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Skriven 2005-02-21 23:33:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0502212) for Mon, 2005 Feb 21
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President and President Chirac Discuss Common Values, Vision
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 21, 2005

President and President Chirac Discuss Common Values, Vision
Ambassador's Residence
United States Embassy
Brussels, Belgium



7:13 P.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's my honor to be joining Jacques Chirac for dinner. I
thank you for coming, sir. I've really been looking forward to this moment.

Every time I meet with Jacques he's got good advice. And I'm looking
forward to listening to you. We've got a lot of issues to talk about:
Middle Eastern peace, Lebanon, Iran, helping to feed the hungry, working
together to help spread medicines necessary to cure illness.

So, Mr. President, thank you very much for your -- coming back for dinner,
and thank you for your time.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (As translated.) Thank you. It's, of course, a great
pleasure, it always is great pleasure to meet with President Bush. And let
me take this opportunity to thank him for his very warm welcome to me
today, as always.

Now, President Bush and I have always shared very -- always had very warm
relations, which, in fact, translate, to a certain extent, of relations --
of warm relations that have always been characterized -- the links between
our countries and the relations, be they bilateral or transatlantic ones,
which have always been excellent between France and the United States.

Indeed, we have struggled for some two centuries, 200 years now, to uphold
and keep alive these values which we share, and which our people share and
hold very dear to their hearts, and which we are very attached to.

We are present together, that is to say France and the United States, in
some of the world's hot spots. I'm thinking of Afghanistan, I'm thinking of
the Balkans, of course. But I'm thinking also of what we're doing in Haiti
and in Africa. I'm thinking also of our excellent cooperation over the
tragedy in Asia, from the tsunami here. And let me take this opportunity to
thank the President for all the help that was extended to our military by
the American military. For instance, the making available to our military
of American helicopters, which made our work that much easier.

So we do share many, many ideals and values. We have many things in common.
For instance, we, together, are struggling against the scourge of weapons
of mass destruction and terrorism. And we adopted -- we have the same
approach to the situation which is prevailing in Lebanon, especially
following the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri, who, of course, was a
man who enshrined the ideals of democracy, independence and liberty of that
country.

Therefore, I am looking forward to a very constructive discussion, and I
welcome this new opportunity to meet with the President, and in a broader
context, which is that of the continuing dialogue, ongoing dialogue between
the United States and the rest of Europe.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Tom.

Q For both Presidents: You talked about Russia, Mr. President, in your
speech. What practical things can you do to pressure Russia to go back to a
path towards democracy? And should you, for instance, make membership in
the WTO contingent on Russia renewing its commitment to democracy? For both
Presidents, please.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Part of the WTO requirements are that there be an open
market, that there be a liberal economy. And open markets and liberal
economies tend to attract countries that are open to the voices of their
people.

I look forward to seeing Vladimir Putin in two days. I've got a good
relationship with Vladimir; I intend to keep it that way. But as well, I
intend to remind him that if his interests lie West, that we share values,
and that we -- and those values are important. They're not only important
for people that live within Russia, they're important to have good
relations with the West.

Q The first question to President Chirac. You have said, sir, yourself,
that relations have always been excellent between France and the United
States. We get the sense that in recent weeks they have become even better.
They have become warmer and that there's a veritable new honeymoon, as it
were, taking place.

And to you, President Bush, may I ask the following question: If, indeed,
relations have improved, if certainly they are better between France and
the United States, are they good enough as yet for that to warrant an
invitation to President Chirac to go to the United States, or even to your
ranch? (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm looking for a good cowboy. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (As translated.) Let me say, repeat what I already said,
namely, that our relations are, indeed, excellent. But they have been
excellent for over 200 years now, because -- why do I say that? Because
they are based upon common values, common values that we share. And these
things don't change overnight, with the wave of a wand.

Now, of course, that doesn't mean that because we share common values we
don't -- we necessarily agree on everything all the time. Of course, we can
have our differences, our divergence of opinion. Recently, this was the
case; we didn't share the same view over Iraq. But this in no way affects
or in no way undermines the bedrock of our relations, namely, our common
values and our common vision. And I repeat what I said earlier on, namely,
that I feel it's so important that within the broader context of U.S.-EU
relations, this relationship should continue to be cemented, broadened and
strengthened.

PRESIDENT BUSH: This is my first dinner since I've been re-elected on
European soil, and it's with Jacques Chirac -- and that ought to say
something. It ought to say how important this relationship is for me,
personally, and how important this relationship is for my country.

END 7:23 P.M. (Local)
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