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Skriven 2005-02-22 23:32:52 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0502221) for Tue, 2005 Feb 22
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Remarks by President Bush and President Jacques Chirac in a Photo
Opportunity
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 22, 2005

Remarks by President Bush and President Jacques Chirac in a Photo
Opportunity



February 21, 2005 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IN
A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY 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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