[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 13 (Monday, April 7, 2008)]
[Pages 458-459]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Tour of School 57 in Kiev

April 1, 2008

    Thank you all very much for letting Laura and me come by your 
school. And thank you all for coming. You did an excellent job. And we 
love the Peace Corps. They're great, aren't they? Yes.
    Listen, Laura and I are very impressed by your country. It's 
exciting to be in a place that has come through a very difficult period 
and now heading toward freedom. And the future of your country is going 
to depend on you. And it's very important for you to be involved with 
the future of your country.
    And so how do you do that? Well, one, you demand to make sure that 
your Government is--doesn't have corruption; that you insist that the 
Government respond to the will of the people, not to the whims of a few. 
People will say, oh, your voice doesn't matter. It does matter.
    The other thing is, make sure you get--you know, keep your education 
going and then contribute to your society. And you can do it all kinds 
of ways. You can be a teacher;

[[Page 459]]

you can be a doctor; you can be a small-business owner. You can 
contribute to the future of your country by just being a good citizen.
    So we're very excited for you, and we're excited about your future. 
And we wish you all the very best. Thank you for your gracious 
hospitality. Thank you for letting us come by your beautiful school. And 
may God bless you, and wish you all the very best.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 3:56 p.m.