For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 28, 2004
President Discusses Iraq Sovereignty with Denmark P.M. on Friday
Remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark to the Press Pool
The Rose Garden
12:01 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Welcome, thanks for coming. It's always good to
be with a friend. Friends are candid with each other, friends are
open, and friends are constructive -- and that's the kind of
conversation we've just and we'll continue to have.
I told the Prime Minister that our government and our coalition
will transfer full sovereignty, complete and full sovereignty to an
Iraqi government that will be picked by Mr. Brahimi of the United
Nations. He said, do you mean full sovereignty? I said, I mean full
sovereignty. I then told him that we're working closely in the United
Nations to get a new Security Council resolution. And we're making
progress on that resolution.
I spoke to Vladimir Putin this morning about the resolution, and we
agreed to work together on behalf of the Iraqi people and the new
government. I told him that we would come up with an arrangement that
would enable us to help the Iraqi people secure their country, so that
the country can move toward elections. I told him I would continue to
work with countries around the world to build support for the new Iraqi
government, so that the Iraqi people have a chance to live in a free
and just society, just like we do.
I also want to thank the people of Denmark for their love of
freedom, their support for human rights and the commitment of troops to
Iraq. The moms and dads of those troops need to know they're
performing brilliantly, Mr. Prime Minister; they're good, strong
soldiers who bring great credit to your country. I'm proud to have you
here, thanks for coming.
PRIME MINISTER RASMUSSEN: Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm
happy to be back in the White House. I'm here as a friend and ally.
And today I have confirmed that the Danish troops will stay in Iraq.
We will stay and finish our job. Our common goal is to assist the
Iraqi people in building a new, modern and democratic society.
We have a lot of negative news from Iraq. What we need now are --
is some positive news. And I welcome the efforts to achieve consensus
in the U.N. Security Council on a new Security Council resolution which
can pave the way for the building of a democratic society in Iraq.
We need a transfer of full sovereignty to an Iraqi government, an
Iraqi government which will be provided with all the signs and
principles of a sovereign government. From June 30th, international
military presence in Iraq will be provided at request from this new
Iraqi government. Our troops will stay in Iraq as long as the Iraqi
government decides.
Finally, we have discussed the tragic events of prisoner abuse in
Iraqi prisons. I welcome the assurance that these cases will be fully
investigated, and the people responsible will be held accountable. And
I welcome that the necessary steps will be taken to make sure that
nothing like this will happen in the future.
Finally, I would like to emphasize the importance of strength in
transatlantic relations. In a few days' time, we will commemorate the
60 year anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe. We owe a great
deal to the United States and Europe. Thousands of Americans lost
their lives in Europe in the fight against Nazi tyranny, in the fight
for freedom. And let this commemoration also be a reminder of our
shared values and shared destiny.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good job, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you.
END 12:07 P.M. EDT
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