    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 32 (Monday, August 18, 2008)]
    [Pages 1131-1132]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on the Situation in Georgia

    August 15, 2008

        Good morning. I've just received an update from my national security
    team on the situation in Georgia. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is
    in Tbilisi. She's conferring with President Saakashvili and expressing
    America's wholehearted support for Georgia's democracy.
        She will be traveling to Crawford, where I will meet her, and she
    will bring me up to date on what she has seen and what she heard in
    Georgia as well as in Paris--I mean, in France; she did not go to Paris.
    Secretary of Defense Gates will keep me briefed on the humanitarian
    assistance to the people of Georgia. We're working closely with our
    partners in Europe and other members of the G-7 to bring a resolution to
    this crisis.
        The United States and our allies stand with the people of Georgia
    and their democratically elected Government. Georgia's sovereignty and
    territorial integrity must be respected. Moscow must honor its
    commitment to withdraw its invading forces from all Georgian territory.
        Some Americans listening today may wonder why events taking place in
    a small country halfway around the world matter to the United States. In
    the years since it's gained independence after the Soviet Union's
    collapse, Georgia's become a courageous democracy. Its people are making
    the tough choices that are required of free societies. Since the Rose
    Revolution in 2003, the Georgian people have held free elections, opened
    up their economy, and built the foundations of a successful democracy.
        Georgia has sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq to help others
    achieve the liberty that they struggled so hard to attain. To further
    strengthen their democracy, Georgia has sought to join the free
    institutions of the West. The people of Georgia have cast their lot with
    the free world, and we will not cast them aside.
        Georgia's emergence as a young democracy has been part of an
    inspiring and hopeful new chapter in Europe's history. Europe has moved
    beyond the world wars that killed millions of people and the cold war
    that divided its citizens between two superpowers. Every administration
    since the end of the cold war has worked with European partners to
    extend the reach of liberty and prosperity. And now, for the first time
    in memory, Europe is becoming a continent that is whole, free, and at
    peace.
        Unfortunately, Russia has tended to view the expansion of freedom
    and democracy as a threat to its interests. The opposite is true. Free
    and prosperous societies on Russia's

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    borders will advance Russia's interests by serving as sources of
    stability and economic opportunity.
        We hope Russia's leaders will recognize that a future of cooperation
    and peace will benefit all parties. The cold war is over. The days of
    satellite states and spheres of influence are behind us. A contentious
    relationship with Russia is not in America's interest, and a contentious
    relationship with America is not in Russia's interest.
        With its actions in recent days, Russia has damaged its credibility
    and its relations with the nations of the free world. Bullying and
    intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the
    21st century. Only Russia can decide whether it will now put itself back
    on the path of responsible nations or continue to pursue a policy that
    promises only confrontation and isolation. To begin to repair its
    relations with the United States and Europe and other nations and to
    begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must respect the freedom
    of its neighbors.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:13 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Mikheil Saakashvili of
    Georgia. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.