    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 38 (Monday, September 26, 2005)]
    [Pages 1419-1425]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With President Vladimir Putin of Russia

    September 16, 2005

        President Bush. Thank you all. Please be seated. I'm pleased to
    welcome my friend Vladimir Putin back to the White House. We just had a
    constructive meeting and a candid conversation. I told the President how
    much I enjoyed visiting Russia early this year and how much I'm looking
    forward to going back to Russia for the G-8.
        I also thanked President Putin--Vladimir--for Russia's offers of
    assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It meant a lot to know that
    you cared enough to send critical supplies, and our country really
    appreciates it. People are going through some tough times down there,
    and I think it lifts their spirits to know that not only Americans but
    Russians care about their future.
        We've got a strong ally in Russia in fighting the war on terror. You
    know, it was about 4 years ago that our country got attacked; 1 year
    ago, there was Beslan, both of them brutal attacks, both of them attacks
    by people who have no regard for innocent life. And we understand we
    have a duty to protect our citizens and to work together and to do
    everything we can to stop the killing. That's why we hold office.
        And I appreciate you very much and your understanding of this war on
    terror. We also understand that we've got to work to stop the spread of
    weapons of mass destruction. We understand the stakes, that people who
    kill in cold blood, if they have weapons of mass destruction, will kill
    in cold blood on a massive scale. And I want to appreciate you for your
    understanding and thank you for your understanding of that.
        We both signed the International Convention on the Suppression of
    Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which was a positive statement by the world.
    We discussed our efforts to work together in Iran and North Korea. We
    both--we have the same goal. We don't want the Iranians to have nuclear
    weapons, and we don't want the North Koreans to have nuclear weapons. We
    talked about ways to achieve those goals.
        We talked about the need to improve nuclear security. This year we
    reached a milestone in nonproliferation cooperation by completing the
    conversion of 10,000 Russian nuclear warheads into peaceful fuel for
    U.S. power reactors. And I appreciate very much that sense of
    cooperation. That's good for the world to see.
        We talked about our economic relationship. Russia has got a growing
    economy. We have products that they want, and they've got products that
    we want, like energy. And it's necessary for us to have a good economic
    relationship, one where we resolve our differences in a wise way. I told
    Vladimir that I'm very interested in seeing if we can't get--complete
    the negotiations for Russia's entry into the WTO, the World Trade
    Organization, by the end of this year.
        As we strengthen our economic ties, we'll work to advance freedom
    and democracy in our respective countries and around the world. Russia
    has been a strong partner of the United States and will be even a
    stronger partner as the reforms that President Vladimir Putin has talked
    about are implemented, rule of law and the ability for people to express
    themselves in an open way in Russia.
        I don't know how many visits we've had. I haven't been counting them
    because I've run out of fingers on my hands, but there's been a lot. And
    every time I visit and talk with President Putin, I--our relationship
    becomes stronger. And I want to thank you for that. Thank you for coming
    to the White House to visit.
        Welcome.
        President Putin. Thank you very much. Distinguished ladies and
    gentlemen, first and foremost, I'd like to thank the President for

    [[Page 1420]]

