[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 10 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Pages 381-382]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

March 5, 2005

    Good morning. In the short time since I returned from my trip to 
Europe, the world has witnessed remarkable developments in the Middle 
East. In Lebanon, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in 
peaceful protest over the brutal assassination of former Prime Minister 
Hariri. For years, the Lebanese people have suffered from the aftermath 
of a horrific civil war and occupation by Syria. Lebanese citizens who 
have watched free elections in Iraq are now demanding the right to 
decide their own destiny, free of Syrian control and domination. Syria 
has been an occupying force in Lebanon for nearly three decades, and 
Syria's support for terrorism remains a key obstacle to peace in the 
broader Middle East.
    Today, America and Europe are standing together with the Lebanese 
people. The United States and France worked closely to pass U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 1559. This resolution demands that Lebanon's 
sovereignty be respected, that all foreign forces be withdrawn, and that 
free and fair elections be conducted without foreign influence. The 
world is now speaking with one voice to ensure that democracy and 
freedom are given a chance to flourish in Lebanon.
    French President Chirac, British Prime Minister Blair, and German 
Chancellor Schroeder have all called on Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. 
A Syrian withdrawal of all its military and intelligence personnel would 
help ensure that the Lebanese elections occur as scheduled in the spring 
and that they will be free and fair.
    At the same time the Lebanese people were demonstrating against 
terrorism in Beirut, the elected leader of the Palestinian people, 
President Abbas, declared that his Government is committed to chasing 
down and punishing those responsible for last weekend's terrorist attack 
in Tel Aviv. Such action is critical, because that attack is a reminder

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that there are still groups and individuals who will kill to prevent 
peace in the Middle East.
    President Abbas made his remarks in London during an international 
meeting of world and Arab leaders hosted by Prime Minister Blair. The 
leaders attending this meeting expressed their support for the 
Palestinians' efforts to reform their political institutions, their 
economy, and their security services. And the first reform must be the 
dismantling of terrorist organizations. Only by ending terrorism can we 
achieve our common goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, 
living side by side in peace and freedom.
    Today, people in a long-troubled part of the world are standing up 
for their freedom. In the last 5 months, we have witnessed successful 
elections in Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territory, and Iraq, peaceful 
demonstrations on the streets of Beirut, and steps toward democratic 
reform in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The trend is clear: In the Middle East 
and throughout the world, freedom is on the march. The road ahead will 
not be easy, and progress will sometimes be slow. But America, Europe, 
and our Arab partners must all continue the hard work of defeating 
terrorism and supporting democratic reforms.
    Freedom is the birthright and deep desire of every human soul, and 
spreading freedom's blessings is the calling of our time. And when 
freedom and democracy take root in the Middle East, America and the 
world will be safer and more peaceful.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:45 a.m. on March 4 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 5. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
March 4 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his 
remarks, the President referred to President Jacques Chirac of France; 
Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; Chancellor Gerhard 
Schroeder of Germany; and President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the 
Palestinian Authority. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a 
Spanish language transcript of this address.