[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 8 (Monday, March 3, 2008)]
[Pages 300-301]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Secretary General Jakob Gijsbert 
``Jaap'' de Hoop Scheffer of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

February 29, 2008

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Secretary General of 
NATO back to the Oval Office. Last time I was with the Secretary 
General, I was trying to keep up with him on my mountain bike. He is a 
dear friend and a strong leader.
    I appreciate the--Jaap, your helping to transform NATO so it deals 
with the threats

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of the 21st century. You've done your job with great dignity and clarity 
of thought. And I'm looking forward to coming to Bucharest to support 
your efforts to make sure NATO is a relevant organization aimed at 
bringing security and peace to the world.
    We've had a lot of things to discuss. A couple of key points--one, 
Afghanistan; the United States is committed to the NATO mission in 
Afghanistan. We're committed to a comprehensive strategy that helps 
folks in Afghanistan realize security, at the same time, economic 
prosperity and political progress.
    Secondly, our hope is that nations that have applied to join NATO 
continue to meet their MAP obligations. And I'm looking forward to 
getting an assessment of the progress that these three nations have 
made, from you, before we take the vote on enlargement.
    I appreciate very much NATO's role in helping to provide some sense 
of stability in the Balkans. Thank you for doing a training mission in 
Iraq. Overall, thanks for being a force for good. And I'm proud to 
welcome you back here.
    Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank 
you. Thank you, George.
    Four working weeks until the Bucharest summit of NATO. I can echo 
the President's words. First of all, NATO's operations and missions--we 
have a long-term commitment vis-a-vis Afghanistan. I thank the President 
for the United States contribution in the NATO framework, which is an 
essential one. All 26 NATO allies are there, and we are there for the 
long haul. We are there to support President Karzai and the Afghan 
people. But we're also there because we're fighting terrorism, and we 
cannot afford to lose. We will not lose. We are not losing; we are 
prevailing.
    May I mention Kosovo, which will be discussed. The secondary 
important NATO presence, 60,000 strong, to protect all Kosovars, 
majority, minority, Albanian, or Serb, so that also Kosovo will have a 
future.
    NATO enlargement, the President mentioned. The nations concerned 
should go on with their reforms. No tickets are punched yet, but NATO 
enlargement will be on the agenda of the Bucharest summit, and certainly 
also what I call NATO finding the answers to modern threats and 
challenges, be it energy security and NATO's role as a bringer of added 
value. Cyber defense--we saw a huge cyber attack on Estonia not that 
long ago. Missile defense is certainly an issue.
    So we have a real full calendar in Bucharest, and that is basically 
the calendar the President and I discussed. And I'm always very much 
enjoying the hospitality not only in the Oval but at the Crawford ranch 
as well.
    Thank you very much.
    President Bush. Thank you.
    Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer. Thanks.
    President Bush. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:48 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer referred to President Hamid 
Karzai of Afghanistan.