    invitation to visit the White House. And at the outset, allow me to
    relate the words of most sincere compassion and support to the American
    people with regards to the strikes of Mother Nature, that's Katrine
    Hurricane, which caused the death of many human lives and caused serious
    destruction. Believe us, we are sincerely and genuinely having the
    feeling of compassion with that tragedy, with you.
        Russia, in the very first hours after the tragedy, proposed its
    support. Of course, this aid is in no comparison with the scale--the
    plan which was laid down yesterday by the President of U.S. to restore
    that part of the country. But that was sincere support, and we wanted to
    shore up morally the people which they currently need most--that's
    medications. That's the first need objects. And I must say, these
    events, to the entire world, have become a serious lesson not only for
    the U.S. It's not an accident that we have paid a lot of attention today
    and while we had meetings in New York, since it's a global catastrophe--
    global, absolutely global catastrophe, which must make us think.
        And today I told it to George, to ourselves in Russia, we too will
    draw our conclusions regarding organization of activities of services
    related to averting such catastrophes with efficient response to the
    similar catastrophes which are, indeed, of a global nature. This is
    precisely why we've discussed these tragic events and our cooperation as
    regards averting of this--[inaudible]--catastrophes, infectious disease,
    and so forth. I'm sure if we pool our effort, then our activities will
    become more efficient.
        In general, the qualitative new level of interaction between our two
    countries allows to efficiently address these breakthrough strategic
    tasks in many spheres of our interaction. And today's meeting was
    another confirmation of that. The traditional, high priority subjects of
    our interaction is antiterrorist cooperation of U.S. and Russia. We have
    agreed to enhance the bilateral coordination, including on the level of
    the working group to combat terrorism.
        Hereby, we believe that special attention should be paid to a joint
    effort to avert terrorist activities, generally and, of course, with the
    possible use by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction. You know that
    a relevant decision has been adopted in New York, in the United Nations
    organization.
        Significant attention was paid to the subject of nonproliferation,
    and here we have discussed the North Korean problem and the Iranian
    nuclear dossier. And I must say that our positions are very close with
    the American partners here. We will continue to coordinate our work. On
    our part, I'd like to point out, that the potential of diplomatic
    solutions to all these questions is far from being exhausted, and we'll
    undertake all the steps necessary to settle all these problems and
    issues, not to aggravate them, not to bring them to extremalities.
        We have in detail discussed other crisis-related situations in the
    world, and I must say that on all these issues, our foreign policy
    agencies are in touch constantly.
        We have discussed also the upcoming meeting of G-8 group, and I'm
    thankful to George for some of his recommendations. We will continue
    with our partners to be in touch, closely coordinating preparation of
    this event and working out the agenda, so that the meeting of G-8 in the
    Russian Federation be organized at high-level quality but also would
    take the torch and uphold it and also bring some fresh breath as regards
    the relevance of all the subjects as they are considered by our
    countries and the entire world.
        We also discussed today the situation of the post-Soviet Union
    space. Our countries have joint interests in maintaining stability and
    economic prosperity of this vast territory. The position of Russia is
    well known. We come out for the consistent advancement of integrational
    process within the frameworks of this community of independent states,
    with straight respect to sovereignty of all our neighbors, their own
    right, without pressure from outside, to choose their mode of national
    development. And we will coordinate our activities with all our partners
    on that one.
        In the course of negotiations, we have also assessed the course of
    fulfillment of all--of instructions given on Russia-U.S. relations, and
    I'd like to point out the economic ties

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    and this development President just mentioned, the fact that we have a
    mutual interest towards each other, including as regards the growing
    Russia economy and in the sector of energy. We have discussed that in
    detail.
        Basically, this is always the subject of our bilateral meetings. We
    have vast reserves to further develop our economic interaction, and
    first and foremost, as regards energy dialog, high technologies, space
    research, and you know that over the past years, a lot has been done
    both by U.S. and the Russian Federation in this area jointly.
        We have discussed the possibility of accession of WTO by Russia. We
    discussed that in further detail, and I'm very thankful to the President
    of the U.S. for understanding of our interests during the negotiation
    process, and I hope that at the expert level, too, our specialists will
    be able to ultimately find some practical solutions, even if the
    questions they have to coordinate are quite a few. But the positive
    dynamics is there, and I would like to express the hope that it will
    result in specific outcomes.
        And in conclusion, I'd like to underscore one more time that we are
    convinced with the President that the firm basis of the Russia-U.S.
    partnership should be based on the broad ties of our societies,
    citizens, civil societies. And after this meeting in the White House, we
    will have a chance to talk with the leaders of the American companies.
    And I hope that those meetings will also be of help and be useful, since
    we will discuss specific projects of participation of major U.S.
    companies in the Russian economy, first and foremost, in the energy
    sphere.
        And I'd like to thank, one more time, the U.S. President that even
    if very difficult situation is known right now, where Mother Nature has
    revealed itself, well, he has found it possible to materialize our
    agreements and this meeting has occurred, even if it was clear that
    constantly with his mind, he is out there with his thoughts, with those
    people, with those problems. But still, it was possible to run through
    the entire agenda. We have discussed all the questions there. We have
    agreed on the immediate steps in future, as regards to interaction
    between U.S. and Russian Federation. And I hope this will be a good
    impulse for our cooperation in all those spheres I have just enumerated.
        Thank you very much.
        President Bush. We'll take two questions a side, starting with Terry
    [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    Hurricane Katrina Recovery/National Debt

