    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 17 (Monday, April 30, 2007)]
    [Pages 529-535]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan
    at Camp David, Maryland

    April 27, 2007

        President Bush. Thank you. Welcome. Mr. Prime Minister, Shinzo,
    welcome to Camp David. I thank you very much for making the long
    journey. I also thank you for bringing your gracious wife to dinner last
    night.
        The Abes and Laura and I had a really good dinner. It was very
    relaxed. The Prime Minister married very well. I was so impressed by
    Akie's compassion, her intelligence. And I will tell you, Shinzo, that
    Laura feels like she has a new friend now, and so do I. So we're really
    glad you're here.
        We had the kind of discussion you'd expect allies to have. I would
    describe the talks as--first of all, Shinzo and I met alone for a good
    period of time. Our talks were very relaxed, but they were strategic. We
    think about the interest of our country, and we think about the interest
    of maintaining peace in the world. The alliance between Japan and the
    United States has never been stronger, and the Prime Minister and I will
    work hard to keep it that way. It's in the interest of our peoples that
    we work closely.

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        I told Shinzo one way to do so, of course, is to visit. I hope he
    comes to my ranch soon. I looked forward to welcoming here to Camp
    David, but I also look forward to taking him down there, where one might
    call it a little slice of heaven.
        We talked about the fact that our alliance--and it is a global
    alliance--is rooted in common values, especially our commitment to
    freedom and democracy. We discussed ways we can continue to partner
    together. There's no more important partnership than that through the
    six-party talks. We spent a lot of time talking about North Korea and
    our mutual desire for North Korea to meet its obligations. Our partners
    in the six-party talks are patient, but our patience is not unlimited.
    We expect North Korea to meet all its commitments under the February
    13th agreement, and we will continue working closely with our partners.
        In Iran, we speak with one voice to the regime in Iran. Our nations
    have fully implemented the sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security
    Council in response to Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. Further
    defiance by Iran will only lead to additional sanctions and to further
    isolation from the international community.
        Japan is the second largest donor to the people of Iraq and the
    third largest donor nation to the people of Afghanistan. And I thank
    you, Shinzo, and I thank the people of Japan for helping these young
    democracies survive in a troubled world. I firmly believe that we're
    helping lay a foundation for peace for generations to come.
        Over lunch, the Prime Minister and I will discuss his upcoming trip
    to the Middle East. I will remind him, he'll be traveling into an
    important region, where extremists and radicals are trying to prevent
    the hopes of moderate people, trying to stop the peaceful societies from
    emerging. I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip before you
    leave, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you after you've been
    there.
        Shinzo and I talked about trade and the Doha round. We have a lot of
    bilateral trade between our two nations. Last year, it totaled more than
    $270 billion, and that's positive for the American people and the people
    of Japan.
        Any time you have a lot of trade, there's always complicated trade
    issues. One such issue, of course, I brought up to the Prime Minister
    is, I'm absolutely convinced the Japanese people will be better off when
    they eat American beef. It's good beef; it's healthy beef. As a matter
    of fact, I'm going to feed the Prime Minister and his delegation a good
    hamburger today for lunch.
        But we also talked about the World Trade Organization and the Doha
    round and how Japan wants to be constructive in getting this round
    completed, not only to enhance the prosperity in our own countries but
    to help the developing world, help lift millions of people out of
    poverty.
        We talked about the environment and energy. I appreciated very much
    Shinzo's vision of using technologies to help our energy security, our
    economic security, and at the same time, be responsible stewards of the
    environment. There's a lot of work that Japan and the United States can
    do together, particularly in fields like emission-free nuclear energy,
    nuclear power. I mean, the truth of the matter is, if people really want
    to solve the issue of greenhouse gases, civilian nuclear power, powering
    our energy grids by nuclear power is the best alternative available. We
    can work on new technologies through our joint nuclear energy action
    plan and through the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership to bring
    technologies on the market as quickly as possible to assure people that
    we can deal with the waste, for example, in a responsible way.
        Over lunch I'm going to also remind Shinzo about my deep desire to
    have our folks driving automobiles powered by ethanol and biodiesels.
    And I'm going to share with him our strategy about reducing gasoline
    consumption in the United States by 20 percent over the next 10 years as
    a result of ethanol, as well as our cellulosic ethanol technologies that
    are hopefully coming to market quickly.
        All in all, we've had a very constructive, strong dialog, and I am
    really pleased you came. Mr. Prime Minister.
        Prime Minister Abe. Last night we were invited by George and Laura,
    and myself and my wife were able to enjoy a very wonderful time
    together. And today we had one-on-one

