[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 8 (Monday, February 28, 2005)]
[Pages 283-288]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Brussels, Belgium

February 21, 2005

    Guy, or Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your kind introduction, 
and thank you for your warm hospitality. Distinguished guests and ladies 
and gentlemen: Laura and I are really glad to be back. I'm really 
pleased to visit Brussels again, the capital of a beautiful nation, the 
seat of the European Union and the NATO Alliance. The United States and 
Belgium are close allies, and we will always be warm friends.
    You know, on this journey to Europe, I follow in some large 
footsteps. More than two centuries ago, Benjamin Franklin arrived on 
this continent to great acclaim. An observer wrote, ``His reputation was 
more universal than Leibnitz or Newton, Frederick or Voltaire, and his 
character more beloved and esteemed than any or all of them.'' The 
observer went on to say, ``There was scarcely a peasant or a citizen who 
did not consider him as a friend to humankind.'' I have been hoping for 
a similar reception--[laughter]--but Secretary Rice told me I should be 
a realist. [Laughter]
    I appreciate the opportunity, in this great hall, to speak to the 
peoples of Europe. For more than 60 years, our nations stood together to 
face great challenges of history. Together, we opposed totalitarian 
ideologies with our might and with our patience. Together, we united 
this continent with our democratic values. And together we mark, year by 
year, the anniversaries of freedom,

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from D-day to the liberation of death camps to the victories of 
conscience in 1989. Our transatlantic alliance frustrated the plans of 
dictators, served the highest ideals of humanity, and set a violent 
century on a new and better course. And as time goes by, we must never 
forget our shared achievements.
    Yet, our relationship is founded on more than nostalgia. In a new 
century, the alliance of Europe and North America is the main pillar of 
our security. Our robust trade is one of the engines of the world's 
economy. Our example of economic and political freedom gives hope to 
millions who are weary of poverty and oppression. In all these ways, our 
strong friendship is essential to peace and prosperity across the globe, 
and no temporary debate, no passing disagreement of governments, no 
power on Earth will ever divide us.
    Today, America and Europe face a moment of consequence and 
opportunity. Together we can once again set history on a hopeful course 
away from poverty and despair and toward development and the dignity of 
self-rule, away from resentment and violence and toward justice and the 
peaceful settlement of differences. Seizing this moment requires 
idealism; we must see in every person the right and the capacity to live 
in freedom. Seizing this moment requires realism; we must act wisely and 
deliberately in the face of complex challenges. And seizing this moment 
also requires cooperation, because when Europe and America stand 
together, no problem can stand against us. As past debates fade, as 
great duties become clear, let us begin a new era of transatlantic 
unity.
    Our greatest opportunity and immediate goal is peace in the Middle 
East. After many false starts and dashed hopes and stolen lives, a 
settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is now 
within reach. America and Europe have made a moral commitment: We will 
not stand by as another generation in the Holy Land grows up in an 
atmosphere of violence and hopelessness. America and Europe also share a 
strategic interest. By helping to build a lasting peace, we will remove 
an unsettled grievance that is used to stir hatred and violence across 
the Middle East.
    Our efforts are guided by a clear vision. We're determined to see 
two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in 
peace and security. The Palestinian people deserve a government that is 
representative, honest, and peaceful. The people of Israel need an end 
to terror and a reliable, steadfast partner for peace. And the world 
must not rest until there is a just and lasting resolution to this 
conflict.
    All the parties have responsibilities to meet. Arab states must end 
incitement in their own media, cut off public and private funding for 
terrorism, stop their support for extremist education, and establish 
normal relations with Israel. Palestinian leaders must confront and 
dismantle terrorist groups, fight corruption, encourage free enterprise, 
and rest true authority with the people. Only a democracy can serve the 
hopes of Palestinians and make Israel secure and raise the flag of a 
free Palestine.
    A successful Palestinian democracy should be Israel's top goal as 
well, so Israel must freeze settlement activity, help Palestinians build 
a thriving economy, and ensure that a new Palestinian state is truly 
viable, with contiguous territory on the West Bank. A state of scattered 
territories will not work. As Palestinian leaders assume responsibility 
for Gaza and increasingly larger territory, we will help them build the 
economic and political and security institutions needed to govern 
effectively. And as that democracy rises, the United States and Europe 
will help the parties implement the roadmap to peace.
    These vital steps are also difficult steps, because progress 
requires new trust and because terrorists will do all they can to 
destroy that trust. Yet we are moving forward, and we are doing so in 
practical ways. Next month in London, Prime Minister Blair will host a 
conference to help the Palestinian people build the democratic 
institutions of their state. President Abbas has the opportunity to put 
forward a strategy of reform which can and will gain support from the 
international community--including financial support. I hope he will 
seize the moment. I have asked Secretary Rice to attend the conference 
and to convey America's strong support for the Palestinian people as 
they build a democratic state. And I appreciate