        Q. Mr. President, with billions of dollars flowing out of Washington
    for hurricane relief, some Republicans are worried that you're writing a
    blank check that will have to be paid by future generations. Who is
    going to have to pay for this recovery, and what's it going to do to the
    national debt?
        President Bush. First of all, for our citizens who haven't seen what
    I've seen--you've seen what I've seen--it's--we lost a lot of life and a
    lot of property. I mean, the area destroyed by the storm is the size of
    Great Britain. And we've got whole towns just completely flattened, just
    wiped out. And one of our great cities, New Orleans, is--a lot of it is
    underwater. And by ``underwater,'' I mean water over the rooftops. And
    those homes will be destroyed. Thousands of people won't have homes. And
    so this is an enormous task to help the region start growing again.
        One of the commitments that I made last night is for the Federal
    Government to fund a significant portion of the infrastructure repair
    and rebuilding, in other words, our bridges and our roads, our schools.
    The water systems are ruined. The sewer system is ruined. And I meant
    that when I said we will do that. Part of the recovery is to make sure
    there's an infrastructure that works.
        Yesterday in New Orleans, for example, the mayor was so thrilled
    that a portion of New Orleans, the French Quarter, for example, has got
    lights and sewers--you can't drink the water, but the sewer system
    works. In other words, he's beginning to see some life. And it just
    reminded me that as we can get the infrastructure up and running as
    quickly as possible, get the debris cleared, get the infrastructure up
    and running, then life will begin.
        And so, you bet, it's going to cost money. But I'm confident we can
    handle it, and I'm confident we can handle our other priorities.

    [[Page 1422]]

    It's going to mean that we're going to have to make sure we cut
    unnecessary spending. It's going to mean we don't do--we've got to
    maintain economic growth, and therefore we should not raise taxes. Our
    working people have had to pay a tax, in essence, by higher gasoline
    prices. And we don't need to be taking more money out of their pocket.
    And as we spend the money, we got to make sure we spend it wisely. And
    so we're going to have inspectors general overseeing the expenditure of
    the money.
        Our OMB will work with Congress to figure out where we need to
    offset when we need to offset, so that we can manage not only to
    maintain economic growth and vitality but to be able to spend that which
    is necessary to help this region get back on its feet. So it's a big
    role for the Federal Government.
        There's a big role for private sector. And that's why I call for
    economic growth zones, an economic enterprise zone. Look, there's not
    going to be any revenues coming out of that area for a while anyway, so
    we might as well give them good tax relief in order to get jobs there
    and investment there. It makes sense. The entrepreneurial spirit is
    what's going to help lift this part of the world up. So we've got a--I
    started laying out the outlines of a plan, and it's one that we want to
    work with Congress on.
        Q. What will it cost?
        President Bush. Well, it's going to cost whatever it costs. We're
    going to be wise about the money we spend. I mean, you're--we haven't
    totaled up all the bridges and highways, but I said we'll make a
    commitment to rebuild the infrastructure and--to help rebuild the
    infrastructure. We're also spending money on--$2,000 a family to help
    these people get back on their feet. There's a variety of programs. The
    key question is to make sure the costs are wisely spent, and that we
    work with Congress to make sure that we are able to manage our budget in
    a wise way. And that is going to mean cutting other programs.
        Do you want to call on somebody?

