[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 21 (Monday, May 27, 2002)]
[Pages 904-906]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to Community and Religious Leaders in Moscow

May 24, 2002

    Thank you all very much. Mr. Ambassador, thank you and Lisa for 
opening up your modest home. [Laughter] I bet every Ambassador that 
represents the United States wishes they lived this way. But we 
appreciate your taking on this very important assignment, and that is to 
represent our country here in Russia.
    I'm honored that Laura was traveling with me today. Trips always 
seem to go so much better when she is by my side, so I'm really glad you 
got to meet Laura. I like to tell the story in America that when I 
married her, she was a public school librarian who didn't like politics 
and didn't particularly care for politicians. [Laughter] And then she 
got stuck marrying one. [Laughter] But she's doing a great job for our 
country, and I'm real proud of her.
    And I'm proud of the team I put together as well. I've got a great 
national security team, headed by Colin Powell and by Condi Rice and 
Andy Card. And I'm honored they're traveling with me, and I'm honored 
you have a chance to meet them as well.
    And thank you all for coming. For those of us, the Spaso House--at 
least those of us who've paid attention to international politics--the 
Spaso House was always viewed as a refuge for freedom. And I'm so 
privileged to give you a few comments here in this historic setting, 
where so much history was written.
    You know, I'm aware that during World War II, Russian, American 
diplomats and soldiers met here as allies. It's kind of an interesting 
part of the history of this house. And during the cold war, this is 
where many of you came, refuseniks and human rights activists. You're 
always welcome here, and we're glad you're here.

[[Page 905]]

    Our Nation stands for freedom. That's what we're fighting off the 
terrorists about. We believe so strongly in freedom, we're willing to 
defend it at all costs. The Soviet era is gone. The cold war, I hope, is 
past us. And today President Putin and I signed an historic document. It 
was more than just a document that reduces nuclear weaponry, although 
that in itself is good. It's a document that says there's a new era 
ahead of us, that instead of being stuck in the past, these two leaders 
are willing to take two great countries forward in a new relationship 
built on common interests and cooperation, and cooperation on all 
fronts--the idea of working together to make the Russian economy strong 
and vibrant so people can make a living, so people have hope about 
putting bread on the table for their families; the cooperation of 
fighting terror; the cooperation of promoting peace. But the best 
cooperation also must be based on common values, as well as common 
interests.
    And I want you to know that we hold the values in America dear, and 
you know that. We hold dear what our Declaration of Independence says, 
that all have got uninalienable rights, endowed by a Creator--not 
endowed by the ones who wrote the Declaration of Independence but by a 
Creator, a universal Creator. I want you to know that I believe all 
governments have a duty and responsibility to protect those rights, 
those unalienable rights.
    In Soviet times, people heroically defended those rights with 
incredible courage, and you earned the respect of a lot of people--a lot 
of people--by doing so. Many of you now are active in a modern Russia, 
and I want to thank you for staying active and involved in this 
important society, starting with making sure that freedom is protected 
by rule of law. And we agree completely, and we hope we can help, 
because rule of law is essential for a modern society to thrive and to 
succeed.
    I applaud your commitment and your patriotism. I love the fact that 
you love your country. I love mine, and you love yours, and that's 
incredibly healthy and important. You understand that free nations and a 
free Russia require strong civic and religious institutions, committed 
to democratic values.
    Russia's on the road to democracy, but it's important, as she does 
so, that she embrace the values inherent in democracy. In the past, I 
know you know that we have been committed to helping institutions which 
promote those values through direct Government assistance, and we will 
continue to do so. We believe it's for the good of Russia. We believe it 
will help Russia develop in a way that will be--enable Russia to become 
a lasting friend. And that's what I'm interested in. I'm interested in 
friendship and peace and mutual development.
    Most Russians want and expect what most Americans want and expect, 
and that's important for the Russian people and the American people to 
understand, a Government--starting with a Government that works for 
citizens, that represents everyday citizens, not a corrupt elite. And 
that's important.
    People want a society ruled by law, not by special privilege, 
special circumstance; a law where people are treated equally, regardless 
of their religion, ethnicity, income level. In a multiethnic society, 
people must work toward tolerance and reject extremism. It's important 
in America, just like it's important here in Russia. And this is a 
multiethnic society, to the credit of Russia, just like America is a 
multiethnic society, which makes our country strong. We're bound 
together by common values. And so can Russia be bound by the same 
values.
    To reach these goals, societies need fair laws and, as importantly, 
fair enforcement of law. They need independent media that is respected 
by the Government. I remind those who sometimes get frustrated with the 
media that even in America, elected officials sometimes don't agree 
what's written about them--maybe especially America, for all I know. 
[Laughter] But it's important for those of us who value democracy to 
promote an independent media.
    Opposition parties must be free to associate and must be free to 
speak their minds. In order for a democracy to be strong, there has to 
be competition of ideas, a free discussion of ideas, and an airing of 
philosophy in an open way. Freedom of religion and separation of church 
and state are so important, so important so that people can worship as

