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Skriven 2006-06-29 23:37:14 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060629f) for Thu, 2006 Jun 29
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President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Exchange Toasts
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 29, 2006

President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Exchange Toasts
State Dining Room

President's Remarks view


8:05 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister and distinguished guests, Laura and I
thank you for joining us tonight and we welcome you to the White House.
This room has hosted many honored guests and tonight it also hosts a
treasured friend.

Mr. Prime Minister, our strong friendship has grown out of the strong
alliance between our two nations. Japan and America share a common belief
in the power of freedom to bring hope to millions who have not known it.
And we share a common commitment to meet the challenges of our time and lay
the foundations of peace for generations to come.

In our meetings today you have once again demonstrated the qualities of
character that both the Japanese people and the American people admire. You
have an optimistic view of the world, you welcome hard work and big
challenges and you are determined that your great nation will continue to
make a positive contribution to our world.

Mr. Prime Minister, more than 25 years ago the White House welcomed another
distinguished visitor who shared much in common with you. Like you, he had
great hair. (Laughter.) Like you, he was known to sing in public.
(Laughter.) And like you, he won admirers in countries far from home. That
man was Elvis. (Laughter.) And Laura and I are looking forward to joining
you tomorrow in our visit to his home in Memphis.

But tonight, Mr. Prime Minister, it's my honor to offer a toast to you and
to our friends and allies, the people of Japan.

(A toast was offered.)

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, distinguished guests. I
would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for hosting such a
wonderful dinner tonight.

Actually, I believe -- I'm sorry, I made a mistake. Mr. President, it was
exactly five years ago, June 30, 2001, when I first met with you. After our
talks, the President and I played catch in the woods of Camp David. Since
then, based our heartfelt friendship, we have nurtured this vital bilateral
relationship and have joined together as close allies to talk about a
diverse set of challenges. Actually, I believe it was thanks to that game
of catch with the President, I was able to feel confident when I stood on
the pitcher's mound and threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in
September 2004. (Laughter and applause.) USA Today reported that it was --
and I quote -- "A near perfect strike." (Laughter.)

The President often mentions in public that Japan and the United States
went from being enemies during World War II to become the closest of allies
and leading members of the community of free and democratic nations. In the
new year of 1946, only several months after the end of war, then-Emperor
Showa composed a Japanese traditional poem, which reads: "Courageous pine,
and during the snow that is piling up, color unchanging, little people be
like this." I can imagine the emperor gazing at the pine tree in his palace
and reading out this poem at a time when our land was a (inaudible) and our
people were depressed by Japan's defeat. "The snow is heavily piling up,
and almost all the tree's leaves are either gone or have changed colors.
However, this pine stands firm, without losing its needles or changing its
color." I think the emperor wished our people to be like the pine when he
wrote this poem for encouraging the people in the most difficult of times.

Since then, the people of Japan are striving to fulfill this poem's spirit
by hard work and the discipline. At the same time, Japan will never forget
that it was also the generous support provided by the United States after
the war that contributed heavily to Japan's remarkable post-war
development. During the war, people in Japan were taught to fear and hate
the Americans, as if they were monsters. But the Americans were right in
front of us -- in fact, came with warm and generous hearts. The Japanese
people are still impressed with, they are grateful for the generosity of
the United States and the American people.

In March 1865, just before the end of the Civil War, President Abraham
Lincoln spoke to his audience in his second inaugural address. "With malice
toward none, with charity for all ... let us strive on ... to bind up the
nation's wounds ... to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and
lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." I believe it was this
American spirit that lifted the hearts of Japan's people, made Japan's
reconstruction possible and built a foundation for the solid friendship
between our two nations.

It is such an impressive thing that our two nations, who once fought
against each other now share common values and together, as close friends
and allies, are tackling of a wide variety of challenges around the world.

Nine-eleven was an attack not solely against your country; it was a
challenge against all of us, the entire human race and all those who
respect human dignity and freedom. Terrorism and the proliferation of WMDs
threaten the basic fundamentals of our lives. I would like to pay my
sincerest respect to President Bush, who has been so steadfast and
determined in protecting freedom and democracy.

I sometimes see the image of the United States as Gary Cooper in my
favorite movie, "High Noon." (Laughter.) Marshal Cooper stood up alone with
courage and justice against four outlaw men. However, there is one huge
difference between that Marshal and the United States: The United States is
not alone when facing the evils that exist today. The United States is
always with its eyes on friends, and Japan stands by the United States of
America. (Applause.)

The President and I both recognize the importance of the Japan-U.S.
alliance as we, at the same time, cooperate with many other nations around
the world, as well as with the United Nations. Japan is determined to
further develop this cooperation with the United States on a wide variety
of issues, ranging from the fight against terrorism to democratization, the
reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq, to alleviation of poverty, to
natural disaster itself -- disaster relief.

Tomorrow the President and Mrs. Bush and I are going to visit Memphis,
Tennessee, home to Elvis Presley. When I was young, my exposure to America
was Presley -- which is a vivid memory of my youth. The first English song
I ever learned by heart was Presley's "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You."
(Laughter.)

Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to propose a
toast to the further enhancement of Japan-U.S. relations. In the words of
Elvis, "I want you, I need you, I love you." As those lyrics suggest, I
hope that our two nations, sharing fundamental values and interests will
continue to be essential to each other, will cooperate for world peace and
prosperity, and will further enrich our bilateral relationship.

(A toast was offered.) (Applause.)

END 8:20 P.M. EDT

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