have a stable 
peace.
    Prime Minister Persson. Thank you, Romano. And you are----

President's Vision for Europe

    Q. President Bush, about a decade ago, your father came to Europe, 
around the time that the Soviet Union was breaking up, and he said he 
had a broad vision for Europe and its future and its expansion. In your 
5 months in office, have you formed your own vision for Europe, and 
would you like to share that with us?
    President Bush. Tomorrow in Warsaw--I'll be glad to give you a 
little preview. I believe that we have an opportunity to form an 
alliance of peace, that Europe ought to include nations beyond the 
current scope of EU and NATO. I strongly believe in NATO expansion, and 
I believe that the EU ought to expand, as well.
    I believe a Europe, whole and free, is going to be a Europe that 
trades actively with the United States and with the rest of the world. 
Tomorrow, Friday--I mean Saturday, I am going to be visiting with Mr. 
Putin. It's at a very important time for me to visit with Mr. Putin, to 
assure him a couple of things: One, Russia is not the enemy of the 
United States; two, the cold war is over and the mentality that used to 
grip our two nations during the cold war must end; three, we look 
forward to working with Europe. Europe ought not to fear--I mean, Russia 
ought not to fear a Europe; Russia ought to welcome an expanded Europe 
on her border.
    And so, my vision of Europe is a larger vision: more countries, more 
free trade, and one in which welcomes Russia and the Ukraine, welcomes 
Russia and encourages Russia to make the right choices when it comes to 
the institutions necessary to be able to become a partner with Europe 
and the United States.

Climate Change

    Q. A question for Mr. Bush, if I may. After the contacts you had and 
the talks you had today, are there areas where you would feel like 
deepening the cooperation with Europe? And at the same time, are there 
also areas where you feel that you think so differently that this is no 
longer possible?
    And the second question, if I may, on Kyoto. If research that you 
carry on together should show that there is a possibility of adding 
something to the Protocol, would you be interested in that, or is that a 
finished question? Thank you.
    President Bush. Well, I think a lot of people are surprised to hear 
that there is a spirit of cooperation on global warming and on climate 
change. I said loud and clear that our Nation is willing to lead on this 
issue, that--and I laid out the principles necessary for leadership: 
One, we must stabilize emissions;

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two, results must be measured, and we've got to spend money and time on 
additional science, which we're willing to do and willing to cooperate 
with the E.U. on; that we must be flexible in our solution. I think it's 
important to understand that things and information changes, and 
therefore, any solution that we agree to must be flexible. Four, that we 
believe that our economies can grow and, at the same time, come up with 
climate change solutions; five, that we're willing to look at market-
based solutions; and six, that the solution ought to be global. And so, 
to answer your question, there's a lot of ways for us to deepen 
discussions on this important issue.
    I understand the concerns of people in Europe. The Prime Minister 
was most eloquent in his assessment and summary of the attitudes of 
people not only in Sweden but in Europe. People in our Nation care about 
global warming and greenhouse emissions, as well. We didn't feel like 
the Kyoto treaty was well balanced. It didn't include developing 
nations. The goals were not realistic. However, that doesn't mean we 
cannot continue to work together, and will work together, on reducing 
greenhouse gases.
    I've laid out an energy plan that I shared with the Prime Minister 
and the President that not only addresses our Nation's energy needs, 
because we're--I've got an emphasis on conservation, as well as 
renewables and natural gas and nuclear power. The energy plan, if 
implemented, will help with the global climate.
    Our Nation is making progress. There's more to do, and we can work 
more with Europe. So there's an area right there that if someone would 
have said, ``Well, they don't have much to talk about''--we've got a lot 
to talk about, and I look forward to the discussions.
    Ron [Ron Fournier, Associated Press].
    Q. Thank you, sir. On the same topic----
    President Bush. There's other people up here, you know?
    Q. I actually have a question for two Presidents.
    President Bush. That's good. [Laughter]

Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change

    Q. First to you. Not a single European Union nation has ratified the 
Kyoto treaty, which was signed when many of your counterparts were in 
office. Yet, you've been criticized by these same leaders for rejecting 
it. Why do you suppose their actions have not been as forceful as the 
rhetoric? And President Prodi, why haven't any EU nations ratified the 
treaty?
    President Bush. I don't have much more to add to the subject. I 
think that's a good question for President Prodi. I believe people are 
genuine about the issue. I don't believe there's any politics, 
necessarily. I think people are generally concerned, and are trying to 
address the issue as best as they possibly can. And--but I would be 
interested in your answer.
    President Prodi. There is no one single country who has declared not 
to ratify it. The ratification process will start soon, and it started 
already in some countries, it's going on, and there is no one message, 
until now, of refusal or delay of ratification.