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the prominent role that Prime Minister Blair and other European leaders 
are playing in the cause of peace.
    We seek peace between Israel and Palestine for its own sake. We also 
know that a free and peaceful Palestine can add to the momentum of 
reform throughout the broader Middle East. In the long run, we cannot 
live in peace and safety if the Middle East continues to produce 
ideologies of murder and terrorists who seek the deadliest weapons. 
Regimes that terrorize their own people will not hesitate to support 
terror abroad. A status quo of tyranny and hopelessness in the Middle 
East, the false stability of dictatorship and stagnation, can only lead 
to deeper resentment in a troubled region and further tragedy in free 
nations. The future of our nations and the future of the Middle East are 
linked, and our peace depends on their hope and development and freedom.
    Lasting, successful reform in the broader Middle East will not be 
imposed from the outside; it must be chosen from within. Governments 
must choose to fight corruption, abandon old habits of control, protect 
the rights of conscience and the rights of minorities. Governments must 
invest in the health and education of their people and take 
responsibility for solving problems instead of simply blaming others. 
Citizens must choose to hold their governments accountable. The path 
isn't always easy, as any free people can testify, yet there's reason 
for confidence. Ultimately, men and women who seek the success of their 
nation will reject an ideology of oppression and anger and fear. 
Ultimately, men and women will embrace participation and progress--and 
we are seeing the evidence in an arc of reform from Morocco to Bahrain 
to Iraq to Afghanistan.
    Our challenge is to encourage this progress by taking up the duties 
of great democracies. We must be on the side of democratic reformers. We 
must encourage democratic movements, and we must support democratic 
transitions in practical ways.
    Europe and America should not expect or demand that reforms come all 
at once. That didn't happen in our own histories. My country took many 
years to include minorities and women in the full promise of America, 
and that struggle hasn't ended. Yet, while our expectations must be 
realistic, our ideals must be firm, and they must be clear. We must 
expect higher standards from our friends and partners in the Middle 
East. The Government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in 
the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their 
future. And the great and proud nation of Egypt, which showed the way 
toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the way toward democracy 
in the Middle East.
    Our shared commitment to democratic progress is being tested in 
Lebanon, a once-thriving country that now suffers under the influence of 
an oppressive neighbor. Just as the Syrian regime must take stronger 
action to stop those who support violence and subversion in Iraq and 
must end its support for terrorist groups seeking to destroy the hope of 
peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Syria must also end its 
occupation of Lebanon.
    The Lebanese people have the right to be free, and the United States 
and Europe share an interest in a democratic, independent Lebanon. My 
Nation and France worked to pass Security Council Resolution 1559, which 
demands that Lebanon's sovereignty be respected, that foreign troops and 
agents be withdrawn, and that free elections be conducted without 
foreign interference. In the last several months, the world has seen men 
and women voting in historic elections from Kabul to Ramallah to 
Baghdad, and without Syrian interference, Lebanon's parliamentary 
elections in the spring can be another milestone of liberty.
    Our commitment to democratic progress is being honored in 
Afghanistan. That country is building a democracy that reflects Afghan 
traditions and history and shows the way for other nations in the 
region. The elected President is working to disarm and demobilize 
militias in preparation for the National Assembly elections to be held 
this spring. And the Afghan people know the world is with them. After 
all, Germany is providing vital police training. The United Kingdom is 
helping to fight drug trade. Italy is giving assistance on judicial 
reform. NATO's growing security mission is commanded by a Turkish 
general. European Governments

