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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