[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 18 (Monday, May 9, 2005)]
[Pages 758-760]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Interview With Latvian Television

May 4, 2005

Latvia-U.S. Relations

    Q. So there is no secret that you were a jet pilot, so how would you 
describe, in a couple of sentences, where is Latvia on your radar?
    The President. That's very interesting. Latvia is a close friend. 
Latvia is a country that has made a big difference in important 
alliances to the United States, like NATO. I remember when the moment 
came when the countries--the new countries admitted to NATO came into 
the room that I was sitting in, and I turned to the person I was sitting 
next to and said, ``It's going to be so

[[Page 759]]

important for NATO to have these fresh--these new countries, because 
they bring a fresh outlook to freedom. These are people that have 
recently lived under, in this case, communism and realized what it means 
to be free, and it's going to be very important.''
    And so Latvia is very high on my radar screen. Plus, I'm very close 
to the President.
    Q. How come you've become such good friends?
    The President. Well, first of all, she's a straightforward person. I 
like straightforward people. You know, sometimes in politics you get 
people who say one thing and don't mean it. When she tells me something, 
she means it. She's very engaging and--very intelligent woman, and I 
admire her courage. And so I'm fond of her.

Russia-Baltic States Relations

    Q. You're good friends with President Putin of Russia. Do you think 
you could encourage him to admit historical justice and admit the fact 
that Baltic States were occupied in 1940?
    The President. Well, yes, I've talked to him about this issue when I 
was in Slovakia. I said, ``Do you understand, friend, that you've got 
problems in the Baltics? You've got problems with Latvia because people 
don't like--the remembrances of the time of communism are unpleasant 
remembrances, and you need to work with these young democracies.'' I 
explained to him that it's best that there be democracies on his border, 
free countries, because free countries don't attack people; free 
countries listen to the hopes and aspirations of people. I don't know if 
I've made any progress with him or not, but I have made my position 
clear.
    I understand there's a lot of people in the Baltics who are--you 
know, don't view the celebration in Russia as a day of liberation. 
Frankly, it's the beginning of a difficult period, and I can understand 
why some leaders of countries aren't going and some others are. That's a 
decision each leader must make, and I respect the decision of each 
leader.
    But I'm going to continue to speak very forcefully on freedom and 
liberty, and the Baltics are a great example of free countries.
    Q. But you are pretty certain that Russia is at least on the right 
path of development, and it does not pose any threat to its smaller 
neighbors?
    The President. Well, I certainly hope not. And one of the reasons a 
relationship with the United States and Latvia is important is, is that 
we will stand with Latvia if a larger country tries to intimidate the 
people. That's the great thing about Latvia joining NATO, is that the 
security is now guaranteed by not only the United States but all members 
of NATO.
    Listen, the President and I speak about relations between Russia and 
Latvia quite frequently. And my job at times is to send a message that 
says, ``Look, treat your neighbors with respect. Free nations, 
democracies on your border are good for you, whether that be, by the 
way, in the Baltics or in Ukraine.'' I've sent that same message--or 
Georgia. In other words, countries that are free countries are countries 
that will be good neighbors.

Belarus

    Q. What can we do about Belarus, because a couple of hundred miles 
from where you're going to be visiting there sits the last dictator of 
Europe. What can we do about it?
    The President. The ``last dictator of Europe'' is right, and we'll 
continue to pressure Belarus and call upon the world, the rest of the 
world, the free world--not the whole world but the free world--to work 
to give the people of Belarus a chance to live in a free society.
    When I was in Slovakia I met with people of the freedom movement. I 
know when Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, was in your part of the 
world, she met with leaders of the freedom movement too. And we'll 
continue to press forward. President Putin must understand that a free 
Belarus is in his country's interest.

Freedom and Democracy

    Q. The sentiment of anti-Americanism, as I'm sure you know, is quite 
widespread in Europe and in my country as well. Do you think there is 
any degree of your own fault in the fact that this sentiment is on the 
rise or----
    The President. I made some hard decisions. You know, going into Iraq 
was a hard

[[Page 760]]

decision. I can understand people not liking that. But I would hope 
people in Europe would understand that freedom is not owned only by 
Europeans, that people around the world deserve to be free. And as we 
act in our self-interest to fight terrorists, as we work to make sure 
terrorists can't get weapons of mass destruction to cause great harm, 
that we will also work to free people. After all, the people of Latvia, 
of all people, ought to understand what it means to live under the 
subjugation of a doctrine that doesn't allow for freedom, communism.
    And here people are living in the Middle East, for example, under 
the brutal reign of tyrants, huge mass graves, massive death, people 
tortured. And now they're living free. And when 8\1/2\ million people 
went to vote in Iraq, it sent a clear message that said, ``We will not 
let the terrorists intimidate us; we want to be free, just like people 
in the Balkans used to speak, we want to be free.''
    You know, our country had a great history with the Baltics, that we 
said, ``Your Embassies will remain little havens for freedom.'' We never 
recognized the lack of independence in the Baltics. We always believed 
that you should be free. And I hope over time, the young people of 
Latvia understand that that's what we stand for in America. We stand for 
freedom. We don't believe freedom is America's gift. We believe there's 
universal desire to be free. And the world will be more peaceful.
    The hard decisions I've made I am confident will make this world a 
more peaceful place.
    Q. Thanks very much, Mr. Bush.
    The President. Welcome.
    Q. I hope it's a good visit.
    The President. I'm confident it will be. I'm looking forward to it.

Note: The interview was taped at 2:06 p.m. in the Map Room at the White 
House for later broadcast and was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 6. In his remarks, the President referred to President 
Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia; President Valdimir Putin of Russia; and 
President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus.