[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 19 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Pages 789-790]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders

May 11, 2005

    I thank the Members of the Congress for coming down to give me and 
the Secretary of State a chance to talk about our recent trip to Europe. 
It was a great trip, and it's such an honor to represent the United 
States.
    Sitting in Red Square honoring the veterans of World War II was an 
amazing event. I remember as a kid watching the missiles parade through 
Red Square, and here I sat as the President of the United States in Red 
Square, paying homage to people who died to defeat nazism. And I was 
sitting beside a friend. Russia is not an enemy. Russia is our friend. 
And it's important that we work together to achieve peace. Obviously, we 
have a difference of opinion on certain issues, but we don't have a 
difference of opinion on working together for peace.
    I went to the Baltics, had a great trip to Latvia. It's such an 
inspiring experience to be in countries that are newly minted 
democracies that love freedom. And I met with civil society advocates. I 
look forward to briefing you on the situation that this young democracy 
faces in making sure that all people are participating in the democracy.
    Went to the Netherlands. Her Majesty kindly came and visited--paid a 
visit with us. I laid a wreath with Her Majesty honoring the U.S. 
soldiers who died at the end of World War II. Interestingly enough, some 
of my father-in-law's unit were there, and it was neat for Laura to be 
able to hug them and to remember her dad as she paid tribute to the 
veterans.
    Then I went to Georgia. It was--standing in front of 150,000 people 
that love freedom was a fantastic experience.
    The lessons of World War II is to honor the sacrifice of those who 
helped us keep the peace and to remember that the United States is 
always the beacon of freedom and that when we find people living under 
tyranny, we've got to work to free them in order to make the world more 
peaceful.
    And so I want to thank you all for coming. I look forward to 
briefing you in specific on some of the conversations I had, and I'm 
looking forward to your comments as well.

[[Page 790]]

Note: The President spoke at 3:05 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Vladimir Putin of 
Russia; and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.