President Bush Meets with German Chancellor Schroeder
Remarks by President Bush and Chancellor Schroeder of Germany in Press Availability
Kanzlerant
Berlin, Germany
1:28 P.M. (Local)
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: (in progress) -- welcome you most warmly
here to the garden of the Chancellery. We have exceedingly been
looking forward to this visit of the U.S. American President George W.
Bush. And the results of our conversations I think are such that we
have every reason to be pleased.
U.S. American are in an exceedingly healthy state. It's a very
friendly atmosphere; that has become abundantly clear in all of our
conversations. But I also think that there is a tremendous amount of
agreement between the two of us and our two countries as regards the
assessment of the situation around the world.
Now, to begin with, we have started to talk about very intensely
about the U.S. American-European relations. I think what the American
President and the Russian President have agreed together regarding
questions of disarmament, but also regarding the process of
approachment of Russia towards NATO, that that is of historic
importance. And I would very much say -- and we both agreed that this
process is going to be topped by what we're going to be doing in Rome
on the 28th of May, together. The world is going to be a safer place
for it, and I think it's a tremendous success not only of America, but
of this special U.S. American President.
We then, obviously, talked about the ongoing necessity to continue
with our joint fight against international terrorism. And I have been
able to brief the President about my visit to Kabul and about the
necessity of maintaining the protection force on the ground, the ISAF.
They are the force to guarantee a minimum of security, and therefore, a
minimum perspective of hope of reconstruction for people in this
country. This is also important -- we want to rebuild economic and
social structures in the country.
We're very much in agreement that we have every reason to trust the
interim government with Interim President Karzai, and to give them all
of the support that they need to move their country forward as a way of
their own momentum.
Now, we very much agree that it is necessary and important to make
sure we move the peace process forward in the Middle East. I have
emphasized very strongly that the President's speech in Washington was
a milestone regarding this situation. He went in and made it
abundantly clear what we all believe in -- at least we, too, certainly
believe in that Israel has got a guaranteed -- right of safe existence
within strong and reliable borders. But it needs to be recognized by
all of its neighbors and that by the end of the day, certainly there is
going to be an independent Palestinian state, too.
And we're very much agreed that this is a job to be done by the
international community of states. certainly, by means of the Quartet
that arose from Madrid: the United States of America, the United
Nations, Europe and Russia. Now, this Quartet is hopefully going to
support the constructive process as well as they can because we really
need stability and peaceful development for this region, specifically.
We very much share the concern about the existing conflict between
Pakistan, on one hand side, and India on the other hand. And we're
very much agreed that we have to do whatever we can to bring a peaceful
solution to this conflict. I mean, we must make sure that no further
escalation happens over there.
Now, moreover, we addressed questions of interest regarding trade
with one another. We also addressed some other issues that are in
existence regarding our bilateral relations.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, thank you, Chancellor. It's an honor to be
here in this historic city. I want to thank you for your hospitality
and I want to thank you for treating Laura so well.
The Chancellor and I have met -- I think it's now five times. And
I value our friendship. I appreciate the frank discussions we have.
I'm here to let the German people know how proud I am of our
relationship, our personal relationship, and how proud I am of the
relationship between our two countries.
Germany is an incredibly important ally to the United States of
America. We respect the German people. We appreciate democracy in
this land. We appreciate the struggles that Germany has gone through.
And we value the friendship going forward.
My speech today at the Bundestag will talk about the problems that
we can solve together, that we share so much, particularly when it
comes to values and a deep and abiding concern for humanity and for
peace. One of the things I like about Gerhardt is he's willing to
confront problems in an open way, and he is, hopefully like people
consider me, a problem solver, that we're willing to use our respective
positions to solve problems, such as making sure our respective
homelands are secure from terrorist attack.
I'm going to talk clearly about that today, about the need for us
to continue to cooperate, and to fight against terror -- people who
hate freedom, people who are challenging civilization itself.
I want to thank again the German people and the German government
for the commitment to Afghanistan. The Chancellor made a very tough,
but I think correct decision in sending troops to Afghanistan, and
those troops have performed brilliantly. I know you've lost life, as
have we. And our hearts go out to the families of the soldiers who
died. But in my judgment, the sacrifice is necessary, because we
defend freedom -- and freedom is precious.
We talked about weapons of mass destruction and the need for us to
be concerned about weapons of mass destruction. As I will mention in
my speech, one way to help our mutual security is to work together to
solve regional problems, and we spent a lot of time talking about the
Middle East. The German government has been very helpful in helping
set the foundation for peace. Both of us agree that there ought to be
two states -- a Palestinian state and, obviously, the Israeli state --
living side by side in peace. And we're working in that direction.
