[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 8 (Monday, February 28, 2005)]
[Pages 282-283]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

February 19, 2005

    Good morning. Tomorrow I leave on a trip to Europe, where I will 
reaffirm the importance of our transatlantic relationship with our 
European friends and allies.
    Over the last several weeks, the world has witnessed momentous 
events, Palestinians voting for an end to violence, Ukrainians standing 
up for their democratic rights, Iraqis going to the polls in free 
elections. And in Europe, I will talk with leaders at NATO and the 
European Union about how we can work together to take advantage of the 
historic opportunities now before us.
    Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic understand that the hopes for 
peace in the world depend on the continued unity of free nations. We do 
not accept a false caricature that divides the Western world between an 
idealistic United States and a cynical Europe. America and Europe are 
the pillars of the free world. We share the same belief in freedom and 
the rights of every individual, and we are working together across the 
globe to advance our common interest and common values.
    In Iraq, our shared commitment to free elections has stripped the 
car bombers and assassins of their most powerful weapon,

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their claim to represent the wishes and aspirations of the Iraqi people. 
In these elections, the European Union provided vital technical 
assistance. NATO is helping to train army officers, police, and civilian 
administrators of a new Iraq. And 21 of our European coalition partners 
are providing forces on the ground. America and Europe are also working 
together to advance the cause of peace in the Holy Land, where we share 
the same goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living 
side by side in peace and freedom.
    In my Inaugural Address, I said that the liberty we espouse is a 
universal aspiration. Many Americans trace their roots back to Europe, 
and we can trace many of our founding ideals there as well. It was a 
Frenchman who taught the Framers of our Constitution the importance of 
the separation of powers. It was a Scot who explained the virtues of a 
free market. It was an Englishman who challenged us to correct the 
principal defect of our founding, the plague of slavery. And it was an 
Italian who gave us our name, America.
    America's strong ties to Europe are reflected in the largest two-way 
trading and investment relationship in the world. Today more than a 
fifth of all U.S. exports go to the European Union, and millions of 
Americans depend for their paychecks on the local affiliates of European 
parent companies.
    I will work with our European partners to open markets and expand 
opportunities for our businesses, our workers, and farmers, and to 
advance the Doha Round of trade talks. I will make clear that one of my 
top priorities is to reduce the remaining European barriers to U.S. 
agricultural goods.
    Even the best of friends do not agree on everything. But at the dawn 
of the 21st century, the deepest values and interests of America and 
Europe are the same, defeating terrorism, conquering poverty, expanding 
trade, and promoting peace. On both sides of the Atlantic, terrorist 
attacks on our cities and civilians have shown that freedom has 
dangerous enemies and that the key to a lasting peace is the advance of 
human liberty.
    Today, security and justice and prosperity for our world depend on 
America and Europe working in common purpose. That makes our 
transatlantic ties as vital as they have ever been. And during my visit 
to Europe next week, I will discuss with our friends and allies how we 
can strengthen those ties to build a future of peace and freedom for our 
children.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on February 18 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 
19. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on February 18 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of this address.