[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 43 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Pages 1424-1427]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of 
the Philippines and an Exchange With Reporters in Manila, Philippines

October 18, 2003

    President Macapagal-Arroyo. I'd like to thank President Bush for 
coming to the Philippines on this state visit. It affirms the warm and 
deep relations between our two countries. It's another building block in 
the revitalized and maturing alliance, rooted in shared histories and 
shared values, a common interest in global peace and prosperity, as well 
as a real commitment of combating terrorism and advancing freedom.
    I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the United States for its 
support for the Philippines as a nonpermanent member of the Security 
Council for the term 2004 to 2005 and also for designating the 
Philippines as a major non-NATO ally.

[[Page 1425]]

    I also welcome the Joint Defense Assessment named by our respective 
defense agencies. It recognizes that the world today requires a new 
perspective on political and economic security. The assessment 
recognizes the determination of the Philippines to take greater 
responsibility for its own political and economic security, even as it 
acknowledges that strong relations with the U.S. will contribute greatly 
to peace and prosperity, stability, and security, especially from 
terrorism. Indeed, we must close ranks and stand firm against terrorist 
threats, however grave, however armed, and from whatever quarter.
    When those violence happened in May 2001, the Philippines chose to 
fight terrorism, compensating for such modest means that it commands 
with an unshakable resolve to defeat it once and for all.
    I thank President Bush for continued security assistance which 
enhances the means to defeat terrorism. I also appreciate the help of 
President Bush for increased economic assistance to alleviate poverty 
and other socio-economic ills from which terrorism draws its strength. I 
take pride in the robust economic ties that bind the Philippines and the 
United States.
    This past week, in preparation for this visit, we witnessed the 
launching in the Philippines of Convergys, the largest customer care 
service company in the world, which is hiring 3,000 workers in its first 
year of operation. We also witnessed the launching of a new $50 million 
investment of Ford to launch the Philippines as an export hub for the 
world. We received $33 million of new USAID money for educational 
assistance in the conflict-affected areas, and we celebrated the 
electrification of 1,650 barangays with a contribution of one million 
pesos per barangay from Mirant, CalEnergy, and San Roque, all in 
preparation for your visit, Mr. President.
    I look forward to the rest of my talks with President Bush and the 
officials of his administration. Once again, thank you, Mr. President, 
and thanks to Mrs. Bush for making this state visit to the Philippines.
    President Bush. Madam President, thanks. It's been a--this is going 
to be a great trip, thanks to your wonderful hospitality. I want to 
thank you and your Government for such wonderful arrangements. And I 
want to thank the people of Manila for being so friendly to Laura and me 
as we drove through the streets. There was an outpouring of enthusiasm 
and waving that really made us feel great, and we want to thank your 
country very much.
    I'm here to continue our important discussions. And I want to remind 
the people of this country what a great leader you've been when it comes 
to fighting terror. You've been strong and stalwart, and that's what's 
needed. The terrorists want to frighten people into inaction. They want 
to create fear and, therefore, have their way. And you have been strong, 
and I appreciate that very much. We want to continue to help you.
    And I also want to thank you for your vision of understanding that 
freedom is important. It's a human right, and where there's human 
suffering and tyranny, that--at the same time, terrorist links--the free 
world must work to change conditions, hopefully in peaceful ways. But 
sometimes tyranny is so stubborn and ignores the reality that we have to 
take tough decisions. And Mr. President, you understand that, and I want 
to thank you very much for that.
    I also want to continue to work on close ties, particularly when it 
comes to trade and jobs. We want the people of the Philippines working, 
and we want the people of America working. And by having good free trade 
and fair trade, we can help both countries.
    And finally, I want to thank you very much for working together on 
matters of education. We've got a great education initiative, and you 
recognize, like I recognize, that education is the best way to fight 
poverty. And therefore, education is also a great way to enhance 
democracy.
    Thank you for your leadership. Thanks for your hospitality. I'm 
looking forward to the rest of the day in this beautiful country.
    President Macapagal-Arroyo. Thank you.
    President Bush. If it's all right, we've got, obviously, some 
anxiety built up in our press corps there--[laughter].
    Q. Mr. President----
    President Bush. Yes. Speaking about anxiety, yes--[laughter]--the 
dean of the traveling crowd here.