A hot topic today, of course, in the world and one that we spent a
lot of time talking about, as Gerhardt mentioned, the India-Pakistan
issue. My point is, is that we've got a reliable friend and ally in
Germany. This is a confident country, led by a confident man. And
that's good. That's good for world peace. It's good for those of us
who love and embrace freedom.
So, Mr. Chancellor, thanks for -- thanks for giving me a chance to
come and visit with you. Thanks for your hospitality. Thanks for
giving me a chance to speak to the Bundestag here in a little bit.
We'll be glad to answer a couple of questions for you.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: There is the possibility to put three
questions from each side. Please, possibly, that the guests could
start.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Did he just call on you? Okay, I'm sorry. Ron,
have you got a question? (Laughter.)
Q I do --
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right.
Q This is a question to President Bush --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Wait a minute, how many questions are you going to
ask?
Q Should the American people conclude there were some
intelligence lapses before September 11th? And can you please explain
why you oppose a commission to look into the matter, and why you won't
release the August 6th memo?
And quickly to you, sir, do you think there should be regime change
in Iraq?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, first of all, I've got great confidence in
our CIA and FBI. I know what's taken place since the attacks on
September the 11th. Our communications between the two agencies is
much better than ever before. We've got a much better -- doing a much
better job of sharing intelligence.
I, of course, want the Congress to take a look at what took place
prior to September the 11th. But since it deals with such sensitive
information, in my judgment, it's best for the ongoing war against
terror that the investigation be done in the intelligence committee.
There are committees set up with both Republicans and Democrats who
understand the obligations of upholding our secrets and our sources and
methods of collecting intelligence. And therefore, I think it's the
best place for Congress to take a good look at the events leading up to
September the 11th.
The other question?
Q The August 6th memo --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Oh, yes. Well, one of the things that is very
important, Ron, is that the information given to the President be
protected, because we don't want to give away sources and uses and
methodology of intelligence-gathering. And one of the things that
we're learning is in order to win this war on terror, we've got to have
the best intelligence-gathering possible. And not only have we got to
share intelligence between friends -- which we do -- but we're still at
war, we've still got threats to the homeland that we've got to deal
with. And it's very important for us to not hamper our ability to wage
that war. And so there are ways to gather information, to help improve
the system without jeopardizing the capacity for us to gather
intelligence, and those are the ways I support.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: Saddam Hussein is a dictator, there can be
no doubt, nothing else. And he does act without looking after his
people whatsoever. We're agreed when it comes to that. And we're also
agreed to the fact that it is up to the international community of
states to go in and exercise a lot of political pressure in the most --
possible way. The United Nations have decided to do so, as well. We
need to pressurize him so that international arms inspectors can get
into the country to find out what weapons of mass destruction can be
found in his hands. I mean, there is no difference there between
President Bush and myself when it comes to the assessment of this
situation.
We then obviously also talked about the question as to what should
happen in the future, what could happen in the future. I have taken
notice of the fact that His Excellency, the President, does think about
all possible alternatives. But despite what people occasionally
present here in rumors, there are no concrete military plans of attack
on Iraq. And that is why, for me, there is no reason whatsoever to
speculate about when and if and how. I think such speculation should
be forbidden. That, certainly, is not the right thing for a
Chancellor. And I am in this position.
We will be called upon to take our decision if and when, after
consultations -- and we've been assured that such consultations are
going to be happening -- and then we'll take a decision. And before
that, I think we should not speculate about serious questions like this
one.
Q Mr. President, Chancellor, looking beyond Iraq, given the fact
that Syria, too, in U.S. terminology, is a state sponsor of terrorism,
given the fact that Saudi Arabia is anything but a democratic
pluralistic society, how do both of you want to have this whole region,
the Middle East, look like once the fight against terror is over?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, it's a great question. Would you care to go
first, Mr. Chancellor -- (laughter.) I'll be glad to answer it, if you
like.
First, you need to know that in order for the region to be peaceful
and hopeful, there must be a resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict. I believe that strongly. And that's why my government and I
feel strongly that we've got to work toward a vision of peace that
includes two states living side by side.
And the positive news is that many Arab leaders understand that
they have got to be a part of the process now. We spent a great deal
of time talking to the Saudis, for example -- you mentioned the
Saudis. They must be a party to the process. They have -- sometimes
in the past the process has not gone forward because there hasn't been,
as we say in America, the buy-in by the parties; they haven't been a
party to the process.
And I'm pleased to report, as you can probably see in your
newspapers, they are now, they're involved. I think one of our --
and the reason I mention that is because I think their involvement to a
process that I'm optimistic will succeed will then enable us to
continue to more likely have an effect on promoting values that we hold
dear -- values of rule of law and democracy and minority rights.