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    meeting and also had a larger meeting. And we had very substantive
    discussions. The greatest--the biggest objective of this visit this time
    was to reaffirm the irreplaceable Japan-U.S. alliance and to make--grow
    this stronger as an unshakable alliance.
        President and the--I would like to thank the President and the
    American people for their very warm welcome yesterday. I visited
    Bethesda Navy Hospital and the Arlington Cemetery and prayed for the
    repose of the souls of those who died for the cause of stabilization and
    reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan and prayed for early recovery of
    those injured. And I would like to pay respect and express gratitude for
    the noble sacrifice the United States is making.
        And in our meeting, the President expressed his strong determination
    to carry through the task of Iraq's reconstruction. And I told the
    President that Japan understands and supports U.S. efforts of further
    stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq, and Japan will carry on its
    own efforts to the same end. I also told him that Japan will be with the
    United States at all times and that we feel proud as an ally of the
    United States.
        Through this meeting, I've renewed my determination to work with the
    United States on various challenges facing the international community
    on the basis of our common values. We were able to speak our minds with
    regard to our respective political convictions in the midst of this very
    open and free atmosphere at Camp David and I--and deepen our mutual
    trust.
        I explained to the President that as the mission that my
    administration, I will strive to move Japan beyond the post-war regime.
    As part of this endeavor, I explained to the President that I launched
    on the eve of this trip a blue-ribbon panel for the purpose of reshaping
    the legal foundation for national security in a way that will benefit--
    that will befit the times, now that the security environment surrounding
    Japan is undergoing major change.
        With regard to the economy, I told the President that I'm determined
    to carry it through, structural reforms in Japan, because Japan's growth
    is important for the growth of the United States as well as the entire
    world. And I received strong words of support from the President for
    this direction that Japan is seeking.
        Now, we agree that we need to build on response to--we agreed that
    we need to build our response to the North Korean nuclear issue and the
    numerous challenges in East Asia on the Japan-U.S. alliance. And we
    agreed to step up cooperation in security, economic and cultural
    exchanges, and many other areas to further strengthen this irreplaceable
    alliance between Japan and the United States. And I welcomed the
    conclusion of documents that provide for the strengthening of concrete
    cooperation in such areas as the economy, cultural exchange, and nuclear
    energy.
        We did take a lot of time to discuss North Korean nuclear issues. We
    agreed to work together to realize a more peaceful and stable Korean
    Peninsula by making North Korea completely give up its nuclear weapons
    and programs through the six-party talks.
        With regard to the abduction issue, President Bush once again
    expresses unvarying commitment to support the Government of Japan,
    saying that to this day, the strong impressions he got when he met Mrs.
    Yokata around this time last year still remains. And I told President
    that before my departure this time, Mrs. Yokata had told me, ever since
    she last heard from her daughter, Megumi, that the most moving moment
    was her meeting with the President. So the President expressed his, as I
    said, unvarying commitment to support of the Government of Japan on this
    abduction issue.
        We agree that the current state of the six-party talks as well as
    North Korea's attitude towards the abduction issue are regrettable. And
    we'll work for closer coordination between our two countries to achieve
    progress.
        Let me also point out, as the President mentioned earlier, that an
    important progress has been made on the climate change issue. And I
    finalized with the President a joint statement on the subject matter. It
    is gratifying that we agreed--Japan and the United States agreed at the
    leaders' level to study jointly an intensified dialog on ways and means
    to make progress towards the ultimate objective of stabilizing
    greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, to resolve the
    environmental issues, and to resolve the

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    greenhouse gas issue. I believe this represents an important progress.
        It is essential that the world community act on the climate change
    issue in concert, and Japan and the United States agreed to work
    together on this front. Thank you.
        President Bush. Two questions a side. Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated
    Press], would you start off, please?

