[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 30 (Monday, July 31, 2006)]
[Pages 1392-1395]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Traian Basescu of Romania 
and an Exchange With Reporters

July 27 2006

    President Bush. The Prime Minister and I will take a couple of 
questions a side after opening statements--Mr. President, excuse me. 
Welcome.
    President Basescu. Thank you.
    President Bush. The President and I are friends. Romania and the 
United States are friends, and we're allies. And as such, we've had an 
in-depth discussion about a variety of subjects. We talked about the 
international scene and how we can work together to promote democracy 
and peace. We talked about the neighborhood, and I assured him that the 
United States position on Moldova is that we support the territorial 
integrity of Moldova.
    We talked about bilateral relations. One of the--of course, the 
issues that's on the President's mind is visa policy. He was very 
articulate and strong in his position that the United States must be 
forward-leaning when

[[Page 1393]]

it comes to granting visas to the citizens of Romania. I listened very 
carefully. I assured him that there is a way forward; there's a roadmap 
that we'd like to work with our friends and allies on, and we will pay 
very careful attention to what the President said.
    We've got a lot on our agenda because we're friends. And I do want 
to thank the people of Romania for their strong support for the young 
democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan. And your contribution, Mr. 
President, has been worthwhile and meaningful, and I know the Iraqi 
people are grateful, and so am I.
    So welcome back to the Oval Office.
    President Basescu. Thank you very much, Mr. President. In fact, we 
meet each other after one year--compare it with what we discussed last 
year, we conclude that both parties fulfilled assumed obligations. 
Romania will continue to remain an ally of the United States in 
supporting the democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, in supporting 
democratic regimes in these countries like a key of freedom on the area.
    In same time, we analyze together the bilateral relations and the 
problems which are around Black Sea, around of the region where Romania 
exists. We analyzed the Western Balkans situation; we analyzed the 
situation of Moldova and the necessity having Republic of Moldova in his 
territory unaffected by anybody.
    In same time, we conclude that we have to continue our cooperation 
in economical area, in political area, and in security area. And in same 
time, Romania will contribute with peace possibilities in spreading the 
democracy around of Romania, mainly on the Black Sea region.
    That's all in a few words. I thank you very much, Mr. President, for 
our discussion.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir.
    Jennifer [Jennifer Loven, Associated Press].

Situation in the Middle East

    Q. Thank you, sir. Israel's Justice Minister said that the lack of a 
call from the international community for an immediate cease-fire 
essentially gives Israel a green light to push harder. And the top 
general there says there will be several more weeks of fighting. Is your 
administration okay with these things?
    President Bush. I believe this: I believe that, as Condi said 
yesterday, the Middle East is littered with agreements that just didn't 
work. And now is the time to address the root cause of the problem. And 
the root cause of the problem is terrorist groups trying to stop the 
advance of democracies.
    Hizballah attacked Israel. I believe Hizballah--I know Hizballah is 
connected to Iran. And now is the time for the world to confront this 
danger. Look, we care deeply about the loss of life. And I'm troubled by 
the destruction that has taken place in Lebanon. You know, we grieve 
when Lebanese families lose innocent life. I've urged that there be 
caution when it comes to dealing with Hizballah. On the other hand, I 
fully understand that whatever is done diplomatically must address the 
root cause. And the root cause is terrorist activities. One of the 
things I said initially when these incidents first started happening, 
was that it's important for the Lebanese democracy to survive and to 
become strong.
    And so what you're watching is American policy aiming to address the 
root cause and aiming to strengthen Lebanese democracy so that we can 
have peace. I view this as a clash of forms of government. I see people 
who can't stand the thought of democracy taking hold in parts of--in the 
Middle East. And as democracy begins to advance, they use terrorist 
tactics to stop it.
    And so I appreciate my Secretary of State's hard work. There's a lot 
of diplomacy being done. There's a lot of discussions about how to go 
forward. Yesterday's meetings were successful in this way: It showed a 
diplomatic way forward. And so you're seeing a lot of diplomacy take 
place.
    But our objective is to make sure those who use terrorist tactics 
are not rewarded, and at the same time, help those who have suffered as 
a result of the responses.
    Q. So several more weeks of fighting is okay to achieve those goals?
    President Bush. My goal is exactly what I said it was, and that is 
to hopefully end this as quickly as possible, and at the same time, 
making sure there's a lasting peace--not a fake peace, not a fake, you 
know, kind

[[Page 1394]]

of circumstances that make us all feel better, and then, sure enough, 
the problem arises again. And that's the goal of the United States. And 
we're working toward that end, and we're working hard diplomatically. 
Look, as soon as we can get this resolved the better, obviously, but it 
must be real. And it can't be fake. And so there's a serious diplomatic 
effort going forward, led ably by my Secretary of State.
    You want to ask somebody from the Romanian press?

