[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 5 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Page 161]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of 
Germany

January 31, 2002

    President Bush. Well, we've had a substantial discussion with my 
friend the Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder. I appreciate him 
coming over to say hello again. We spent a great deal of time talking 
about our mutual desire to rid the world of terror. And I'm so pleased 
with Germany's cooperation. They've provided troops in Afghanistan, 
troops that have performed really well, according to our military, and I 
want to congratulate you for that.
    I also thanked the Chancellor for hosting the Bonn convention, which 
made a substantial stride toward an Afghanistan that will be able to 
survive after we have ridded it of the Taliban. I appreciate so very 
much the Chancellor's willingness to help Afghanistan help herself, in 
terms of training a police force. I told him we're in the process of 
setting up a plan to help Afghanistan develop her own military. So we're 
linked up well in our mutual desires to leave the world more peaceful.
    So, Mr. Chancellor, I'm so honored you're here. I want to welcome 
you.
    Chancellor Schroeder. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I can only 
absolutely confirm what His Excellency, the President, has just said 
regarding our discussions, particularly focusing, obviously, on the 
fight against terrorism but also about the fight that has happened in 
Afghanistan and that the support that has been rendered by us, too.
    We, as you all know, are very committed to the participation in the 
peace corps in Afghanistan, under the umbrella of the United Nations. 
Obviously, and as the President has just pointed out, we are very 
interested in committing ourselves to training police forces, law 
enforcement forces within Afghanistan because we find it crucially 
important that such intra-Afghanistan proper homegrown police forces can 
be built up in the process. And in the more long term, obviously, a 
military structure will be needed here, too.
    I, obviously, wouldn't like to forget the fact that I have 
congratulated the President on the economic performance that the country 
has obviously been able to show. We do see some positive signs here; 
things are being fueled again, which obviously is not just positive and 
good for the U.S.--American economy but also for the global economy, 
too.
    I'm very pleased, indeed, that obviously there are now some hopeful 
signs here because, obviously, as soon as the economy runs smoothly 
again here that is going to be good for the global economy and, 
therefore, good for Europe and certainly for Germany, too.
    President Bush. Thank you, Gerhard.

Note: The President spoke at 6:10 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. Chancellor Schroeder spoke in German, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter.