[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 24 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Pages 845-850]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With President Nicolas Sarkozy of France 
in Paris, France

June 14, 2008

    President Sarkozy. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to 
work with us on this Saturday morning. I wanted to thank President Bush 
for his visit to Paris on his European tour. I see there how much 
importance he attaches to Franco-American relations and the 
transatlantic relation. And I think everyone should firmly bear in mind 
the importance of this transatlantic relation between the United States 
and Europe, especially as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 
Marshall plan. This is an opportunity for me to extend the same sort of 
hospitality, warm hospitality that was extended to me last November when 
I went to Washington and to Mount Vernon.
    It's also an opportunity to continue to pursue this confident, 
trusting, regular dialog between France and the United States on all 
issues that we have in common--and there are so many of them. We had an 
extended discussion on the international situation on the Middle East, 
but also on economic and trade matters. We checked that--once again saw 
that there were many areas of convergence, although perhaps slight 
differences, and that's only right and normal. Friendship should not 
prevent France or the United States from expressing independent views. 
But if there are differences, we can discuss them calmly in a level-
headed manner. And this is once again an opportunity for me to say to 
the American people the deep gratitude of the French people and our 
friendship.
    President Bush. Yesterday I reminded the world, really, Nicolas, 
that America's first friend was France. And frankly, we wouldn't be 
where we are today without French support early in our Revolution. You 
are not only our first friend, you've been a consistent friend. And the 
meetings here have reconfirmed and strengthened our friendship between 
our countries and our personal friendship.
    I really enjoy being with President Sarkozy. He's an interesting 
guy. [Laughter] He is full of energy. He's full of wisdom. He tells me 
what's on his mind. And we've had--every time I've met with him, we've 
had very meaningful discussions. We discussed Afghanistan. And thank you 
very much for supporting the Paris support conference. It made a big 
difference for that young democracy. And I do thank the people of France 
for supporting the women and children and the young democrats in 
Afghanistan. And thank you too, Nicolas.
    We talked about Lebanon, of course. Talked to him about the Holy 
Land, about our deep desire for there to be two states living side by 
side in peace--two democracies, a Palestinian democracy and Israel, 
having a--resolving this conflict which creates so much difficulty for 
not only the Palestinians and the Israelis but for much of the Middle 
East.
    And we talked about Darfur. And I want to thank you very much for 
having your troops there in Chad.
    We talked about Iran--spent a lot of time talking about Iran. And I 
will tell you that we both have a mutual desire to prevent the Iranians 
from gaining the knowledge so that

[[Page 846]]

they could build a weapon. And we do that for the sake of peace and 
security of the world.
    We talked about Doha, the importance of a Doha round. And frankly--
and then we spent some time on climate change. We had a meaningful, good 
discussion. And I thank you very much for the dinner last night. And 
it's a great pleasure to have been able to meet your wife too. She's a 
really smart, capable woman, and I can see why you married her. 
[Laughter] And I can see why she married you too. [Laughter]
    Anyway, thanks. It's been a good visit. We'll be glad to take some 
questions.
    President Sarkozy. Thank you, George. Perhaps a first question from 
the French press.

Syria/Iran/Lebanon

    Q. To both of you, what specific, concrete requests do you wish to 
make or send to the Syrian President, Bashar al-Asad, so that he 
normalize his relations with the West, and of course, to achieve 
stability in Lebanon and in the rest of----
    President Bush. Well, my message would be, stop fooling around with 
the Iranians and stop harboring terrorists. Serve as a constructive 
force in the Middle East to help the advance of a Palestinian state. 
Make it clear to Hamas that their terror is a--should stop for the sake 
of peace; and make it clear to their Iranian allies that the West is 
serious when we talk about stopping them from learning how to enrich, 
which would be the first--a major step for developing a bomb; and to 
make it clear to their Iranian allies that Hizballah is a destabilizing 
force for not only Lebanon but elsewhere.
    That would be my message. I'd make it clear to him that there is a 
better way forward for Syria. And Nicolas and I talked about this 
subject today.
    President Sarkozy. Well, George and I totally agree on the need to 
guarantee Lebanon's independence. Lebanon is entitled, like any other 
country anywhere in the world, to its independence and to remain 
independent. And this is one of the preconditions that I have laid 
down--the election of a new President for Lebanon. That is exactly what 
happened. It was done with the election of General Sleiman.
    Second point, we will go through with the process--the procedure of 
the international tribunal to track down those who assassinated Mr. 
Rafiq Hariri. But once I have said to Bashar al-Asad to let the 
Presidential process take--run its course, we would go back--get back 
into contact with them, and that is exactly what we've done. We have to 
let Lebanon stand free.
    I also share the view of the United States of America on the fact 
that the Iranian question--and the fact that they might get their hands 
on a nuclear weapon--is of the essence; it is a major issue. Syria has 
to peel off, as much as possible, from Iran in its desire to lay its 
hands on a nuclear weapon. Once that has happened, then the process will 
continue.
    Lastly, I told the President of the United States that we have taken 
the initiative of convening a summit for the Mediterranean, and to my 
knowledge, Syria is part of the Mediterranean region--is a Mediterranean 
country. Now if you go around the Mediterranean region and start picking 
and choosing and simply inviting those who correspond to exactly our 
criteria, then we'll probably have a meeting with very few people 
attending it.
    President Bush. I want to call on Bill Plante from CBS, but before I 
do, I want to say something about one of your colleagues.
    America lost a really fine citizen yesterday when Tim Russert passed 
away. I've had the privilege of being interviewed by Tim Russert. I 
found him to be a hard-working, thorough, decent man. And Tim Russert 
loved his country; he loved his family; and he loved his job a lot. And 
we're going to miss him all, and we send our deepest sympathies to 
Maureen, his wife, and Luke, his son. I know they're hurting right now, 
and hopefully the prayers of a lot of Tim's friends and a lot of 
Americans will help them during this time of difficulty.
    Plante.

Iran

    Q. Mr. President, Iran's Government spokesman, shortly after the 
package had

[[Page 847]]

been presented by the Europeans, dismissed it out of hand, saying that 
if it does not--if it includes suspension of enrichment, it absolutely 
will not fly. Can you convince the rest of your allies and partners to 
enforce the sanctions which are envisioned in that package? It seems 
that many of them are reluctant.
    President Bush. That's probably a question you ought to ask the 
President of France, but let me just give you my impressions of the 
situation. We have worked hard--``we'' being our allies--have worked 
hard to say to the Iranian people, there is a better way forward for 
you. You've got a Government that has isolated you. You've got a 
Government that is creating the conditions so that you can't live a full 
and hopeful life. And the reason why that's happening is because your 
Government has defied the demands--the just demands of the free world. 
In other words, they refuse to abandon their desires to develop the 
know-how which could lead to a nuclear weapon.
    Now, they say, ``Well, we want a civilian nuclear power.'' And as I 
explained to Nicolas today, I agree, they should have the right to have 
civilian nuclear power. As a matter of fact, Vladimir Putin delivered 
that very message to the Iranian regime. He also delivered this message: 
That because you have been untrustworthy, because you haven't fully 
disclosed your programs to the IAEA in the past, that we can't trust you 
to enrich. And therefore, Russia will provide the fuel necessary for the 
civilian nuclear reactor. And therefore, you don't need to rich [enrich] 
*.
    * White House correction.
    And so our demands are just and fair. And, Bill, we have been 
implementing the sanctions through the United Nations. And we're working 
with our friends and allies. As a matter of fact, much of my discussions 
on this trip have been dominated by this subject because our allies 
understand that a nuclear-armed Iran is incredibly destabilizing, and 
they understand that it would be a major blow to world peace.
    And so I'm disappointed that the leaders rejected this generous 
offer out of hand. It's an indication to the Iranian people that their 
leadership is willing to isolate them further. And our view is, we want 
the Iranian people to flourish and to benefit. We want their economy to 
be strong so people can grow up in peace and hope. And yet they've got 
a--this Ahmadi-nejad is obviously--takes a different position from that 
and--so his policies are what's creating the depravation inside Iran.
    President Sarkozy. Well, I think France's position is well-known. If 
Iran gets a nuclear bomb, that is totally unacceptable. I mean, that's 
very clear. It is an unacceptable threat to world stability, especially 
when you think of the repeated statements made by the President of Iran 
right now. Anyone is entitled--including Iran--to access to civilian 
nuclear energy. We will help them to do so if they act in good faith. If 
the Iranian authorities are in good faith, then they should let 
inspections run their course. If they have nothing to hide, then they 
have nothing to hide--let's show it.
    And meanwhile, the only solution in order to persuade the Iranians 
of this is a faultless, seamless sanction system, you see? The door is 
wide open to access to civilian nuclear technology--straightaway, now. 
But as far as military nuclear energies--nuclear access is concerned, 
this is ``no'' on the part of the international community. And as the 
President just said, Vladimir Putin has, with us, sung from the same 
hymn sheet, and our position will not change. The Iranian people--which 
is a--who are great people and a major civilization--they need economic 
progress; they need growth; they deserve better than the impasse, the 
dead-end into which some of their leaders are leading them.

European Union/Lisbon Treaty

    Q. President, good morning.
    President Sarkozy. Hold it the other way around, madam.
    Q. Well, I should actually know what--how to hold a microphone, but 
thank you. President--to you, Mr. Sarkozy, it would appear that the 
building and shaping of Europe has been seriously shaken yesterday by 
the Irish ``no.'' In fact, some have called for the ratification 
procedure to be suspended. Can this not be the case? And secondly, do 
you want your Presidency, the French Presidency

[[Page 848]]

to be one which, as you called for, continues to push Europe forward? 
And do you not think that the Irish ``no'' is going to hinder this?
    President Sarkozy. Well, it's going to make things more difficult, 
but when you're a head of state and when the bubble--you take over the 
Presidency of the Union, if you like easy jobs, then you should step 
down straightaway.
    Now, the Irish ``no'' is a political reality. It's a fact. It's 
happened. But the issue is not whether we like or not. It's a fact; we 
have to live with it. The Irish people said what they had to say, and we 
have to accept that. Now, having said that, we, with Angela Merkel, 
believe that we have to continue with the ratification process, because 
at this stage, 18 European states have ratified the treaty. We have to 
continue doing so, and that is Gordon Brown's intention, as he explained 
to me yesterday over the telephone, so that this Irish hiccup not become 
a major crisis.
    So despite that, let's continue to ratify. But at the same time, we 
have to put our heads together, all of us. It is no coincidence, it is 
no surprise to a certain extent--in fact, I spoke yesterday with the 
Irish Taoiseach, the Irish Prime Minister. A lot of Europeans do not 
understand how we are shaping Europe right now and building Europe, and 
we have to take account of that. And we have to do so very fast. We have 
to change our way of building Europe.
    The idea of a European construct--it was one of the most wonderful 
ideas that the founding fathers had some half a century ago. We cannot 
allow--we shouldn't sabotage it. But perhaps we should do it 
differently. Europe was set up to protect, and yet it worries so many 
Europeans. We can't not take account of this. We have to do so, and we 
have to do so now. So I have every intention of taking initiatives. I'm 
thinking, for instance, of a European immigration policy. I'm thinking 
of a European response to this endless increase in oil prices. It seems 
to me that we have a duty to be more effective and look at what the 
daily lives of our citizens--fellow citizens--look like. And I take the 
Irish ``no'' as a call for us to do things differently and do things 
better.
    Now, of course, it's not going to simplify the work and the task of 
the French President--Presidency of the European Union, but----
    President Bush. Olivier [Olivier Knox, Agence France-Presse]. 
Tossing a bone to somebody who's got a French name. [Laughter] Might 
want to use the mike, Olivier.

Iraq/France-U.S. Relations

    Q. Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr. President. Merci, Monsieur President. 
First----
    President Bush. Speaks the language too. [Laughter]
    Q. Just wait. [Laughter] I'd like to ask you each a question.
    President Bush. In the great tradition of David Gregory [NBC News].
    Q. Who?
    President Bush. Yes, just trying to work him in the news here.
    Q. I'd like to ask you a question first, Mr. President. Et ensuite 
une au President de la Republique.
    Interpreter. I'm going to question the President of the Republic.
    Q. President Bush, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says that 
talks on a status of forces agreement are at an impasse, or a dead-end--
not dead, but in trouble. How do you break this impasse, and are the 
conditions that the United States have set forward in support so far 
nonnegotiable?

[At this point, the reporter asked a question in French, and it was 
translated as follows.]

    Q. And to you, President, is the Franco-American relationship the 
privilege, the priority number one relationship in the transatlantic 
context?
    President Bush. Olivier, if I were a betting man, we'll reach an 
agreement with the Iraqis. And it's--you know, of course we're there at 
their invitation; this is a sovereign nation. And therefore, we're 
working hard with the elected Government of Iraq about, you know, U.S. 
presence and coalition presence in a way that the elected Government is 
comfortable.
    And it's interesting to be in--working with a democracy where, you 
know, people are

[[Page 849]]

trying to prepare the ground to get something passed through Parliament, 
for example, or the free press is vibrant. But we're going to work hard 
to accommodate their desires. It's their country.
    And at the same time, we believe that a strategic relationship with 
Iraq is important. It's important for Iraq; it's important for the 
United States; it's important for the region. And I repeat to you that 
whatever we agreed to, it will not commit future Presidents to troop 
levels, nor will it establish permanent bases.
    Anyway, we'll see how it goes. And thanks for the question in 
English. [Laughter]
    President Sarkozy. Well, the Americans and the French have had a 
privileged relationship for two centuries now. I mean, when the United 
States of America was born, France made a choice. It was not a European 
choice, because we chose to side with the Americans or the United States 
of America as opposed to Britain at the time. And in two World Wars, 
we've been together. We share the same values.
    So, yes, it is a privileged relationship, but it's not privileged 
since I came to be elected; it's been privileged for two centuries now. 
You can't neglect that. Now, through this--throughout that, we have had 
ups and downs--hiccups--because two peoples--I'm talking about the 
French and the American peoples--that actually resemble one another. We 
express our feelings. The American people can be heard, and likewise for 
the French people. We have to be careful about this. We have to be 
mindful of this when we talk to one another in our relations.
    I have always seen American leaders--and thank you to President 
Bush--for accepting European originality and independence and, of 
course, French originality and independence. And I've always noted that 
we can talk very frankly when we had points of disagreement. But we have 
to do so in--as allies and as friends, and be mindful of not hurting one 
another. We can agree on an issue, on the substance of issue, but we 
don't have to say so in an unpleasant manner. It so happens that today 
we have a lot of areas of convergence. But yes, maybe on such and such 
an issue, we don't totally agree, but it doesn't in any way undermine 
the basis of what I have to say, which is that the Americans are our 
friends and our allies. They know they can count on us.
    Might I add that it seems to me that the more you trust somebody, 
the more trust there is on both sides of the Atlantic, the more leeway 
we have. We don't ask the United States to apologize to us because they 
have their own vision of their strategic interests, and they don't ask 
us to apologize for the fact that we are defending our own strategic 
interests, precisely because the relationship is a strong one; it is a 
calm one. And when a relationship is that strong, you accept one's 
divergences or differences. And that is my whole point. You've got to 
understand, if you're in a strong relationship, then you have more room 
for freedom, more room for maneuver. That's what this is all about.
    Perhaps one last question?
    President Bush. Oh. [Laughter]
    President Sarkozy. One more; last.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. You have set the target before leaving the White House that, by 
the end of this year, you will hopefully achieve an historical peace 
between the Israelis and the Palestinians. However, in light of what's 
happening to the fragile position of Ehud Olmert--Prime Minister Ehud 
Olmert and the continuous process of building illegal settlements in 
the--eastern Jerusalem and certain parts of the occupied territories, do 
you think that peace is far away right now in light of those obstacles?
    President Bush. Yes. Thank you. First of all, I view the concept of 
a Palestinian state and the idea of a Palestinian state for Israeli 
security, as well as Palestinian security and hope, as bigger than the 
political process. And I fully recognize there's a lot of uncertainty in 
the Israeli political scene now.
    On the other hand, what is not uncertain is that most people--or 
many people in Israel understand that for their own security, there has 
to be a Palestinian state with clearly defined borders, a state that 
doesn't look like Swiss cheese, a resolution of the refugee issue and 
the security issue, and, of course, issues surrounding Jerusalem.
    Most Palestinians want to coexist in peace with Israel. And that 
peace must be in a state