Future U.S.-EU Relations

    Q. Mr. President Bush, how do you really look upon a stronger, more 
united European Union with the ambition of being the number one economy 
in the world? Do you see this as a threat to the U.S.? And will this 
lead to that U.S. will decrease its engagement in Europe in the future?
    President Bush. I appreciate good competition. I believe competition 
brings out the best in nations and people and entities. And our Nation 
welcomes good, healthy competition. Secondly, I don't view European 
Union and its consolidation as a zero-sum game for the United States. I 
believe the stronger Europe is, the better it is off for America. The 
more peaceful Europe is, the better it is for America.
    I am concerned about isolationism and protectionism, not only 
amongst some voices in Europe but also in my own country. And I think 
that we've got to do everything we can to unite to promote free trade, 
not only free trade for the benefit of our own people but free trade for 
the benefit of developing nations, as well.

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    We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is 
a nation that suffers from incredible disease, and it suffers from 
poverty, as well. And my way of thinking is the only way for Africa to 
grow and to develop and to provide hope and opportunity for its citizens 
is for there to be trade between the United States and Africa, between 
the EU and Africa.
    And so I view a strong EU as good for the world, and I welcome a 
strong--my trip here was to send that signal as loud as I can that we 
will remain engaged with the EU and with NATO, that we respect the EU 
and NATO, and we understand it's importance to the future of our 
country.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

Vieques Island

    Q. Mr. President, why did you decide to stop bombing exercises at 
Vieques Island? Were you swayed by the protests of the Puerto Rican 
people or were there political factors involved, such as the concerns of 
Puerto Rican--excuse me, Hispanic-Americans?
    President Bush. He's referring to the fact that upon assuming 
office, I was presented, like I have been on other issues, with an 
agreement between Puerto Rico and the United States Government that we 
would conduct exercises off of the island of Vieques for the United 
States Navy. My attitude is that the Navy ought to find somewhere else 
to conduct its exercises--for a lot of reasons. One, there's been some 
harm done to people in the past. Secondly, these are our friends and 
neighbors, and they don't want us there.
    And so I appreciate the fact that the Defense Department and the 
Navy responded and have made the statement loud and clear that, within a 
reasonable period of time, that the Navy will find another place to 
practice, and to be prepared to keep the peace. It's the right 
agreement. I applaud the Defense Department and the Navy for reaching 
that agreement.

Situation in the Middle East

    Q. Mr. President, my question is on the Middle East. Mr. Bush, do 
you see Europe and the United States as equal and--fully equal partners 
and mediators in the Middle East conflict?
    President Bush. I see Europe and the United States with the need to 
speak with one voice and one voice only, and that is implement Mitchell, 
starting with breaking the cycle of violence. The EU has had some 
constructive meetings in the Middle East, and we appreciate their 
efforts. The Prime Minister went to the Middle East. He shared with us 
his concerns and what he saw. But what we must do as friends and Allies 
is say only one thing and work toward only one goal right now, and that 
is to stop the cycle of violence. There should be no--understand, there 
should be no--political dialog isn't going to happen until the violence 
stops.
    And all parties have got to understand that if there's a genuine 
desire for a more peaceful situation, the ability to discuss a wide 
range of issues, that they've got to break the cycle of violence. And 
we're committed to working together to do just that. We're committed to 
spending our capital and energies.
    The Middle East is consuming a lot of time in my administration, as 
it should. It's a very important part of the world. I'm pleased to 
report yesterday in Brussels that the Tenet initiative was able to at 
least get signatures on a piece of paper. But signatures are just that 
until there's action, and there must be action. And that's the message 
that the EU leaders and my country are going to send to the parties 
involved.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President's ninth news conference began at 4:27 p.m. at the 
Massan Convention Center. President Bush met with Prime Minister Goran 
Persson of Sweden in his capacity as President of the European Council 
and President Romano Prodi of the European Commission. In his remarks, 
President Bush referred to King Carl Gustav of Sweden and President 
Vladimir Putin of Russia. Prime Minister Goran referred to the Report by 
the Sharm al-Sheikh Fact Finding Committee.

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