The institutions of change are more likely to be effective with our
ability to achieve a peace in the Middle East. And so much of the
ability to promote reform -- which we're for -- hinges on our abilities
and capacities to get something done. And it's going to take a while,
I believe, but, nevertheless, we are making progress. And my
administration spends a great deal of time on the Middle East, because
we understand that it is a linchpin for convincing regimes to adopt the
habits of freedom that sometimes we take for granted in our respective
countries.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: Well, I don't think I've got to add a lot to
what's been said -- possibly so much. I think there cannot be peace in
the Middle East without the United States of America and without them
being active in this field. And it was not without reason that I
pointed to the tremendously important speech of the President. It's
very important. And that is why we support the efforts towards peace
undertaken by the United States, but also by all other members of the
so-called Quartet. We are supporting this in the framework of the
European Union, but we're also doing it from bilateral channels. And
my impression is -- and here yet again, I fully agree with the
President that a certain degree of progress is visible in this
process.
Now, obviously, we cannot be satisfied with the degree of progress,
but still we have moved a little bit and there is no alternative to the
way that the President just described. There is no such thing as a
magic formula to solve this tremendously difficult problem. Nobody has
such a formula. And that is why I think the task that the President
just described is certainly one that needs to be seriously supported by
the European Union and by us, bilaterally.
THE PRESIDENT: Steve Holland, Reuters.
Q Thank you very much.
THE PRESIDENT: A fine man, fine man.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: We'll see that once he's put his question.
(Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: There you go.
Q You meet with President Putin tomorrow. How are you going to
talk him into ending nuclear cooperation with Iran?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's a -- that's going to be a topic. One
way to make the case is that if you arm Iran, you're liable to get the
weapons pointed at you; that you've got to be careful in dealing with a
country like Iran.
This is a country that doesn't -- it's not transparent, it's not
open. It's run by a group of extremists who fund terrorist activity,
who clearly hate our mutual friend, Israel. And, you know, it's very
unpredictable. And, therefore, Russia needs to be concerned about
proliferation into a country that might view them as an enemy at some
point in time. And if Iran gets a weapon of mass destruction,
deliverable by a missile, that's going to be a problem. That's going
to be a problem for all of us, including Russia.
So that's how I'm going to make the case. We've got a lot of work
to do with Russia. I will continue to make the case. As you know,
Steve, I have brought that subject up ever since I've started meeting
with Vladimir Putin.
The good news is, we're -- our relationship is a friendly
relationship; that I view President Putin as a friend, I view Russia as
a friend, not as an enemy. And therefore, it's much easier to solve
these difficult issues, and issue like proliferation, amongst friends.
And I want to appreciate the Chancellor's kind words about
tomorrow's treaty signing. It's going to be a positive development for
America, and I believe a positive development for Europe. And then, of
course, we're going to Rome afterwards, and that, too, will be a
positive development for Europe and America. And it is within the --
it's in this positive relationship and positive atmosphere that we're
more likely to be able to achieve satisfaction on non-proliferation.
Q Mr. President, the Chancellor just said that your government
does not seem to be very specific right now when it comes to plans to
attack Iraq. Is that true, sir? And could you, nevertheless, try to
explain to the German people what your goals are when it comes to
Iraq?
And secondly, by German standards, Germany has already shouldered a
huge burden in military terms of the fight against terrorism. Are you
satisfied with that, or do you want Germany to do more?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First, what the Chancellor told you is true.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: Of course it is. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm surprised anybody would doubt your word,
Chancellor. (Laughter.)
Look, I mean, he knows my position, and the world knows my position
about Saddam Hussein. He's a dangerous man. He's a dictator who
gassed his own people. He's had a history of incredible human rights
violations. And he is a -- it's dangerous to think of a scenario in
which a country like Iraq would team up with an al Qaeda type
organization, particularly if and when they have the capacity, had the
capacity, or when they have the capacity to deliver weapons of mass
destruction via ballistic missile. And that's a threat. It's a threat
to Germany, it's a threat to America, it's a threat to civilization
itself. And we've got to deal with it. We can play like it's not
there, we can hope it goes away. But that's not going to work. That's
not going to make us safer.
And I told the Chancellor that I have no war plans on my desk,
which is the truth, and that we've got to use all means at our disposal
to deal with Saddam Hussein. And I appreciate the German Chancellor's
understanding of the threats of weapons of mass destruction. And
they're real.
Now, I know some would play like they're not real. I'm telling
you, they're real. And if you love freedom, it's a threat to freedom.
And so we're going to deal with it, and we'll deal with it in a
respectful way. The Chancellor said that I promised consultations. I
will say it again: I promise consultations with our close friend and
ally. We will exert a unified diplomatic pressure. We will share
intelligence. We love freedom, and so does the Chancellor, and we
cannot allow these weapons to be in a position that will affect
history.
Listen, history has called us to action. I don't want to be in a
position where we look back, and say, why didn't they lead, where were
they when it came to our basic freedoms? And we are going to lead.
