[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.