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are helping Afghanistan to succeed, and America appreciates your 
leadership.
    Together, we must make clear to the Iraqi people that the world is 
also with them, because they have certainly shown their character to the 
world. An Iraqi man who lost a leg in a car bombing last year made sure 
he was there to vote on January the 30th. He said, ``I would have 
crawled here if I had to. I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis 
like they tried to kill me. Today I am voting for peace.'' Every vote 
cast in Iraq was an act of defiance against terror, and the Iraqi people 
have earned our respect.
    Some Europeans joined the fight to liberate Iraq, while others did 
not. Yet all of us recognize courage when we see it, and we saw it in 
the Iraqi people. And all nations now have an interest in the success of 
a free and democratic Iraq, which will fight terror, which will be a 
beacon of freedom, and which will be a source of true stability in the 
region. In the coming months, Iraq's newly elected assembly will carry 
out the important work of establishing a government, providing security, 
enhancing basic services, and writing a democratic constitution. Now is 
the time for established democracies to give tangible political, 
economic, and security assistance to the world's newest democracy.
    In Iran, the free world shares a common goal. For the sake of peace, 
the Iranian regime must end its support for terrorism and must not 
develop nuclear weapons. In safeguarding the security of free nations, 
no option can be taken permanently off the table. Iran, however, is 
different from Iraq. We're in the early stages of diplomacy. The United 
States is a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, which has taken the 
lead on this issue. We're working closely with Britain, France, and 
Germany as they oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions and as they insist that 
Tehran comply with international law. The results of this approach now 
depend largely on Iran. We also look for Iran to finally deliver on 
promised reform. The time has arrived for the Iranian regime to listen 
to the Iranian people and respect their rights and join in the movement 
toward liberty that is taking place all around them.
    Across the Middle East, from the Palestinian Territories to Lebanon 
to Iraq to Iran, I believe that the advance of freedom within nations 
will build the peace among nations. And one reason for this belief is 
the experience of Europe. In two World Wars, Europe saw the aggressive 
nature of tyranny and the terrible cost of mistrust and division. In the 
cold war, Europe saw the so-called stability of Yalta was a constant 
source of injustice and fear, and Europe also saw how the rise of 
democratic movements like Solidarity could part an Iron Curtain drawn by 
tyrants. The spread of freedom has helped to resolve old disputes, and 
the enlargement of NATO and the European Union have made partners out of 
former rivals. America supports Europe's democratic unity for the same 
reason we support the spread of democracy in the Middle East, because 
freedom leads to peace. America supports a strong Europe because we need 
a strong partner in the hard work of advancing freedom and peace in the 
world.
    European leaders demonstrated this vision in Ukraine. Presidents 
Kwasniewski of Poland, Adamkus of Lithuania, Javier Solana of the EU 
helped to resolve the election crisis and bring Ukraine back into the 
camp of freedom. As a free Government takes hold in that country and as 
the Government of President Yushchenko pursues vital reforms, Ukraine 
should be welcomed by the Euro-Atlantic family. We must support new 
democracies, so members of our Alliance must continue to reach out to 
Georgia, where last year peaceful protests overturned a stolen election 
and unleashed the forces of democratic change.
    I also believe that Russia's future lies within the family of Europe 
and the transatlantic community. America supports WTO membership for 
Russia, because meeting WTO standards will strengthen the gains of 
freedom and prosperity in that country. Yet, for Russia to make progress 
as a European nation, the Russian Government must renew a commitment to 
democracy and the rule of law. We recognize that reform will not happen 
overnight. We must always remind Russia, however, that our alliance 
stands for a free press, a vital opposition, the sharing of power, and 
the rule of law. And the United States and all European countries should

