President Bush, Jordanian King Discuss Iraq, Middle East
Remarks by President Bush and His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in a Press Availability
The Rose Garden
2:03 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Your Majesty, welcome once again to the White
House. I appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate the opportunity
to hear your thoughts on a range of issues that face your country, and
mine, at this time of challenge and opportunity in the Middle East.
The economic relationship between our two countries has never been
stronger. We continue to increase the ties of trade and investment,
creating new opportunities for both our people. The free trade
agreement between Jordan and the United States is a model for the
region, as my government works to build a Middle East free trade
agreement.
The United States is committed to helping Jordan along the path to
prosperity through our strong support of the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund. And we're proud to support Jordan through
our support for Jordan's social and economic transformation program.
His Majesty and his team are reform-minded individuals who care
deeply about the citizens of the Kingdom of Jordan. We spent quite a
deal of time -- quite a bit of time talking about lasting prosperity in
Jordan, and our desire to help Jordan achieve lasting prosperity. We
also know that lasting prosperity requires lasting security and peace
in the region. Our two countries are working closely to ensure that
the Middle East becomes safer and more prosperous and more free.
The fall of Saddam Hussein removed a source of instability and
intimidation from the heart of the Middle East. All of Iraq's
neighbors, including Jordan, are safer now. And the emergence of a
peaceful, prosperous, and free Iraq will contribute to Jordan's
security and prosperity.
The United States strongly supports the efforts of U.N. Security
General's Special Advisor Brahimi to work with Iraqis to develop and
interim government. His Majesty and I talked about the fact that on
June 30th, a sovereign Iraqi government will take office. Our
coalition partners will continue to work with the United Nations to
prepare for nationwide elections that will choose a new government in
January of 2005.
Jordan and the United States share a vision for a free, stable, and
prosperous Middle East. Under the King's leadership, Jordan has become
a force for reform and positive change in the region. This month,
Jordan will be hosting a meeting of the World Economic Forum, another
important milestone on the Middle East journey to greater openness and
opportunity and liberty. Next June, G8 nations will discuss ways that
we can support reform in the Middle East.
We will look to the results of your World Economic Forum, Your
Majesty, as a guide for future actions.
His Majesty and I also discussed our ongoing quest for a just and
durable peace between Israel and Palestine. I commend the King's
personal commitment to peace and justice for all parties. I remain
committed to the vision I laid out here in the Rose Garden on June 24,
2002, of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace
and security, and to the establishment of a Palestinian state that is
viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent.
I support the plan announced by Prime Minister Sharon to withdraw
settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. This bold plan can
make a real contribution to peace, particularly if reform-minded
Palestinians will step forward and lead toward the establishment of a
peaceful Palestinian state.
As I have previously stated, all final status issues must be
negotiated between the parties in accordance with U.N. Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338. And the United States will not prejudice the
outcome of those negotiations. The road map is the -- is the best path
to realizing the two-state vision. That is why the road map is the
plan endorsed by the Palestinians, Israel, the United Nations, the
European Union, Russia, the United States and many other nations.
That's why my administration is committed to making it a reality.
Today, the King had some suggestions about how to -- how to explain
our position to the Palestinians.
And I appreciated your advice, Your Majesty.
He advised that I make sure the Palestinians understand my desire
for a just peace, my desire for there to be a prosperous country, my
desire that the Palestinian people have a chance to realize their hopes
and aspirations.
I told His Majesty I will shortly send Mr. Qureia, the Palestinian
Prime Minister, a letter that will explain my views. And we will
expand dialogue between the United States and Palestinians.
I want to appreciate your wise counsel, Your Majesty.
We also talked about what has been on the TV screens recently, not
only in our own country, but overseas -- the images of cruelty and
humiliation. I told His Majesty as plainly as I could that the
wrongdoers will be brought to justice, and that the actions of those
folks in Iraq do not represent the values of the United States of
America.
I told him I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by the Iraqi
prisoners, and the humiliation suffered by their families. I told him
I was equally sorry that people who have been seeing those pictures
didn't understand the true nature and heart of America. I assured him
Americans, like me, didn't appreciate what we saw, that it made us sick
to our stomachs. I also made it clear to His Majesty that the troops
we have in Iraq, who are there for security and peace and freedom, are
the finest of the fine, fantastic United States citizens, who represent
the very best qualities of America: courage, love of freedom,
compassion, and decency.
Your Majesty, I'm proud you're here. I appreciate you coming.
Jordan is a friend of the United States, and friends look out for one
another. I understand your country and your people have important
interests at stake in the Middle East; your country has important
interests at stake when it comes to a Palestinian-Israeli peace
agreement; you've got important interests in the emergence of a new
Iraq. I assure you my government views Jordan's security and
prosperity and territorial integrity as vital. We will oppose any
developments in the region that might endanger your interests.
I look forward to working closely with you to achieve peace and
freedom. We'll work with you to assist you in your historic efforts to
lead Jordan to greater peace and freedom and prosperity.
Welcome.
HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH: Mr. President, thank you for this
opportunity to meet with you today and discuss vital issues of mutual
interest to both our countries.
I remain very concerned about the critical phase our region is
passing through. It is very important for the moderate voices seeking
peace in our region to prevail, so that we can break out of the cycle
of violence which has held us back for too long, and put the region on
the new path to stability and prosperity.
I'd like to outline the Jordanian position on the peace process,
particularly the view of recent developments. We feel that any
unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank should be
part of the road map, and should lead to the achievement of your vision
of a two-state solution.
