[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 9 (Monday, March 6, 2006)]
[Pages 363-365]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Discussion With Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of 
Italy and an Exchange With Reporters

February 28, 2006

    President Bush. We'll have some opening statements. I will answer 
two questions from the U.S. side. The Prime Minister will answer two 
questions from the Italian side.
    I welcome my friend to the Oval Office. Every time I meet with the 
Prime Minister my spirits are raised because he is such a positive, 
optimistic person. The Prime Minister is a strong leader. He's a man of 
his word. He has brought stability to the Italian Government. Obviously, 
it's important for an American President to be able to work with 
somebody in a consistent manner, and I appreciate the stability that the 
Prime Minister has brought to our close ally and friend.
    We had a lot of discussion on important issues. We discussed the war 
on terror, and I thanked the Prime Minister for his strong leadership. 
We discussed the NATO role in Afghanistan. We discussed Iraq and the 
need for strong allies to continue to support the democracy movement 
there. I sought the Prime Minister's opinions on Iran. It was a very 
constructive dialog.
    And finally, I want to thank the people of Italy for hosting the 
Winter Olympics. You did a wonderful job. I know firsthand how good a 
job you did because my wife reported back. She loved her experience. And 
so congratulations to the Government and the people of Italy for hosting 
these magnificent games. And welcome.
    Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for 
your words of appreciation which gave me a lot of satisfaction. On my 
behalf, I have to say that coming here and meeting the leader of a 
friendly country is the reason for me to go along the path that we 
decided to follow. It makes me firm in that.
    The consensus and agreements which we always have stems from the 
fact that we share the same values. We both believe the problem 
affecting the world--is to spread democracy. Because only through 
democracy there can be freedom, and only through freedom can human 
beings give the best of themselves.
    Therefore, I think we can say that we're lucky because the biggest 
democracy of the world has such a leader who sees problems affecting the 
world so clearly and proceeds and follows so firmly in this direction. 
President Bush and the American people have found a firm and sound ally 
in my Government.
    After 9/11, we both decided to carry out military operations in 
Afghanistan. And I think we both gave strong support in the 
reconstruction of Iraq and in the construction of democracy in that 
country. And we express our appreciation and we're very close to the

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American people because of the many victims that terrorism has caused. I 
want to reassure President Bush and his people that when an American 
soldier dies for the cause of democracy and freedom in that country, we 
feel that and consider that as a loss for ourselves. But we will 
continue along this path because we are convinced, as President Bush has 
said, that only if all democratic states join together we can bring 
democracy and peace all over the world.
    President Bush. Welcome. Tom [Tom Raum, Associated Press].

Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, there was some more sectarian violence today in 
Iraq. There have been hundreds, maybe thousands, killed since the 
bombing of the mosque. Do you fear an all-out civil war? And will the 
events of Iraq of the last few days affect prospects for a U.S. 
drawdown?
    And to the Prime Minister, do you still want to withdraw Italian 
troops by the end of the year?
    President Bush. The United States strongly condemns the bombing of 
holy sites. We believe people should be allowed to worship freely. 
Obviously, there are some who are trying to sow the seeds of sectarian 
violence. They destroy in order to create chaos, and now the people of 
Iraq and their leaders must make a choice. The choice is chaos or unity. 
The choice is a free society or a society dictated by the--by evil 
people who will kill innocents.
    This weekend, I spoke to seven of the Iraqi leaders. They understood 
the seriousness of the moment. They have made their choice, which is to 
work toward a unity government. The Iraqi people made their choice. Last 
December, 11 million people, in defiance of the terrorists and the 
killers, went to the polls and said, we want to be free.
    Prime Minister Berlusconi. We have announced a plan to progressively 
withdraw our troops, which should be completed--we have to be completed 
by the end of this year. And this plan has been agreed upon also 
together with our allies and with the Iraqi Government. Because this 
what is going to be possible--why this will be possible.
    President Bush. Yes.
    Prime Minister Berlusconi. Why is this going to be possible? Because 
we have, all together with our allies, trained the Iraqi troops and the 
Iraqi soldiers and the law enforcement so that the Iraqi Government 
itself will be able to guarantee the security of its people through 
their own forces.
    So as far as the province which is under our control is concerned, 
we have 3,000 soldiers there, troops which will be withdrawn by the end 
of this year. But we have trained 10,000 law enforcement people who can 
guarantee the respect of peace.
    Questions, Italian.