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they choose, Jews, Muslims, and all Christians, and all religions.
    Free societies have all got to meet the great challenges we face in 
ways consistent with values. That's what I'm here to tell you that's in 
my heart. That's what I want you to know about this administration, that 
we're not only committed to fighting terrorism--and we will. We are. We 
were under attack in America.
    In Germany yesterday I said, September the 11th was just a fine--
just as clear a dividing line in our history, in our Nation's history, 
as Pearl Harbor. It was. America at one time was protected by two 
oceans--we seemed totally invulnerable to, for example, the wars that 
took place here in Russia or on the European Continent--and all of a 
sudden found ourselves attacked, because we love freedom, because we 
respect religion, because we honor discourse. And you need to know that 
we're going to defend ourselves and defend that which we hold dear and, 
at the same time, protect civilization itself.
    But in Afghanistan, we've shown, I believe, how to do it in a way 
that's commiserate with our values--that, on the one hand, we're plenty 
tough, and we will be. We've got a military we're going to use, if we 
need to, to defend freedom. But on the other hand, we delivered a lot of 
medicine and a lot of food. We hurt thinking not only that the children 
in Afghanistan could not go to school; we cried for the fact that people 
were starving in the country. We have rebuilt schools. We have also 
provided medicine and food.
    Russia is building hospitals in Afghanistan. That's incredibly 
positive, we think. Nations are not only contributing military forces, 
but we're working to build a state that can function on her own, a state 
at peace in the neighborhood, and a state where people have got hope and 
a chance to survive, where moms and dads can raise their children in 
peace.
    And that's important for you to know as well. You know, a lot of the 
time, people talk about the tough talk. But you've got to understand, we 
also have got a soft heart when it comes to the human condition. Each 
individual matters to me. Each individual has got worth and dignity.
    The experience in Afghanistan has taught us all that there's lessons 
to be learned about how to protect one's homeland and, at the same time, 
be respectful of the--on the battlefield. And that lesson applies to 
Chechnya. The war on terror can be won, and at the same time, we have 
proven it's possible to respect the rights of the people in the 
territories, to respect the rights of the minorities.
    We are--I represent a great nation, and Russia is a great nation. 
Both of us share a lot. We've got a big resource base. We've got people 
who are very smart. I remind Vladimir Putin that the great resource of 
Russia is the people of Russia. The resource of this country is the 
brainpower of this country. And when they get the system right, that 
encourages individual growth and entrepreneurship; that brainpower is 
going to flourish, and so will commerce, and so will opportunity. And 
while that happens, both nations must respect the multiethnic character 
of our lands. That, too, makes us great. And how we promote that 
multiethnicity, and how we respect human rights is another way we'll be 
judged by history.
    We'll be judged by history on how we defend our freedoms. We'll be 
judged in history by how we help our people prosper and grow. And we'll 
be judged by history as to whether or not we defend the universal values 
that are right and just and true.
    I want to thank you for that commitment to those values. I 
appreciate your stance for freedom. I appreciate your love of your 
country. I appreciate your understanding there is a universal and 
gracious God.
    May God bless you all. May God bless Russia. And may God bless the 
United States. Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 4:40 p.m. at Spaso House. In his remarks, 
he referred to Ambassador Alexander Vershbow and his wife, Lisa; and 
President Vladimir Putin of Russia.