    Six-Party Talks

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Some people are concerned that you're
    going soft on North Korea. You said you had----
        President Bush. Said--what did you just say? There's an echo in
    here.
        Q. Some people say you're going soft on North Korea.
        President Bush. Oh, okay. Yes.
        Q. You said you had unlimited patience with the regime. They've
    missed their deadline on shutting down their nuclear reactor----
        President Bush. No, I said our patience is not unlimited.
        Q. Not unlimited. My question, sir, is how long are you willing to
    wait to have them shut this down? Are we talking days, weeks, months?
    And----
        President Bush. No, I appreciate that very much. Do you want to ask
    the Prime Minister something too? It's an old U.S. trick here.
        Q. Prime Minister Abe----
        President Bush. Keep plowing through it. [Laughter]
        Q. ----are you worried that America is softening its stance on Kim
    Jong Il?
        President Bush. I have always believed that the best way to solve
    these difficult problems is through diplomacy. That's the first choice
    of the United States, to solve difficult problems diplomatically. I also
    believe that the best way for--and the difficult problem, of course, was
    to convincing the leader of North Korea to give up his nuclear weapons
    program.
        I also felt the best way forward was not for the United States to
    carry this diplomatic mission alone, and therefore, worked very hard and
    closely with our Japanese allies to convince others to come to the table
    beside the United States. And now we have what we call the six-party
    talks, which is the United States, Japan, and China and South Korea and
    Russia, all saying the same message to North Korea, that we expect you
    to honor agreements you made, which include not only stopping their--
    locking down their plant but also dismantling their programs--and all
    programs--giving up weapons programs and weapons. That's what they've
    said they would do.
        We recently had a bump in the road to getting them to honor their
    agreement, and that is, there is a financial arrangement that we're now
    trying to clarify for the North Koreans, so that that will enable them
    to have no excuse for moving forward. And that's where we are right now.
        The interesting thing about our position is that if it looks like
    the North Korean leader is not going to honor his agreement, if it looks
    like that there are reasons other than the financial arrangements that
    will cause him to say, ``Well, I really don't mean what I said,'' we now
    have a structure in place to continue to provide a strong message to the
    North Korean. We have the capability of more sanctions. We have the
    capability of convincing other nations to send a clear message.
        So I like our position in terms of achieving this mission in a
    diplomatic way. And I want to thank the Prime Minister for being a
    strong advocate of sending a clear message to the North Korean leader
    that there's a better way forward than to defy the world.
        On all issues, there is a--whether it's this issue or any other
    issue--is that we will work with our partners to determine how long. But
    as I said, our patience is not unlimited. And that's the operative word
    for the leader in North Korea to understand. We hope he moves forward
    soon, obviously. Just like in--somebody asked me the other day, how long
    in Darfur? Well, the leaders will find out the definition of how long
    when we make it clear we're moving in a different direction. There's
    still time for the North Korean leader to make the right choice.
        Prime Minister Abe. Well, today this issue had very candid exchange
    of views. And our understanding of the issue and the direction we are
    pursuing, we completely see eye

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    to eye on this matter, and we've had completely the same attitude. We'll
    continue to deal with the North Korean issue.
        Well, we have to make the North Koreans understand that unless they
    keep up their promise, the difficult conditions they find themselves
    under--the food situation and economic situation--they'll not be able to
    resolve those difficulties. And in fact, the situation would only
    worsen. So they need to respond appropriately on these issues, otherwise
    we will have to take a tougher response on our side.
        In agreement with the procedures set down by the six-party talks,
    we'll have to continue to watch whether the North Koreans will actually
    act. In our negotiations with North Koreans, we now have learned full
    well their negotiating ploys. And between Japan and the United States,
    we'll maintain close coordination for the resolution of this issue.