[[Page 1426]]

Terrorist Threat in the Philippines

    Q. How serious do you think the terrorism threat is here in the 
Philippines? And what specifically can you do to help President Arroyo 
deal with it?
    President Bush. Well, I think the Abu Sayyaf is serious. It's 
serious because there are no rules when it comes to a crowd like the Abu 
Sayyaf. They kidnap. They kill. They maim. And there's only one way to 
deal with them, and that's to find them and to bring them to justice, 
which is precisely what the Arroyo Government has been doing.
    I was briefed before you all came in about the progress made against 
the Abu Sayyaf group. Not only has the leadership been slowly but surely 
brought to justice, but many members of the Abu Sayyaf have been brought 
to justice.
    The best thing we can continue to do within our respective 
constitutions and/or budgets is to work in a close, cooperative way, 
starting with intelligence sharing and then providing the assets and the 
capacity and training to move quickly when a particular target is found. 
The cooperation between the United States and the Philippines is strong. 
The success against this particular group is a model for the region, as 
far as I'm concerned, and I want to thank the President for that.
    President Macapagal-Arroyo. Thank you.

APEC Summit Agenda

    Q. Mr. President, you're trying to put security on the agenda at 
APEC. Do you think some leaders of this region, some countries are not 
doing enough to crack down on terrorism?
    President Bush. No, I think security is on the agenda. What I'm 
trying to do and will do is to remind people that the war on terror goes 
on. See, the easiest thing to do is to think the war on terror is over 
with. It's certainly the most comfortable approach. And I just will 
remind people that, in view of the United States, that the United States 
is still threatened and our friends are threatened, and therefore, we 
must continue to cooperate and work. And the good news is that I don't 
have to convince Madam President of that. She understands that as well 
as anybody in the region.
    We'll also, of course, talk about jobs. And I want our people 
working, and I know the President wants the people of the Philippines 
working. And trade is important. It's an important way to lift lives on 
both sides of the Pacific. But it's also important to have free--fair 
trade. In other words, we want the trade to be--markets to be equally 
open. And that's an important conversation that I will have with the 
members of APEC.
    And the other thing, of course, is a chance to renew friendships and 
to be able to kind of continue discussions that I had been having in the 
past. The President and I, gosh, we've talked a lot. We've met a lot, 
and we've talked a lot. These meetings are important ways to keep our 
friendships going and to keep our common interests alive.
    Q. Mr. President----
    President Bush. Stretch. We call him Stretch. [Laughter]
    President Macapagal-Arroyo. I can see why. [Laughter]

U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq

    Q. You got a resolution through the U.N. this week, but some of the 
countries that opposed the war, going back to last year, France, 
Germany, Russia, still haven't come forward with any contributions. Do 
you think this--and some members of your administration cautioned us 
against assuming there will be any major inflow of contributions, 
troops, and money, as a result of this. Do you think that's a realistic 
outlook on things?
    President Bush. Well, first, let me thank those countries for their 
vote at the U.N. That was a very important vote. And as a matter of 
fact, the first thing that the President and I discussed, and the first 
thing that Prime Minister Koizumi and I discussed was the vote at the 
U.N. It's important for these countries around the world to see the U.N. 
act the way the U.N. acted in a 15 to nothing U.N. Security Council 
resolution vote. It was a strong vote.
    And as to whether or not they'll participate, time will tell. But 
I--take, for example, Germany. Germany is participating in the

[[Page 1427]]

aftermath of certain battles in the war on terror. And that is in 
Afghanistan; they're making a very serious, important contribution. And 
for that we are very grateful. And there will be other ways for nations 
to contribute in the overall war on terror.
    And I'm pleased with the progress we are making in Iraq. The 
President and I discussed that progress, and it's measurable progress. 
For example, we had a goal of 1,000 schools to open after the end of the 
conflict, and it wasn't 1,000 schools that were refurbished and opened, 
but it was 1,500--1,500 schools. And the electricity is coming on, and 
the water is more pure. And I can cite a series of examples where life 
is improving for the Iraqi citizen.
    It is still a dangerous place because there are still haters and 
thugs and terrorists who are willing to take innocent life. And the 
reason why is, is because they want America to leave. They want to 
create the conditions of fear, and therefore, we'll say, ``Well, we've 
had enough.'' But we're not leaving. See, we're not leaving until we 
complete the task.
    And I am pleased with progress. And one of the President's ministers 
was there, talking about education matters and the need for us to 
continue to work together to improve the lives of the Iraqi citizens, 
and we will. It's in our interest that Iraq be free and peaceful. It 
will help change the world.
    And I want to thank the President for her strong support. There are 
Philippine citizens there today.
    All right, thank you all.

Note: President Macapagal-Arroyo spoke at approximately 2:30 p.m. at 
Malacanang Palace. In his remarks, President Bush referred to Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan. Portions of these remarks could not 
be verified because the tape was incomplete.