[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.