[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

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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.

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