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place democratic reform at the heart of their dialog with Russia.
    As we seek freedom in other nations, we must also work to renew the 
values that make freedom possible. As I said in my Inaugural Address, we 
cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the 
same time. We must reject anti-Semitism from any source, and we must 
condemn violence such as we have witnessed in the Netherlands. All our 
nations must work to integrate minorities into the mainstream of society 
and to teach the value of tolerance to each new generation.
    The nations in our great alliance have many advantages and many 
blessings. We also have a call beyond our comfort; we must raise our 
sights to the wider world. Our ideals and our interests lead in the same 
direction: By bringing progress and hope to nations in need, we can 
improve many lives and lift up failing states and remove the causes and 
sanctuaries of terror.
    Our alliance is determined to promote development and integrate 
developing nations into the world economy. The measure of our success 
must be the results we achieve, not merely the resources we spend. 
Together, we created the Monterrey Consensus, which links new aid from 
developed nations to real reform in developing ones. This strategy is 
working. Throughout the developing world, governments are confronting 
corruption, the rule of law is taking root, and people are enjoying new 
freedoms. Developed nations have responded by increasing assistance by a 
third.
    Through the Millennium Challenge Account, my Nation is increasing 
our aid to developing nations that govern justly, expand economic 
freedom, and invest in the education and health of their people. While 
still providing humanitarian assistance and support, developed nations 
are taking a wiser approach to other aid. Instead of subsidizing failure 
year after year, we must reward progress and improve lives.
    Our alliance is determined to encourage commerce among nations, 
because open markets create jobs and lift income and draw whole nations 
into an expanding circle of freedom and opportunity. Europe and America 
will continue to increase trade, and as we do so, we'll resolve our 
trade disagreements in a cooperative spirit. And we should share the 
benefits of fair and free trade with others. That's why we'll continue 
to advance the Doha Development Agenda and bring global trade talks to a 
successful conclusion. We should all pursue fiscal policies in our 
nations, sound fiscal policies of low taxes and fiscal restraint and 
reform, that promote a stable world financial system and foster economic 
growth.
    Our alliance is determined to show good stewardship of the earth, 
and that requires addressing the serious, long-term challenge of global 
climate change. All of us expressed our views on the Kyoto Protocol, and 
now we must work together on the way forward. Emerging technologies, 
such as hydrogen-powered vehicles, electricity from renewable energy 
sources, clean coal technology, will encourage economic growth that is 
environmentally responsible. By researching, by developing, by promoting 
new technologies across the world, all nations, including the developing 
countries, can advance economically while slowing the growth in global 
greenhouse gases and avoid pollutants that undermines public health. All 
of us can use the power of human ingenuity to improve the environment 
for generations to come.
    Our alliance is determined to meet natural disaster, famine, and 
disease with swift and compassionate help. As we meet today, American 
and European personnel are aiding the victims of the tsunami in Asia. 
Our combined financial commitment to tsunami relief and reconstruction 
is nearly $4 billion. We're working through the Global Fund to combat 
AIDS and other diseases across the world. And America's Emergency Plan 
has focused additional resources on nations where the needs are 
greatest. Through all these efforts, we encourage stability and 
progress, build a firmer basis for democratic institutions, and above 
all, we fulfill a moral duty to heal the sick and feed the hungry and 
comfort the afflicted.
    Our alliance is also determined to defend our security, because we 
refuse to live in a world dominated by fear. Terrorist movements seek to 
intimidate free peoples and reverse the course of history by committing

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dramatic acts of murder. We will not be intimidated, and the terrorists 
will not stop the march of freedom. I thank the nations of Europe for 
your strong cooperation in the war on terror. Together, we have 
disrupted terrorist financing, strengthened intelligence sharing, 
enhanced our law enforcement cooperation, and improved the security of 
international commerce and travel.
    We're pursuing terrorists wherever they hide. German authorities 
recently arrested two terrorists plotting to attack American interests 
in Iraq. Both will be prosecuted under new German laws enacted after 
September the 11th. Just last week, the United Nations added Muhsin al-
Fadhli to its Al Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee list. This man is 
a known Al Qaida operative and Zarqawi associate, provided support to 
the terrorists who conducted the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker. 
Working together, America, France, and other nations will bring him to 
justice. For the sake of the security of our people, for the sake of 
peace, we will be relentless in chasing down the ideologs of hate.
    On September the 11th, America turned first to our immediate 
security and to the pursuit of an enemy, and that vital work goes on. We 
also found that a narrow definition of security is not enough. While 
confronting a present threat, we have accepted the long-term challenge 
of spreading hope and liberty and prosperity as the great alternatives 
to terror. As we defeat the agents of terror, we will also remove the 
sources of terror.
    This strategy is not an American strategy or a European strategy or 
a Western strategy. Spreading liberty for the sake of peace is the cause 
of all mankind. This approach not only reduces a danger to free peoples; 
it honors the dignity of all peoples by placing human rights and human 
freedom at the center of our agenda. And our alliance has the ability 
and the duty to tip the balance of history in the favor of freedom.
    We know there are many obstacles, and we know the road is long. 
Albert Camus said that ``Freedom is a long-distance race.'' We're in 
that race for the duration, and there is reason for optimism. Oppression 
is not the wave of the future; it is the desperate tactic of a few 
backward-looking men. Democratic nations grow in strength because they 
reward and respect the creative gifts of their people. Freedom is the 
direction of history, because freedom is the permanent hope of humanity.
    America holds these values because of ideals long held on this 
continent. We proudly stand in the tradition of the Magna Carta, the 
Declaration of the Rights of Man, and the North Atlantic Treaty. The 
signers of that treaty pledged ``To safeguard the freedom, common 
heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles 
of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.'' In this new 
century, the United States and Europe reaffirm that commitment and renew 
our great alliance of freedom.
    May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 2:08 p.m. at the Concert Noble. In his 
remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium; Prime 
Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu 
Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; President Hamid Karzai of 
Afghanistan; Lt. Gen. Ethem Erdagi, commander, International Security 
Assistance Force, NATO; President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland; 
President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania; Secretary General Javier Solana 
of the European Council; President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine; and 
senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.