    Russia-U.S. Relations

        Q. The Russian-U.S. relationship largely is based on your good
    personal relations. In year 2008, you both will cease to be Presidents.
    So have you laid any guarantees so that U.S.-Russia relationship could
    go on not worse than it does right now?
        President Bush. That's a good question.
        President Putin. Are they already firing us? We still want to work.
    [Laughter] To be serious, well, I might say that guarantees of the
    positive development of the U.S.-Russia relations are based on the
    mutual interests to develop such relations between the two countries.
    With their steps, leaders can either help such an objective processes of
    development or be an impediment. We try to do whatever it takes to
    support this process. So far, we are responsible and will continue to do
    so.
        President Bush. For example, we will leave behind some legacies: the
    Moscow Treaty, which commits both countries to reducing our nuclear
    warheads; trade. In other words, as our countries and different
    companies begin to invest--companies begin to invest in both countries,
    that leaves behind a legacy that will be hard for future governments to
    undo. There's kind of a strategic dialog. We get in habits sometimes,
    and the idea of setting a way for governments to talk to each other at
    different levels of government is a good legacy.
        And so, we do have 3 more years, which I found out is a long period
    of time. And we'll be able to do more together that people--that future
    governments will view as a way to move forward to keep the peace and to
    be--to deal with big issues in a complex world.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Response to Future U.S. Disasters/Iran

        Q. Last night you said that greater Federal involvement and troops
    may be required in future disasters. Could you elaborate on that a
    little bit? And were you able to convince President Putin on the need to
    send Iran to the Security Council? Sorry to do a two-part.
        President Bush. No, that's--hit me with a two-part question.
        First, on Iran, we agree that the Iranians should not have a nuclear
    weapon. That's important for people to understand. When you share the
    same goal, it means, as you work diplomatically, you're working toward
    that goal.

    [[Page 1423]]

        Secondly, I am confident that the world will see to it that Iran
    goes to the U.N. Security Council if it does not live up to its
    agreements. And when that referral will happen is a matter of diplomacy.
    And that's what we talked about. We talked about how to deal with this
    situation diplomatically.
        The first part of the question--oh, was how to deal with disasters.
        Q. Federal involvement in disasters.
        President Bush. Yes. I don't want to prejudge the commission's--what
    do they call it, the bipartisan commission that is set up in Congress. I
    don't want to prejudge their findings. But I do think they ought to
    seriously consider the fact that there are--a storm, for example, of a
    certain category, which will require an overwhelming response by
    Government that can only be provided by, say, the United States military
    through NORTHCOM, because of its ability to muster logistical--logistics
    and supplies so quickly. And that's what I want Congress to consider,
    and I think it's very important that Congress consider this.
        It's important for us to learn from the storm what could have been
    done better, for example, and apply that to other types of situations,
    such as a pandemic. At the U.N., I talked about avian flu; we need to
    take it seriously. I talked to Vladimir about avian flu; I talked to
    other world leaders about the potential outbreak of avian flu. If avian
    flu were to hit this country, do we have the proper response mechanisms?
    Does the Federal Government have the authorities necessary to make
    certain decisions? And this storm will give us an opportunity to review
    all different types of circumstance to make sure that the President has
    the capacity to react. And that's what I was referring to. I wasn't
    drawing any conclusions; I was just suggesting that this be a matter of
    debate and discussion with the bipartisan commission that is going to be
    set up there, with Democrats and Republican Senators and Congressmen.
        President Putin. As regards to the Iranian subject, I might as well
    say that the our position is very clear and understandable. We support
    all of the agreements on nonproliferation, which includes Iran among
    others, fully, and we've always, in this regard, been open with our
    partners, transparent completely. And yesterday in the meeting with the
    President of Iran, we directly told him so. And of course, we are
    against the fact that Iran would become a nuclear power, and we'll
    continue to do so in future, under any circumstances.

        Now, as regards as to how we can control the situation, there are
    many ways and means to do so. We wouldn't like our--inaccurate steps
    could bring us to the situation similar to that one in the Korean
    Peninsula. We're in touch with all the partners in the process with the
    European-3, with the U.S. We have understanding of what we need to do,
    and I hope that our activities will be coordinated and will bring
    positive results.