What was the other part of your question? That's what you get for
asking long questions, or what I get for answering long answers.
Q That's perfectly all right. The second question was, sir,
that Germany has already shouldered a huge burden in military terms,
and do you expect more --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Germany has shouldered a significant burden. And
we are very grateful for that. The Chancellor and I talked about how
to make sure we complete the task in Afghanistan -- which is to
continue chasing down the killers, by the way, and to find them before
they hit us -- but, as well, is to leave institutions behind so that
Afghanistan can run herself, so Afghanistan can be a peaceful nation,
so Afghanistan can function. And we both recognize that our presence
is just going to have to be there for a -- for quite a while. And the
Chancellor made that commitment, and I appreciate that. I'm very
satisfied with the commitment of the German government.
Yes, Terry.
Q Thank you, sir. On the subject of weapons of mass
destruction, the strategic arms agreement you'll sign in Moscow does
not address what many people say is now the greatest threat posed by
the Russian arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, that's
proliferation to terrorists or rogue states because of insufficient
security. What specific plan do you have to address that issue with
President Putin? Do you believe the Russian government is doing a good
job securing those weapons? And what do you say to critics of this
arms deal who say that by taking the material off the warheads, you
provide more opportunities for terrorists to get them?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I guess I'll start with the critics. I say,
would you rather have them on the launchers? Would you rather have the
warheads pointed at people? I would think not. Secondly, this issue
about the so-called loose nuke issue has been around for quite a
while. This isn't anything new. This is a problem that we are jointly
working on. As you know, Terry -- and others may not know -- we've got
what's called Nunn-Lugar, which is a significant expenditure of
taxpayers' money to help Russia dispose of and dismantle nuclear
warheads, which we're willing to do. As a matter of fact, the '03
budget is nearly a billion dollars toward that end.
We're working with Chancellor Schroeder on what's called
10-plus-10-over-10: $10 billion from the U.S., $10 billion from other
members of the G7 over a 10-year period, to help Russia securitize the
dismantling -- the dismantled nuclear warheads.
And President Putin understands that. He understands the need to
work closely with all of us. And he understands that a loose nuke
could affect his security as it affects somebody else's security. He's
a wise man, he's aware of the issues that we confront. That's why he's
one of the best partners we have on the war against terror. He
understands the implications and consequences of terror. And he also
recognizes that a nightmare scenario is a dirty bomb, or some kind of
nuclear bomb in the hands of a -- in the hands of any kind of terrorist
organization.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: Last question.
Q Mr. President, you are visiting a kind of ghost town around
here. Do you feel a bit of pity about not seeing the Berlin people --
visit first? And secondly, -- ways to find a -- peace, did you discuss
on social and -- to these means? Is there a chance that you'll -- to
sign the Kyoto treaty?
THE PRESIDENT: No. (Laughter.)
Q Then what are your -- concerns -- in August? Will you take
part of it --
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Let's see, part one of a four-part
question. I live in a bubble. That's what happens when you're the
President. So, unfortunately, I don't get to see as much of Berlin as
I'd like to see. That's just life. So when I come back at some point
in my life, Mr. Chancellor, you can show me around. We'll go fishing
together.
No, I don't -- yes, of course, whether it be in Berlin, or Moscow,
or anywhere else, I mean, I'm a person who likes -- I like to meet
people. I like -- I enjoy people. I had one small glimpse of Berlin
last night, when we went to a restaurant. It was my pleasure to shake
hands with everybody, or most everybody in the restaurant. I enjoy
that. It frustrates me not to be able to see this growing city. But
that's just life in the bubble. That's just what happens when you're
the President. And I knew that going in, so I'm not griping about it.
Yes, the human condition is very important to me. I mean, it is --
and that's one way to make sure that the terrorists are less likely to
be effective in their recruiting, is to promote those conditions
necessary for human beings to realize their full potential, such as
good health, and good education, and prosperity -- those habits
necessary for the growth of prosperity. And I will address that in my
speech to the Bundestag.
And I don't know whether or not you followed it, but we've laid out
an initiative called the New Millennium Fund, where after three years
our government will be spending $5 billion a year -- new money -- for
development. And that money is going to go promote -- to countries
which are willing to fight corruption and promote rule of law.
Look, you can give all kinds of money to corrupt societies, but
it's not going to help the people. It will help the few. And I'm
tired of that. I want to encourage reforms in society that help
people.
You know, I'm desperately concerned about AIDS. I know the
Chancellor shares my grief. And we've put a significant amount of
money on the table. But eventually I hope to see a strategy that will
work. It's one thing to commit money, it's another thing to insist
that the money actually work, and start saving people's lives. And
when that happens, we'll commit more money.
So, you bet, we're going to talk -- we've talked about, and will
continue to talk about the human conditions necessary to really make
sure the whole world is able to be free and at peace.
Thank you all.
CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.