[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 33 (Monday, August 16, 2004)]
[Pages 1516-1518]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Marek Belka of Poland
and an Exchange With Reporters
August 9, 2004
President Bush. We'll have two opening statements and two questions
per side. I'll call on somebody, and the Prime Minister will call on
somebody.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. Thank you for coming. We've just had a
very good visit, but that's what you would expect when two friends are
talking about important issues.
We talked about foreign policy. We talked about economic issues. We
talked about the close ties between our respective peoples. And it's my
honor to welcome you here, sir. I appreciate your candid observations
and appreciate the fact that not only did you serve your nation and
frankly, the world, in Baghdad, you've now agreed to serve your nation
as the Prime Minister of your country. So welcome here to Washington,
DC.
Prime Minister Belka. Well, it's one of a series of very important
visits in our dialog. Next month in Warsaw, we're having the beginning
of strategic dialog between the United States and Poland. And what
happened here was really a beginning of this dialog or at least an
introduction to these talks.
We covered a very broad range of issues, from Euro-Atlantic
alliance, from the state of relationship between Europe and America, to
Middle East, a wider Middle East initiative, and Iraq. We also touched
upon our bilateral issues, including our economic cooperation,
traveling, and so on and so on.
Well, it's almost unbelievable how we could squeeze so many issues
in a relatively short conversation. It was a very good conversation,
very good exchange of opinions. And, well, it sets ground for further
cooperation and further good, good talks between our people and
ourselves.
President Bush. Good job.
We'll start off with Hunt [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].
Iraqi Insurgents in Najaf
Q. Mr. President, U.S. forces have been fighting for 5 days in Najaf
against the militia of Muqtada Al Sadr. The U.S. once said it was going
to capture or kill him. What's our policy now?
President Bush. Our policy is to work with Prime Minister Alawi and
support the Iraqis as they move toward elections. Our troops were
engaged against Sadr's militia, and so were the Iraqis. And it appears
that we're making pretty good progress about stabilizing Najaf. But
Prime Minister Alawi is now in charge of the country. He is a good,
strong leader who cares deeply about the aspirations of his people, and
he is somebody we're working with. And if he's got some suggestions to
make, we're more than willing to listen to him. That's why Ambassador
Negroponte is there, and the Ambassador will interface with the Iraqi
government at their request.
Polish Forces in Iraq
Q. Mr. President, Polish Government is going to significantly reduce
number of Polish troops in Iraq early next year. Did you ask Polish
Prime Minister not to do that? And could you both comment on the fact
that 73 percent of Poles are opposed to Polish military presence in
Iraq?
President Bush. I'll be glad to talk about opinion polls. I try to
make my decisions based upon what I think is right. And removing Saddam
Hussein from power was the right thing to do. The world is safer for it,
and the American people are safer for it. The Polish people are safer
for it, and the Iraqi people are better off because of it.
And I'll let the Prime Minister talk about troops. The Poles have
been great allies. When we first went in to enforce the demands of the
free world after Saddam Hussein once again defied the demands of the
free world, Polish special forces were right there. And they performed
brilliantly. They're great troops, and they're a great credit to the
people of Poland.
And then when the--it became apparent we would need stabilizing
forces to help this
[[Page 1517]]
country become a free country, the Polish Government and the Polish
people were very generous and provided not only troops but leadership in
a very important sector of the country. So the Prime Minister, I know,
is very proud, justifiably so, about the contributions that Poland has
made to making the world a better place.
Q. Mr. President----
President Bush. Hold on a second, please.
Prime Minister Belka. Well, I guess, no one wants to stay in Iraq
forever. It's a sovereign country. It has its own internationally
recognized government. It has its own rules, that is--that are
developing. And we treat our presence in Iraq as serving this country to
stabilize and stand on its own feet. We didn't discuss dates, numbers.
What we discussed is the way--how the situation in Iraq develops, how
the political calendar, how the political process is going on, and how
is it--how it shapes the character and size of our presence in this
country. That's what is most important in our presence in Iraq.
I confirm that Polish troops, in our opinion, are doing right
things. They behave gallantly. They show professionalism and also are
quite successful in developing good working relations with the local
leaders, helping them not only in keeping order but also in developing
institutions, rebuilding their economy, their schools, hospitals. Well,
this is not a typical military operation. It's a stabilization in all
sense of this word.
President Bush. Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].
National Economy
Q. Mr. President, with the economy not producing a whole lot of new
jobs, are you considering adjustments or additions to your economic plan
to try to give it a boost? And would an increase in interest rates
tomorrow help or hurt?
President Bush. Monetary policy is decided independently from the
White House. Secondly, the economy is strong, and it's getting better.
Imagine me being able to say to the Prime Minister of Poland, in spite
of a recession, emergency, attacks, war, and corporate scandals, we're
growing and growing quite substantially. We've added nearly 1.5 million
jobs over the last 12 months.
And what we don't need to do is run up the taxes on the American
people. This campaign is going to be talking about visions, about how to
keep the economic recovery going, and there's a clear difference of
opinion as to how to do it. I believe taxes ought to be low. I know we
need tort reform. I know we need an energy policy. I know we need
reasonable health policy to help hold down the costs, and that stands in
stark contrast to my opponents who are willing to raise taxes and not
willing to fight for tort reform, for example. But I'm optimistic about
the economic vitality of the country.
Visa Policy
Q. Mr. President, when is the United States going to lift visas for
Polish citizens, or at least this $100 fee for visas----
President Bush. Well, listen----
Q. ----as a gesture of reciprocation?
Prime Minister Belka. We discussed this.
President Bush. Well, I'll tell you, we sure did discuss it, and the
Prime Minister was very strong on the subject. He made it very clear
what--what his opinion is and the opinion of his Government and the
expectations of the Polish people. And because of his persuasiveness,
there's now a preclearance procedure that will be taking place at the
Warsaw airport. Secretary Tom Ridge is--Ridge is here today, and he'll
be given instructions to accommodate the Prime Minister's wishes that we
begin a reform of the process. And it will start with preclearance
process.
And I want to thank the Prime Minister for being such a strong
advocate and--pretty clear where he stands. And, hopefully, this will be
a step in the right direction for the people of a country whose
friendship we value.
Note: The President spoke at 1:55 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
House. In his remarks, he referred to Muqtada Al Sadr, Iraqi Shiite
cleric whose militia engaged in an uprising in Iraq which began in early
April; Prime Minister Ayad al-Alawi of the Iraqi Interim Government;
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John D. Negroponte; and former President Saddam
Hussein of Iraq.
[[Page 1518]]