    North Korea/Abduction of Japanese Citizens

        Q. Once again, allow me to ask questions related to North Korea. In
    Japan, the interpretation is that the United States have become softer
    on the BDA, Banco Delta Asia issue, and some people are concerned. Now
    Mr. Abe, in your meeting today, did you ask President Bush to step up
    the American pressures on North Korea?
        And a question for Mr. President--I understand the United States has
    agreed with North Korea to start negotiations on lifting the terrorist
    state designation. And is it right to consider that a precondition for
    lifting would be the abduction issue resolution?
        Prime Minister Abe. Well, to resolve the North Korean issues, of
    course, dialog is needed. But in resolving those issues and in
    negotiating with North Koreans, there is a need for pressure. And on
    that score, we--George and I fully agree. And we reaffirmed that point
    today. Should the North Koreans fail to keep their promise, we will step
    up our pressures on North Korea. And on that point, again, I believe we
    see eye to eye.
        As for the importance of the abduction issue, George and our
    American friends, I'm sure, are fully aware, and they understand our
    thinking, and they support our position. In resolving that abduction
    issue, as well, Japan and the United States will cooperate with each
    other when we need to cooperate with each other. And the President
    thinks the same way.
        President Bush. We have shown the North Korean leader that
    obstinance on this issue, that there's a price to pay. In other words,
    we have come together as a group of nations, all aiming to achieve the
    same objective, and that is for the leader to--of North Korea to
    verifiably give up the weapons programs that he has, just like he said
    he would do. And we have proven that we can work in a collaboration to
    deny certain benefits to the North Korean Government and people. That's
    what we've shown so far.
        I think it's wise to show the North Korean leader, as well, that
    there is a better way forward. I wouldn't call that soft; I'd call that
    wise diplomacy. It's his choice to make, ultimately, not our choice, as
    to whether he honors the agreement he agreed to. Our objective is to
    hold him to account. But he's got different ways forward, and we have
    made that avenue available for his choice. And so the meeting today, of
    course, is to hope for the best and plan for the worst. We're hoping
    that the North Korea leader continues to make the right choice for his
    country. But if he should choose not to, we've got a strategy to make
    sure that the pressure we've initially applied is even greater. That's
    our plan.
        And so it is--he ought to know that if he makes right choices, there
    is a way for him to be able to deal with a listing that our Government
    has placed on him; in other words, there's a way forward. And this is--
    what you're referring to is the beginning of a process; it's the
    beginning of an opportunity for him to be in a different position, vis-
    a-vis the United States Government, on a variety of fronts.
        Any discussion about ways forward, however, shouldn't--should not
    obscure my strong sentiment about the abductee issue. The Prime Minister
    mentioned how Mrs. Yokata was affected by her visit to the Oval Office.
    Well, I was affected by her visit to the Oval Office. It broke my heart
    to be in the presence of a Japanese mother whose love for her daughter
    has not diminished over

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    time, and her grief is sincere and real. I remember her bringing the
    picture of the child as she remembers her, right there where I go to
    work every day, and sitting it on the couch next to her.
        So I'm deeply affected by her. She needs to understand that her
    visit added a human dimension to an issue which is obviously very
    important to the Japanese people. And I will never forget her visit, and
    I will work with my friend and the Japanese Government to get this issue
    resolved in a way that touches the human heart, in a way that--it's got
    more than just a kind of a diplomatic ring to it, as far as I'm
    concerned. It's a human issue now to me; it's a tangible, emotional
    issue. And thank you for bringing the question up.
        Toby [Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters].

    Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

        Q. Mr. President, the Democrats have voted for a withdrawal
    timetable from Iraq, which you have said that you will veto. What ideas
    do you have for breaking this logjam going forward? And would you be
    willing to veto a second bill?
        President Bush. Well, first of all, I haven't vetoed the first bill
    yet. But I'm going to. And the reason why I'm going to is because the
    Members of Congress have made military decisions on behalf of the
    military. They're telling our generals what to do. They're withdrawing
    before we've even finished reinforcing our troops in Baghdad. They're
    sending, in my judgment, a bad message to the Iraqis and to an enemy
    and, most importantly, to our military folks. And so I made it clear I'd
    veto.
        And, by the way, they're adding spending that shouldn't belong in
    the bill in the first place. Maybe they're important issues, but they
    ought to be--these spending bills ought to be--or spending issues ought
    to be debated in the normal course of business. And so I've said this
    all along; my position has been consistent.
        I'm sorry it's come to this. In other words, I'm sorry that we've
    had this, you know, the issue evolve the way it has. But nevertheless,
    it is what it is, and it will be vetoed, and my veto will be sustained.
    And then the question is the way forward. And my suggestion is that--and
    I invite the leaders of the House and the Senate, both parties, to come
    down soon after my veto so we can discuss a way forward. And if the
    Congress wants to test my will as to whether or not I'll accept a
    timetable for withdrawal, I won't accept one. I just don't think it's in
    the interest of our troops.
        I think it--I'm just envisioning what it would be like to be a young
    soldier in the middle of Iraq and realizing that politicians have all of
    the sudden made military determinations. And in my judgment, that would
    put a kid in harm's way, more so than he or she already is. I really
    think it's a mistake for Congress to try to tell generals, our military
    experts, how to conduct a war.
        And furthermore, the idea of putting all kinds of extraneous
    spending on a bill, the bill--purpose of which is to fund our troops,
    is--I just don't accept that. So if they want to try again, that which I
    have said was unacceptable, then of course I'll veto it, but I hope it
    doesn't come to that. I believe we can work a way forward. And I think
    we can come to our senses and make sure that we get the money to the
    troops in a timely fashion. It's important to have a political debate,
    but as I've consistently said, we don't want our troops in between the
    debate. And Congress needs to get this money to the Pentagon so the
    Pentagon can get the money to the troops and so our readiness will be up
    to par and people--training missions will go forward.
        I know Congress, no matter what their position is on the war,
    doesn't want to affect readiness, and they don't want to affect the
    military families--I understand that--but they're going to if they keep
    trying to pass legislation that is--that just doesn't--that withdraws
    troops or micromanages the war.
        And so I'm optimistic we can get a bill, a good bill, and a bill
    that satisfies all our objectives, and that's to get the money to the
    troops as quickly as possible.

    Japan's Comfort Women

        Q. Well, a question on the wartime comfort women issue. Mr. Prime
    Minister, on this issue, did you explain your thoughts to President
    Bush? And on this matter, did you talk about further factual
    investigations on

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    the matter and any intent to apologize on the issue?
        Also, a question for Mr. President on the comfort women issue. From
    the view--perspective of human rights and Asian history perceptions, I
    wonder if you could express your thoughts or views.
        Prime Minister Abe. Well, in my meeting with the congressional
    representatives yesterday, I explained my thoughts, and that is, I do
    have deep-hearted sympathies that my people had to serve as comfort
    women, were placed in extreme hardships, and had to suffer that
    sacrifice; and that I, as Prime Minister of Japan, expressed my
    apologizes, and also expressed my apologizes for the fact that they were
    placed in that sort of circumstance.
        Now, the 20th century was a century that human rights were violated
    in many parts of the world. So we have to make the 21st century a
    century--a wonderful century in which no human rights are violated. And
    I myself and Japan wish to make significant contributions to that end.
    And so I explained these thoughts to President.
        President Bush. The comfort women issue is a regrettable chapter in
    the history of the world, and I accept the Prime Minister's apology. I
    thought it was a very--I thought his statements, Kono's statement, as
    well as statements here in the United States were very straightforward
    and from his heart. And I'm looking forward to working with this man to
    lead our nations forward. And that's what we spent time discussing
    today.
        We had a personal visit on the issue. And he gave his--he told me
    what was on his heart about the issue, and I appreciated his candor. And
    our jobs are to, obviously, learn lessons from the past. All of us need
    to learn lessons from the past and lead our nations forward. And that's
    what the Prime Minister is doing in a very capable way.
        Listen, we thank you all for coming. Appreciate your time. Have a
    nice weekend. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 11:09 a.m. In his
    remarks, he referred to Akie Abe, wife of Prime Minister Abe; Chairman
    Kim Jong Il of North Korea; and Yohei Kono, Speaker of Japan's House of
    Representatives. Prime Minister Abe and some reporters spoke in
    Japanese, and their remarks were translated by an interpreter.