[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 22 (Monday, June 3, 2002)]
[Pages 918-920]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Following a Tour of the Choral 
Synagogue in St. Petersburg

May 26, 2002

Freedom of Religion in Russia

    The President. Good morning, everybody.
    Q. Good morning, Mr. President.
    The President. Today we've had a--a beautiful morning. We've been to 
a church and a synagogue. One of the nonnegotiable demands of individual 
dignity is freedom of religion, and I'm impressed by what I've heard 
from religious leaders, Christian and Jewish, here about the state of 
affairs in Russia.
    We went to a cathedral that up until recently was a museum of 
atheism, and today it's a place where people can worship God

[[Page 919]]

freely. We've been to a synagogue that was, even though open, was not a 
welcoming sight for many Russians, and today it is a spectacular place 
for people to gather and worship an Almighty God--and worship an 
Almighty God freely.
    And one of my strong beliefs is that people should be free to 
worship, and I'm pleased that that's taking place here in Russia. It's 
important for this country that religious freedom flourish and there be 
tolerance of all faiths.
    And it's been a very rewarding morning for Laura and me, and we want 
to thank our hosts and thank the Russian people. Last night I was very 
impressed and pleased to see so many Russians lining the streets, and 
they were so welcoming to the American delegation. We're making great 
progress in our strides toward freedom--I mean, toward friendship and 
our mutual respect of freedom. Thank you for your hospitality.

Situation in South Asia

    Q. Mr. President, yesterday Pakistan went ahead with their planned 
missile tests.
    The President. Yes.
    Q. Do you think that has had any impact on the situation there? And 
do you believe this is something they should have gone forward with at 
this point in time?
    The President. As you know, we expressed our strong reservations 
about the tests. Obviously, we hope that there is restraint in the area, 
that that not be viewed as a provocation. We're continuing to work the 
diplomatic channels, as are other nations. I mean, everybody understands 
the danger of a serious conflict in the region. And slowly but surely we 
can erode the distrust that has arisen in the area so that they can----
    Q. Do you think the situation is as tense and dangerous there now as 
it was in January, where in hindsight it appears they came very close to 
an armed conflict?
    The President. I think that any time you have countries with nuclear 
arms, that a tension, serious tension is dangerous. And it's hard for me 
to measure the degree of tension. Let's just say it's tense now, and it 
was tense then. So we've just got to continue to work the problem, and 
we will. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to defuse the situation.

Reform of the Palestinian Authority

    Q. Mr. President, are you inclined to agree with your advisers who 
say that we should deal with Chairman Arafat, or those who think he 
should be frozen out?
    The President. Well, you know, I get all kinds of advice. People 
know my opinion about Chairman Arafat, and that is that he has let the 
Palestinian people down. He hasn't delivered. He had a chance to secure 
the peace as a result of the hard work of President Clinton, and he 
didn't. He's had a chance to fight terror, and he hasn't. Evidently 
there's a new attitude emerging among some of the leadership in the 
Palestinian Authority, and the answer is, we'll see. We'll see if he can 
deliver.
    The key for the--for peace in the region, as far as I'm concerned, 
is for the Arab world to continue to fight terror, to do what they say 
they're going to do--we believe that that's happening more than ever--
and that we develop the institutions necessary so that a Palestinian 
state can emerge that will be at peace with Israel. And that start--
first step is to have a security force that actually keeps the security, 
as well as, the reforms ought to align authority and responsibility so 
people can be held to account for success or failure.
    Q. I just want to follow up and make sure I understand what you are 
saying, when you're saying that apparently there's a new attitude in the 
Palestinian Authority and we'll see. Are you----
    The President. Well, you're beginning to see talk of reform. You 
know, if you read the press accounts, there's--people are beginning to 
question out loud as to why there hasn't been success. One of the things 
that we've been trying to do is to say people must be responsible. My 
speech on April 4th called upon--outlined the responsibilities necessary 
to achieve peace.
    So I'm beginning to hear--this is publicly I'm beginning to hear, I 
might add--discussion about, ``Well, maybe we ought to assess how to 
make the Palestinian Authority more accountable,'' and that's what I was 
referring to.
    Q. But you're not referring to any good words or deeds you're seeing 
out of--seeing out of Arafat. So are you saying that the time has now 
run out on Arafat and we're not

[[Page 920]]

going to deal with him, or he's still got a chance to do it right?
    The President. No, what I'm saying is that what we need to do is 
develop the institutions necessary for there to be a responsible 
Palestinian state. And it starts with security.
    One of the things that's interesting is, when you talk to European 
leaders, there's an interest about helping the Palestinian people--the 
Palestinians with economic development, but it's hard to promote 
economic development when there is concerns about graft and corruption. 
And so there needs to be--there needs to be institutions that will be 
transparent, institutions that will hold people responsible for the 
expenditure of money, institutions necessary to make sure that the good 
hearts of the world, when they apply to the Palestinian people, will be 
met with good results.
    Q. Can I follow on Ron's [Ron Fournier, Associated Press] question?
    Q. Sir----

Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet's Upcoming Visit to the 
Middle East

    Q. Is Director Tenet going back to the region this coming week?
    The President. You've had a big day today, Stretch [Richard Keil, 
Bloomberg News]--three questions.
    Q. It's because he's taller, you know.
    Q. That's a pool, because we all want to ask that one, though.
    The President. He's also booming. He's also booming out there with 
his question, butting in. No--anyway--[laughter]----
    Q. My apologies to Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters].
    The President. Poor Patsy, here she is trying to be dignified----
    Q. That was my question, anyway.
    The President. It was your question?
    Q. Yes, I was trying to be dignified.
    The President. Well, would you like to ask it, so you can----
    Q. Sir, is Director Tenet going back to the region next week? 
[Laughter]
    The President. As you know, I expressed--I said that I was going to 
send Director Tenet back to the region. I haven't changed my mind.
    Q. Next week?

Russia's Role in the Middle East

    Q. [Inaudible]--the role of Russia on the Middle East question?
    The President. Well, President Putin has been very helpful. And he's 
been helpful because he has--he has insisted that there be 
accountability and responsibility in the region. And he has been a--he 
makes it very clear that the Russian Government is--rejects any kind of 
terrorist activities that disrupts the peace process, in a very strong 
voice for reason and for reasonable policy, and I appreciate that a lot.
    Thank you all.
    Q. This week for Director Tenet?
    The President. See you in France.

Note: The President spoke at 10:49 a.m. outside the synagogue. In his 
remarks, he referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian 
Authority; and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of these remarks.