        Once again, yesterday I heard from the Iranian leader, a statement
    that Iran does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons. That's the first
    thing I wanted to share with you.
        Now--and if you allow me, today, this way or the other, still we'll
    come back--and for quite a while, I guess, in future, too--to the fact
    of this horrible catastrophe, which was passed on to the soil of the
    U.S., having to do with this Hurricane Katrine. If, George, you don't
    mind, I would come back to this first question, which relates to the
    fact that we are taking away money from the future generation pockets.
    In the Soviet Union, for many decades, we lived under the motto: We need
    to think about the future generation. But we never thought about the
    existing, current, present generations. And at the end of the day, we
    have destroyed the country, not thinking about the people living today.

        Therefore, of course, yes, we need to spend money. There is no two
    ways about it. And I believe that both U.S. and we in Russia and in
    other countries of the world, we've been analyzing, all of us, what has
    transpired, how the state and the bodies responded to the current
    events. Many of us will draw their conclusions as regards restructuring
    the activities of the relevant services and bodies of the state which
    ought to minimize the repercussions of such catastrophes.
        President Bush. Final question.

    [[Page 1424]]

    Emerging Democracies

        Q. The question to Mr. President of the U.S. Mr. President, while
    talking in the United Nations organization, you, probably
    conscientiously in a row--talking about the strive for the road to
    democracy--mentioned such countries as Afghanistan, Iran, Georgia,
    Ukraine, and Iraq. Do you believe the situation politically in this
    country is similar?
        And to you, Mr. President, since we're talking about it, what is
    your assessment, in Iraq and in Ukraine, please? Thank you.
        President Bush. Let me make sure I understand your question. Do I
    believe the country in--the situation in our country is similar to their
    countries?
        Q. You spoke at the United Nations about the strive for democracy--
    --
        President Bush. Right.
        Q. ----and you----
        President Bush. I remember that.
        Q. And you mentioned Georgia, Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan--just do
    you think the situation in these countries is similar?
        President Bush. Oh. Well, no, I think they're all different. I
    think, as a matter of fact, democracy tends to reflect the cultures and
    histories of each different country. I do think, though, they're bound
    by some common principles, one that governments that are elected by the
    people tend to respond to the people, that they've got minority rights
    and rule of law. But they're all on different stages of the development
    of democracy.
        Democracy just doesn't happen. It grows. It takes a while. It's the
    experience of our country. It's the experience of the Russian
    Federation. I mean, democracies take on the customs and habits of the
    particular people, and they mature. And so they're at different stages.
    I mean, clearly, Iraq is a struggling democracy. But one thing is for
    certain: The people have made their mind about what they want. They want
    democracy: 8.5 million Iraqis went to the polls, see, and they've got a
    constitution that's been written. It wasn't written under bayonet or
    under the barrel of a gun. It was written by people from different
    factions of the society that have come together. And it will be voted on
    soon. And then there will be another election. So this is an emerging
    democracy, and it's different from a more mature democracy.
        Q. Can I follow up?
        President Bush. No. [Laughter] Got to keep order and discipline.
    Right, Steve?
        President Putin. On the last question about Iraq and Ukraine--Iraq,
    we are aware of the situation in Iraq. Unfortunately, we are facing
    constant violence, and that relates to known factors having to do with
    the upcoming referendum on constitution there. I believe that if it will
    be possible to get constitution, this will be a good, strong step
    forward to achieve stability in that country.
        In my opinion, it will be only possible if the main political
    forces, ethnic groups, will get a sense that it's their own
    constitution. If this document will be confirmed, agreed upon by the
    overwhelming segments of the population, if the current leadership makes
    a strong case and convinces population that this constitution is
    satisfactory to all, it will maintain territorial integrity, will take
    into account the interests of major minority groups, then it will be a
    real step forward in settlement. And we hope very much that will occur.
        Now, as regards Ukraine, well, what can be said here? The political
    crisis, as I said recently in Berlin, the situation is under control of
    the President.
        President Bush. Good job. Thank you. Good job.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 2:59 p.m. in the East
    Room at the White House. President Putin and some reporters spoke in
    Russian, and their remarks were translated by an interpreter. In his
    remarks, President Bush referred to Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans,
    LA. President Putin referred to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran;
    and President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine. A portion of this news
    conference could not be verified because the tape was incomplete. This
    item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate issue.

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