    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 23 (Monday, June 16, 2008)]
    [Pages 802-805]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Interview With Natasa Briski of Slovenia's POP TV

    June 6, 2008

        Ms. Briski. First of all, I would like to thank you very much for
    this opportunity and for your time, Mr. President. Thank you very much.

        The President. You're welcome.

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    President's Visit to Slovenia

        Ms. Briski. Your first--7 years ago--and what just might be your
    very last trip to Europe as President include both--includes both times
    a stop in Slovenia. Excellent choice, I might add. [Laughter]
        The President. I don't blame you for saying it. First of all, my
    first trip was consequential because that's where I first met Vladimir
    Putin. This trip is consequential because, of course, we're going to
    have an EU-U.S. summit. And my impressions of Slovenia--I've told this
    to a lot of people--is first of all, it's a beautiful country.
        Ms. Briski. It is.
        The President. Probably somewhat undiscovered in America, but my
    fellow citizens ought to go and explore Slovenia cause it's, I think,
    not only--it's got--I mean, you can ski; you can play golf.
        Ms. Briski. It's a lot of opportunities for mountain biking.
        The President. You can fish, mountain biking. So it's beautiful. And
    plus, the people are incredibly friendly.

    EU-U.S. Summit

        Ms. Briski. You are coming for the U.S.-EU summit.
        The President. Right.
        Ms. Briski. To--no dramatic announcements expected. But it will be
    the last summit for you.
        The President. Yes.
        Ms. Briski. What outcome would you like to see?
        The President. Well, you know, look, the important thing about these
    summits is that it reaffirms our mutual values of human rights and human
    liberty, of our desire to work together on some key issues. And the
    United States and Europe has had its differences on certain issues,
    and--but we've always had the same common values. And it's important for
    me to signal to the Europeans, as well as my fellow citizens, that this
    relationship is an important relationship. And I'm confident the next
    President will see it as an important relationship as well. But we'll
    discuss a lot of important issues there too.

    North Atlantic Treaty Organization/Europe-U.S. Relations

        Ms. Briski. You're also coming to celebrate the 60th anniversary of
    Marshall plan and Berlin Airlift, the historic role U.S. had after World
    War II in supporting Europe. And, you know, Europe has changed a lot
    recently: Western Balkans, two new states; Kosovo high on a priority
    list for Slovenia's Presidency. I would like to hear, what do you think
    are the most memorable events, Europe-wise, that your administration
    helped to achieve in the past 7 years?
        The President. Well, one, of course, is the expansion of NATO. And
    it's a--I'll never forget going to Romania right after nations--some
    nations were admitted into NATO and talking about Article 5--an attack
    on one is an attack on all. And a lot of countries had come from a
    different style of government and a different type of security
    arrangements to one in which free nations were bound together. And so
    the expansion of NATO and the offering of--sending a positive signal to
    Georgia and Ukraine recently has been an incredibly positive
    accomplishment.
        I think working together in Afghanistan is a--is going to be an
    historic achievement; helping a young democracy recover from a society
    in which women, for example, were treated as unbelievably second-class
    citizens. I mean, it was just a barbaric regime.
        Hopefully, in terms of trade, that we'll fight off protectionism and
    keep trade open. I know there's some trade disputes going on, but that
    shouldn't prevent us from being active in terms of perpetuating free and
    fair trade. And so one of the things, of course, we'll be discussing is
    the Doha round of the WTO.

    Iran/U.S. Foreign Aid

        Ms. Briski. That's true. And it probably--Iran might be also high on
    the agenda at the summit?
        The President. Yes, Iran--kind of the common threats will be on the
    agenda. For me--as you know, I'm a big believer in freedom. Interesting
    that Europe is now whole, free, and at peace, and there's a reason why.
    And we got to, in my judgment, extend that same concept to the Middle
    East, from which a lot of violence comes. And obviously, one

    [[Page 804]]

    of the problems that we face is preventing Iran from developing the
    know-how as to how to make a nuclear weapon.
        And so we'll be discussing that kind of joint efforts, multilateral
    efforts. But, you know, I also want to emphasize that--but the United
    States--and I personally feel very strongly about helping people realize
    the blessings of life by freeing them from HIV/AIDS or malaria or
    hunger. And I'm very proud of our Nation's accomplishments in terms of
    those agenda items. And I'm looking forward to working with our European
    colleagues to see if we can't make it even more robust.

