[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 33 (Monday, August 25, 2008)]
[Pages 1137-1138]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 15, 2008

    Good morning. For more than a week, the people of the nation of 
Georgia have withstood assault from the Russian military. The world has 
watched with alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign, neighboring state and 
threatened a democratic government elected by its people. This act is 
completely unacceptable to the free nations of the world.
    The United States and our allies stand with the people of Georgia 
and their democratically elected Government. We insist that Georgia's 
sovereignty and territorial integrity be respected. And Moscow must 
honor its pledge to withdraw its invading forces from all Georgian 
territory.
    Earlier this week, I directed a series of steps to demonstrate 
America's solidarity with the Georgian people and to help bring about a 
peaceful resolution of the conflict. On Thursday, Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice was in France, where she conferred with President 
Sarkozy about the diplomatic effort that the French Government is 
leading on behalf of the European Union.
    Yesterday she was in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, where she 
conveyed America's support for Georgia's democratic Government. And next 
week, Secretary Rice will travel to Brussels, where she will meet with 
the foreign ministers of our NATO allies and EU officials to continue 
our efforts to rally the free world in defense of a free Georgia.
    Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is overseeing a mission by the 
United States military to provide humanitarian aid for the people of 
Georgia. In recent days, U.S. cargo planes carrying humanitarian 
supplies have arrived in Georgia. In the days ahead, we will continue 
using U.S. aircraft and other assets as needed to deliver more 
humanitarian and medical supplies. Russia has agreed to let in all forms 
of humanitarian assistance, and Russia must keep open all lines of 
communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and 
airspace for civilian transit and the delivery of humanitarian 
assistance.
    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 gained independence after the Soviet Union's 
collapse, Georgia has become a courageous democracy whose 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. For the first time in 
memory, Europe is becoming a continent that is whole, free, and at 
peace. And it is essential that America and other free nations ensure 
that an embattled democracy seeking to stand with us remains sovereign, 
secure, and undivided.
    Russia's actions in Georgia raise serious questions about its role 
and its intentions in the Europe of the 21st century. In recent years, 
Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, 
and security structures of the West. The United States has supported 
those efforts. Now, Russia has put its aspirations at risk by taking 
actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those 
institutions.

[[Page 1138]]

    To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United 
States, Europe, and other nations and to begin restoring its place in 
the world, Russia must act to end this crisis.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:30 a.m. on August 15 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 16. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
August 15. In his address, the President referred to President Nicolas 
Sarkozy of France, in his capacity as President of the European Council. 
The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.