    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 3 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
    [Pages 77-78]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of
    Belgium

    January 17, 2006

        President Bush. You're probably wondering what the Prime Minister is
    sharing with me. First of all, welcome. We're talking mountain biking--
    actually, he's talking about the Tour de France. He's a huge advocate
    and a follower of the bike scene around the world. He's also an avid
    mountain biker, and one of these days, he and I are going to ride. He's
    going to give me a lesson on how to ride a mountain bike.
        First of all, welcome. Thanks for the wide-ranging discussion. I've
    been honored to know Guy for a long period of time. We have got a close
    relationship. And we talked about the importance of transatlantic
    relations, about how it's important for the United States to work with
    the European Union to reach common objectives and to help work together
    to make this world a more peaceful place and a better place for people.
        We talked about bilateral relations, and the Prime Minister brought
    up an antiquated tax treaty that he believes needs to be looked at by
    our Government in order to facilitate trade between Belgium and the
    United States.
        We talked about Africa, in particular, the Congo. And I want to
    thank you for your leadership, Mr. Prime Minister, on this very
    important issue. I told the Prime Minister my Government would work very
    closely with the Belgium Government to help the people of the Congo
    realize their full potential.

    [[Page 78]]

        We had a wide-ranging discussion, as to be expected among friends,
    and it's been my honor to welcome him here. And I'm glad you're here.
        Prime Minister Verhofstadt. Well, we had, in fact, a very good and
    intense discussion--not only about biking, that was only at the end, the
    biking, in the search of who can be the successor of Lance Armstrong.
    [Laughter] We have not made a final choice on who can be the successor.
        But we had a very good, I think, discussion about transatlantic
    relationship. I'm very pleased that since our last meeting, we have
    started with this transatlantic informal meetings in New York and in
    Brussels. And it improves, I think, the relationship, the transatlantic
    relationship. There is certainly a lot of work still to do, and I think
    that common point of view and a common policy of the U.S. and of Europe
    on issues like the Middle East, like Iran, is certainly absolutely
    necessary and can improve this transatlantic relationship.
        And we also discussed the need to have more reflection on future of
    North Atlantic Alliance, on the relationship between European defense
    and North Atlantic Alliance, and maybe we can develop a number of
    initiatives with Belgium in Brussels on that issues.
        About the Congo, it's very clear that we have to help. The
    transition period is, at this moment, successful. We hope for elections
    in April, a second round in June. But we have already discussed what
    after these elections. The international community has to continue to
    help and to seek good governance in the Congo and in Central Africa.
        So that were, in any way, the most important elements, and then at
    the end, in fact, we shall start a negotiation with the American
    administration to have a new tax treatment between Belgium and the U.S.,
    to avoid double taxation in the future.
        Thank you.
        President Bush. Good job. Thanks, Guy. Appreciate you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:02 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. Prime Minister Verhofstadt referred to 2005 Tour de France winner
    Lance Armstrong. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of these remarks.