[[Page 850]]

that is clearly visible, well-defined, and in actuality is a state. And 
so in other words, the concept--and by the way, this is newly arrived. 
I'm actually the first President ever to have articulated a two-state 
solution, two democracies living side by side with peace--in peace. And 
during my time as President, I've seen a notable shift amongst folks in 
the Middle East that recognize the importance of having that state.
    So my point to you is, is that, you know, it's been a--there's 
always difficulties in democracies, but the notion is a--of getting this 
work done is important. And therefore, our diplomacy is to remind all 
the parties involved that they have now an opportunity to get a state 
negotiated. And I think it can be done by the end of the year. Condi is 
very much involved with it on a--you know, a nearly weekly, it seems 
like, basis. And of course, I'm in touch with the leaders. The 
Palestinians are discouraged by the settlement activity--all the more 
reason to get the borders clearly defined as quickly as possible.
    I want to thank Nicolas and the EU, for example, for helping build 
civil society in the Palestinian Territory as well as helping Prime 
Minister Fayyad with security measures.
    I'll also remind you that it's essential that we get a state defined 
as quickly as possible so that leaders such as President Abbas and Prime 
Minister Fayyad can say to their people, here's an alternative vision to 
what's taking place in Gaza. You support us, and you're going to get a 
state. You support Hamas, and you're going to get Gaza. Take your pick.
    And therefore, there it's imperative that we, you know, convince the 
parties to get this done. Now, I know some say, ``All America has got to 
do is say, `Do it.' '' No, the way it works is, is that the parties have 
got to come to this agreement. Our job, along with the EU through the 
Quartet, is to keep the process moving.
    And so I'm optimistic. I understand how difficult it is, but 
difficulty should not cause people to do the right thing. If you believe 
in your soul something is right, then you have an obligation to work. 
And in this case, I firmly believe that the establishment of a 
Palestinian state will bring hope and peace to the Israelis and the 
Palestinians.
    Thank you.

Note: The President's news conference began at 11:45 a.m. at Elysee 
Palace. In his remarks, he referred to Carla Bruni, wife of President 
Sarkozy; Tim Russert, moderator of NBC's ``Meet the Press,'' who passed 
away on June 13; Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia, in his former 
capacity as President of Russia; President Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad of Iran; 
and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) 
of the Palestinian Authority. President Sarkozy referred to President 
Michel Sleiman of Lebanon; Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; Prime 
Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom; and Prime Minister Brian 
Cowen of Ireland. A reporter referred to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of 
Israel. President Sarkozy and some reporters spoke in French, and their 
remarks were translated by an interpreter.