[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 9 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Pages 281-284]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Mikheil Saakashvili of 
Georgia and an Exchange With Reporters

February 25, 2004

    President Bush. Here's what we're going to do. I will make a 
statement. The President will make a statement. I will then call upon an 
American correspondent to ask a question. The President will call upon a 
Georgian correspondent. We'll have two questions per side.
    Mr. President, welcome. We followed the revolution that took place 
in your country very closely. We appreciate your firm commitment to 
democracy and freedom. We've

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had a very interesting discussion. I know firsthand that the President 
will do everything he can to earn the confidence of the people of 
Georgia by representing their will, by fighting corruption, by working 
for a system based upon integrity and decency and human rights.
    I'm impressed by this leader. I'm impressed by his vision. I'm 
impressed by his courage. I am heartened by the fact that we have such a 
strong friend, a friend with whom we share values.
    So Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. I appreciate the 
candid discussion we've had, and I'm proud to call you friend.
    President Saakashvili. Thank you. It's a great honor, for me and for 
the people of Georgia, to be here in this Oval Office. It's not--our 
cooperation is very deep. We consider ourselves as very close ally and 
friend of the United States. We are proud to be friend of the United 
States. I am speaking on behalf of every Georgian.
    I have to say that this cooperation, friendship--the U.S. helped us 
when we needed it most, and would like peoples--other peoples in Europe 
will never forget that. But our cooperation is--that held friendship is 
not only about security. It's not only about economy. Primarily it's 
about our shared values. And we are part of--proud part of antiterrorist 
coalition. We have forces in Iraq. We are cooperating on other issues.
    We are also working very hard on our improved relations with Russia. 
I had a very interesting conversation with President Putin in Moscow, 
and I believe Russia should become our reliable partner, and we should 
improve our relations.
    But at the same time, we believe that America's help is absolutely 
essential, and we are grateful. We will stay grateful, and we want to be 
not only close ally, but we want to be strong ally. Georgia will become 
stronger. Georgia will become more democratic. Democracy is top 
priority. Freedom of speech is top priority. Free enterprise, free 
market is top priority. And I think Georgia can become a role model for 
the whole region. And this is very important. We need U.S. help in that.
    Regarding our revolution, it was the proudest moment of my own life 
and of life of the whole generation. And we are so proud that we were 
supported in our fight for democracy and for people's right to choose by 
the United States, and Washington was the first to come and help us. And 
I'm sure we'll never forget that.
    Mr. President, I really enjoyed being here at the White House. Thank 
you very much.
    President Bush. Thank you. Hold on a second, please. Deb, [Deb 
Riechmann, Associated Press] we're going to----
    Q. What do you think about----
    President Bush. Hold on, please. Will somebody translate----
    President Saakashvili. It's in English.
    President Bush. I understand. I understand. Hold on for a second. 
The way this is going to work is this.
    Q. I'm from Georgia.
    President Bush. I know you are, excuse me. We're going to start with 
the American press, and then there will be a Georgian press, and then 
there will be an American press, and then there will be a Georgian 
press. That's the best way to maintain order, so we don't have everybody 
yelling at the same time.
    Deb.

Federal Deficit/Social Security

    Q. Mr. President, Chairman Greenspan today suggested trimming Social 
Security benefits for baby boomers to deal with the rising budget 
deficit. Do you think this is a good idea, a good way to ease the 
deficit, which is expected to top over $520 billion this year?
    President Bush. First of all, let me talk about the short-term 
deficit. The best way to trim the deficit is to follow the budgetary 
plan I submitted to the United States Congress. We presented a plan that 
will cut the deficit in half over the next 5 years. I haven't talked to 
the Chairman or read his comments. I need to see exactly what he said. 
My position on Social Security benefits is this, that those benefits 
should not be changed for people at or near retirement.
    As you know, in the 2000 campaign, I articulated a point of view 
that we ought to have personal savings accounts for younger workers that 
would make sure those younger workers receive benefits equal to or 
greater

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than that which is expected. I still maintain the same position, but I 
haven't seen his comments completely.

Georgia's Rose Revolution

    Q. What do you think about Rose Revolution in Georgia?
    President Bush. The Rose Revolution? It was an historic moment. It 
was a moment where the people spoke. It was a moment where a Government 
changed because the people peacefully exercised their voice and raised 
their voice. And Georgia transitioned to a new Government in an 
inspiring way.
    The President and I discussed the ramifications of the Rose 
Revolution around other parts of the world. The possibility of people 
taking charge of their own lives and transforming society in a peaceful 
way is a powerful example to people around the world who long for 
freedom and long for honest government.
    And so the Rose Revolution is an inspiring moment of history. And 
again, I want to congratulate the President and his team for insisting 
that democracy prevail through peaceful means.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

Situation in Haiti

    Q. Mr. President, in Haiti, the rebels are advancing and a power-
sharing deal has collapsed. Are you prepared to let President Aristide 
be overthrown?
    President Bush. Secretary Powell and I have been in close 
consultations on this subject. We still hope to be able to achieve a 
political settlement between the current Government and the rebels. We 
are watching the situation very carefully. The Secretary of State has 
been in touch with Canadian officials and French officials and Caribbean 
officials, all aimed to convince the parties to come to the table and 
effect a peaceful solution.
    In terms of our own planning here, I have made it abundantly clear 
to the Coast Guard that we will turn back any refugee that attempts to 
reach our shore. And that message needs to be very clear as well to the 
Haitian people. We will have a robust presence with an effective 
strategy. And so we encourage, strongly encourage the Haitian people to 
stay home as we work to reach a peaceful solution to this problem.
    Q. Do you think it's possible you'll have to send troops there?
    President Bush. What we are--incident to a political settlement, we 
will encourage the international community to provide a security 
presence. And that is also being discussed right now. But first things, 
first, Steve, is to work on a--is to work on a political solution.

Georgia-Russia Relations

    Q.----very complicated problems, with Russian bases problems----
    President Bush. Well, I appreciate you bringing up the Russian bases 
problem. We expect the Russian Government to honor the Istanbul 
commitment. The Istanbul commitment made it very clear that Russia would 
leave those places. We will continue to work with the President and 
President Putin on that commitment.
    I also appreciate very much the President's work with the Russians. 
It's important that relations between Georgia and Russia be positive. I 
found it a very positive move and a very sophisticated move by the 
President that his first trip was to Russia, and I encouraged that. I 
thought it was a smart thing to do. And we will work with Vladimir 
Putin, with whom I've got a good relationship, to make sure relations 
are good with Georgia. It's important for the Georgian people to have 
good and strong and peaceful relations with Russia. There's a lot we can 
work on. We can work together to fight terror. Hopefully, as the Georgia 
economy approves--improves--and I'm confident it will--there will be 
opportunities for--business opportunities.
    So the President has got a good vision and this has been a good 
trip. I believe in his abilities, and I appreciate his vision. And the 
people of Georgia will be well served by his leadership.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:26 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Vladimir Putin of 
Russia. A reporter referred to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of 
Haiti. A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape 
was incomplete.

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