Italy-U.S. Relations

[The reporter spoke in Italian, and the question was translated by an 
interpreter.]

    Q. The first question is to President Bush. Should the center left 
win in Italy, since they have different views from President Berlusconi, 
will the relations between the United States and Italy continue to be as 
they are? Will they be proved worse? And then with a question to Prime 
Minister Berlusconi, Prodi has just declared that President Bush has 
just organized for President--for Prime Minister Berlusconi a farewell 
party?
    Prime Minister Berlusconi. You have a possibility to answer no 
comment.
    President Bush. That's right, yes. [Laughter] No, look, it's--
obviously, there's an election. There must be an election, so the 
question is about pure politics. I have--my relationship is not a 
political relationship with this man; it's a strategic relationship. And 
this strategic relationship is important for both our peoples, and it's 
important to help lay the foundations for peace. Okay? [Laughter]
    Caren [Caren Bohan, Reuters].

Dubai Ports World/Homeland Security

    Q. Mr. President, since you're the final arbiter of the Dubai Ports 
deal, are you still inclined to approve it? And do you stand by your 
veto threat?
    President Bush. My position hasn't changed to my message to the 
Congress. And I appreciate the fact that the companies concerned have 
asked the Congress for a review of all the security implications.

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    Let me just make something clear to the American people: If there 
was any doubt in my mind or people in my administration's mind that our 
ports would be less secure and the American people endangered, this deal 
wouldn't go forward. And I can understand people's consternation because 
the first thing they heard was that a foreign company would be in charge 
of our port security, when in fact, the Coast Guard and Customs are in 
charge of our port security. Our duty is to protect America, and we will 
protect America.
    On the other hand, this company is buying a British company that 
manages the ports. And by the way, there are a lot of foreign companies 
managing U.S. ports. And so my question to the Members of Congress as 
they review this matter is, one, please look at the facts. And two, what 
kind of signal does it send throughout the world if it's okay for a 
British company to manage the ports, but not a company that has been 
secure--been cleared for security purposes, from the Arab world? So I 
look forward to a good, consistent review. You don't need to interpret. 
That's a U.S. question.
    One at a time.

Italy-U.S. Relations

[The reporter spoke in Italian, and the question was translated by an 
interpreter.]

    Q. Just a few minutes ago, President Bush praised stability. I would 
like to know from both of you what role did stability play in your 
personal relationship and in the relationship between the two countries?
    President Bush. Well, first of all, a personal relationship is based 
upon mutual trust. And I have found Silvio to be a person of his word. 
Look, sometimes we don't agree, but at least you know where he stands. 
He is--and that matters, by the way, for a person to keep his word. In 
politics, people always try to look the easy--find the easy path. I like 
somebody who makes up his mind based upon principle.
    And obviously there's a practical reason why it's important to have 
stability. Because if a government is changing every year, it requires a 
person in my position to constantly have to reacquaint yourself. And 
that's what I meant by stability. It's much easier to make common policy 
when you're dealing with a person from one year to the next.
    Prime Minister Berlusconi. As far as I'm concerned, I can only add 
that we brought into politics the values which pertain to the world of 
work and business, and the world of sport. Because in politics, people 
changing frequently their minds and positions are considered to be 
professional. [Laughter] While on the contrary in the world of business 
or the world of sports, a person who changes constantly his position and 
never keeps his promises is cornered or even set outside.
    President Bush. Thank you. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 10:43 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A reporter referred to Romano Prodi, candidate for Prime Minister 
of Italy. Prime Minister Berlusconi spoke partly in Italian, and those 
portions of his remarks were translated by an interpreter.