    Visa Waiver Program

        Ms. Briski. Next question would be on visa waiver.
        The President. Yes. [Laughter]
        Ms. Briski. It's an issue. I know. It's an issue in Europe.
        The President. It is an issue. It is an issue.
        Ms. Briski. And you know that currently, United States enforces two
    different systems for travelers from----
        The President. Yes.
        Ms. Briski. ----European countries. Plus, you just announced new,
    stricter rules for countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program. I
    wanted to hear your opinion on that, and maybe your answer to those in
    Europe who say that America is not as welcoming a place that it used to
    be.
        The President. Yes. No, look, I'm concerned about that impression,
    because we are a welcoming place. We want our friends to come. We want
    investment to be open.
        You know, first of all, I can understand why many of our friends in
    Europe who aren't treated like other nations within the EU are treated
    on visas are concerned. They say, ``Wait a minute. We're very supportive
    of the United States. We like the United States. And yet we're treated
    differently when it comes to visas.'' And this is a hangover from the
    old visa system, which I have been assiduously working to change. And we
    are making good progress. As a matter of fact, there--I think there's
    going to be quite a few nations that were--will get visa waiver.
        As to whether or not we've made it harder for visa waiver countries
    to come to the United States, actually not. We've made it easier. In
    other words, you file your paperwork online before you come to the
    United States, which should actually facilitate travel, we hope. But,
    look, I am concerned that people say, ``Well, America no longer wants us
    to come,'' when it's the exact opposite of my personal point of view and
    the view of my Government.

    America's Image Abroad

        Ms. Briski. Sure. And I have to ask you this: Public surveys taken
    globally indicate kind of anti-Americanism, and----
        The President. Yes.
        Ms. Briski. ----Europe is no exception in that. Do you believe that
    the American brand needs a makeover?
        The President. No. I mean, we stand for liberty and human rights and
    freedom. Look, I've had to make some tough decisions that some people
    didn't like. But the truth of the matter is, when you really look at--
    like, for example, our relations in the Far East, we got great relations
    with Japan, China, and Korea--South Korea. Or India, for example--we got
    new relations with India that no administration has ever pushed--South
    America and Central America.
        My attitude is this--this is what I tell people. First of all, you
    can't make decisions based upon opinion polls. Secondly, that a lot of
    people like America. They may not sometimes necessarily like the
    President, but they like America. They like what America stands for.
    Otherwise, why would so many people wanting to be--come here, for
    example, which we welcome. And so I don't--I hear just stuff like that,
    and I just--I dismiss it as kind of like what happens when there's, kind
    of, gossip and rumors and--because the truth of the matter is, America,
    just like many nations in Europe, stands for what's right, which is
    decency and freedom of speech and freedom to worship. And I'm very proud
    of my country, obviously.

    2008 Presidential Election

        Ms. Briski. Okay. And on American Presidency, actually on elections,
    international policies are the aspects where the President's work--
    that--where the Commander in

    [[Page 805]]

    Chief has an opportunity to change the history's course.
        The President. Yes.
        Ms. Briski. And that is why people around the world follow the
    American elections very, very closely. It's been very interesting so
    far.
        The President. Yes, it has.
        Ms. Briski. The Democrats--Democratic candidates have not been very
    easy on you.
        The President. Of course not. They got me--look, if you're--that's
    what happens. I mean, they say, ``We want change.'' Of course--and I
    tell people, every time I ran for politics I said, ``We want change,''
    unless, of course, I was the incumbent, in which case I was not for
    change; I was for myself. But what you'll see is a lot of rhetoric, and
    I understand that. It's--and, you know, I'm in an unusual position
    because for the past 14 years, I've been an active candidate myself, and
    now I'm kind of getting to be a senior--kind of senior status. And I'll
    help my party, and of course, I'm for John McCain. But there will be a
    lot of debate, and it will be interesting to watch these candidates.
        Ms. Briski. Sure. So your message to the 44th President of the
    United States would be?
        The President. Stand on principle. Stay strong, promote freedom,
    defend America, and work with our friends and allies to achieve common
    objectives.
        Ms. Briski. Mr. President, thank you very much for this interview. I
    hope you will have a safe flight to Europe. And as you referred to
    Slovenia 2 years ago, on our Prime Minister's visit to the White House,
    as an ``interesting slice of heaven,'' I hope you will have a heavenly
    stay.
        The President. I'll bet I do.
        Ms. Briski. Thank you very much.
        The President. Thank you so much. Good to see you.

    Note: The interview was taped at 10:15 a.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to
    Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia, in his former capacity as the
    President of Russia; and Republican Presidential candidate John McCain.
    Natasa Briski referred to Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia. The
    transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on June 8.