    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 6 (Monday, February 13, 2006)]
    [Page 223]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With President Lech Kaczynski of Poland

    February 9, 2006

        President Bush. Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. It's
    really good to have you here. We have just had a extensive discussion
    about important issues. After this press statement, we'll go have lunch
    and continue our discussions. And we've got a lot to discuss, because
    we're strong allies and friends. We're friends in liberty. We believe in
    peace.
        I told the President, it's amazing to be sitting with somebody who
    knows the difference between living in a society that is not independent
    and not free, and one that--and now he's the President of a free
    country. I thanked the President and the Polish people for their support
    of the democracy movement in Iraq.
        We had a very interesting discussion about NATO and the European
    Union. You can be an active member of the EU, a loyal member of the EU,
    and a friend of the United States at the same time. I asked the
    President his advice on Ukraine. That's what friends do; they share
    information and share strategic thoughts.
        We talked about the importance for commercial ties. We'll continue
    those discussions over lunch. The President of Poland comes to a country
    that respects Poland. There's a lot of Polish Americans that have still
    got great pride for the homeland. We congratulate you on your victory
    and welcome you.
        Thanks for coming.
        President Kaczynski. President Bush has spoken of the subject of our
    talks. The first part has been extended, to a certain extent, and we
    will continue our discussions during lunch. We have discussed issues
    relating to NATO, the European Union, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia and
    Iraq and Afghanistan. In other words, to say very briefly, we've
    discussed all issues that both countries are interested in.
        Mr. President and myself have discussed issues relating to freedom
    in the Ukraine and Belarus. And the support of the United States for all
    actions that are leading to freedom in Ukraine and Belarus are very
    important for Poland at the same time. There have been certain signals
    that might lead to an improvement of relations between the Republic of
    Poland and the Russian Federation. We have no certainty yet, but these
    signals we have received, and we're hoping for an improvement in
    relations between Poland and Russia.
        We shall continue our talks in a few minutes.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:57 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Kaczynski spoke in Polish, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.