Romania's Participation in International Affairs

    Q. Is there any role for the Romanian--for Romania in the American 
foreign policy strategies besides its participation within the American-
led coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan?
    President Bush. Absolutely. I spent a lot of time listening to my 
friend's advice on the Black Sea region. We're going to spend time over 
lunch talking about specific issues related to the Balkans. And 
Romania's role in this area and in her neighborhood is a vital role, one 
that I listen very carefully to his advice on, because this area of the 
world is one where there's emerging democracies. And it's an area of the 
world that is--where there has been historical conflict, and it's an 
area of the world where we've got to pay attention to it. And so the 
Romanian role is a vital role.
    And so, as I say, we're going to spend time strategizing about the 
role over lunch.
    Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters].

War on Terror

    Q. Sir, thank you. Dr. Zawahiri has surfaced again with a new 
videotape urging Muslims to fight and become martyrs because of the 
conflict in Lebanon. What's your reaction to that?
    President Bush. My answer is, I'm not surprised people who use 
terrorist tactics would start speaking out. It doesn't surprise me. I 
am--Zawahiri's attitude about life is that there shouldn't be free 
societies, and he believes that people ought to use terrorist tactics, 
the killing of innocent people, to achieve his objective. And so I'm not 
surprised he feels like he needs to lend his voice to terrorist 
activities that are trying to prevent democracies from moving forward.
    Al Qaida has made it clear about their vision for the future, and 
it's one that is exactly opposite to what the American people believe 
and this Romanian President believes, and that is, people ought to be 
free--free to worship, free to speak their minds, free to participate in 
the process.
    And so, you know, here's a fellow who is in a remote region of the 
world putting out statements basically encouraging people to use 
terrorist tactics to kill innocent people to achieve political 
objectives. And the United States of America stands strong against Mr. 
Zawahiri and his types.

U.S. Visa Policy

    Q. Mr. President, sir, about a visa waiver, how soon can Romanians 
expect to travel to U.S. without a visa? And when taking this decision 
that Romanians are expecting, are you going to take under consideration, 
for instance, that Romanians will probably want to come and work in the 
United States in huge numbers? Is that the problem for the United 
States?
    President Bush. No, no. It's an interesting question you bring up, 
however. I told the President we're dealing with an immigration debate 
here in the United States and that I'm hopeful that we'll get a 
comprehensive immigration bill that will accommodate people who want to 
work here, but we want them to work here on a temporary basis and in a 
legal way.
    No, the issue with the visa policy first started because of what was 
an overstay problem based upon a history of people traveling to the 
United States during a different era. In other words, a lot of people 
during the previous era--that era would be one defined by a non-free 
society versus a free society--would come to the United States on a 
temporary visa and then would overstay their visa. And we have laws on 
the books that say countries who had people come and overstay their 
visas, therefore, must be viewed differently than others.
    Now, one of the first changes we have made is that we have said, 
``Okay, that's a bygone era; now let's look toward the future.'' 
Secondly, we've said to countries, ``We

[[Page 1395]]

want to work together on a roadmap to make sure the visa policy will 
work.'' And that's where we are with Romania as well as other countries. 
And so each country has to develop its own roadmap based upon its own 
particular circumstances.

    And that's what we're doing, Mr. President. The answer is, as 
quickly as we can get these issues resolved, the better. But we've still 
got work to do.

    President Basescu. If you allow me, Mr. President, mainly for the 
American journalists. Romanians don't look at the United States like 
immigration area. In fact, as a member of European Union, the Romanians 
have a lot of places to work around Romania.

    The problem which we have now--and for this reason, I raised the 
subject of visas in discussions with the President--is in connection 
with our students which are more and more present in American 
universities, with our intelligent peoples which are working in IBM or 
in Oracle, with our business peoples--and if you look at the volume of 
the business in the last 3 years, was three times increased. And now a 
businessperson from Romania, in order to obtain a visa coming in United 
States, discussing about developing the business, need minimum 3 months.

    And in fact, the Romanians don't look at the United States like a 
place to immigrate illegally or to find a working place. This problem 
was settled for Romanians in Europe. We already have the people spread 
around of Europe, like Romania have people from Europe, from other 
countries which work in Romania. Romania will not be illegal immigration 
problem, or a problem from the point of view of jobs which exist in the 
United States.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    President Bush. Good job. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:58 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Ayman Al-Zawahiri, founder of the 
Egyptian Islamic Jihad and senior Al Qaida associate. A reporter 
referred to Minister of Justice Haim Ramon of Israel.