Let me stress that a viable, sovereign, and independent Palestinian
state on the basis of the 1967 borders is also in Jordan's national
interest. Failing to achieve such an outcome would invoke other
options, all of which will endanger my country's interests and that of
the region. This is one of the reasons why Jordan insists on a
two-state solution, and why it supports the road map as the mechanism
to get there.
Jordan remains committed to a final and comprehensive permanent
status agreement based on the foundations of the Madrid Conference, the
principles of land for peace, U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242,
338, and 1397 -- agreements reached by the parties and the Arab
initiative endorsed by the Beirut Arab League Summit.
Jordan also believes all final status issues, including borders,
refugees, Jerusalem, and settlements, should be a matter for the
parties to decide. I am encouraged by what I've heard from you today,
sir, that these issues are not to be prejudiced, and should be mutually
agreed by the parties. In the context of the road map, I want to
assure you, Mr. President, that Jordan is ready to do its part in
assisting the Palestinian Authority to rebuild its capability and
assume full control of the security situation.
Jordan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States and the
international community in our common fight against terrorism. We
cannot allow the terrorists' political agenda to succeed. And we
assure you that Jordan will continue to do its utmost to help win this
cause.
Jordan is committed to support Iraqis in their quest to regain
their sovereignty, rebuild their institutions, and establish a society
based on freedom and democracy. The stability, unity, and territorial
integrity of Iraq is an objective we both share, and we are determined
to achieve it.
Jordan is also committed to a process of political and economic
reform in the region. We have adopted a far-reaching plan that
addresses the key areas of good governance, political freedoms, women's
rights, judicial reform, economic reform, educational reform, and the
liberalization of the economy. We also are strongly committed to a key
role by civil society. Our aim is to move towards a system that
respects diversity and guarantees pluralism at all times, so that
democracy is not used by any who might opt to subject to it once, and
then deny it to others.
Mr. President, the leadership of the United States is crucial in
all our efforts to reach a just and lasting peace of the Middle East.
I want to thank you again for the opportunity, and I am determined to
work with you to achieve this goal in a timely manner.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Your Majesty.
We'll take a couple of questions apiece per side. Scott.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Harkins said today that
for the good of the country, the safety of our troops, our image around
the globe, Secretary Rumsfeld should resign. If he doesn't resign, the
President should fire him. We know you weren't happy with him
yesterday. Should he keep his job?
And for Your Majesty, how much damage did these images do in your
country?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Secretary Rumsfeld is a really good Secretary of
Defense. Secretary Rumsfeld has served our nation well. Secretary
Rumsfeld has been the Secretary during two wars. And he is -- he's an
important part of my Cabinet, and he'll stay in my Cabinet.
HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH: Thank you. Mr. President, I think --
the reaction in Jordan, as well as the reaction here in the United
States was the same. I think we're all horrified by the images. But
as has been clearly explained here in Washington, that an immediate
investigation has been asked for to bring the people who perpetrated
these heinous crimes to justice. And we hope that that will happen
very quickly, and that it doesn't reflect on the morals, the values
that the United States stands for.
I am quite convinced that once the investigation is underway, those
that were guilty of these crimes will be brought to justice.
Q Your Majesty, are you optimistic in regard to the movement of
the road map?
And for you, President, in light of your discussion today with His
Majesty, do you see U.S. involving itself soon in the actual
implementation of the road map?
HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH: Well, I am very encouraged by what I've
always seen as a dedicated position from the President of the United
States. He was the first President to articulate a viable, independent
Palestinian state, and created a mechanism, the road map, to be able to
achieve that. Our meetings today reaffirmed the American position as
it always has been, and I think that definitely we are reassured in
Jordan and we hope that the President's statements will reassure
everybody else in the Middle East.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, we support the road map. As a matter of
fact, the Secretary of State was recently meeting with the Quartet,
which is an integral part of the road map. Here's what I believe has
to happen. The world must recognize the possibility of a Palestinian
state. I mean, the development of a Palestinian state is -- that's
free and democratic -- and by the way, democracy doesn't have to look
like America or Europe, it's got to be attuned to the cultures and to
the Palestinian people. It's what they want. But nevertheless,
development of a state that's free and peaceful will change the dynamic
of the Middle East.
I mean, the Palestinians are people who need hope -- hope for a
better life, hope to be able to make a living, hope to raise their
families in a peaceful situation. That's what they want. And the best
opportunity for that to happen is for there to be a state that emerges
that provides the framework for a peaceful coexistence in the Middle
East. And that requires not only the United States being involved, and
the European to be involved, and Russia and the United Nations to be
involved, it requires that reform-minded Palestinians step up and work
with the world to develop the institutions necessary for a state to
evolve. That's what has to happen. That's road map. In other words,
that's how you head down the road to peace.
And as a peaceful Palestinian state grows, one that earns the
confidence of not only His Majesty, or the United States, or other
countries in the world, the final status issues become easier to
solve. And so what we must do now is take advantage of an opportunity
to begin the process of the development of a Palestinian state. And
that's where the world must focus. And I believe we can achieve that.
And I believe that by achieving it, it will be a very hopeful moment
for people. And it's possible; it just takes vision and will.
Steve.
Q Mr. President, if this problem at the prisons was first
noticed late last year, why has it taken this long for actions to be
taken? And what did you tell Secretary Rumsfeld yesterday?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I tell him I should have known about the pictures
and the report. And as I understand it, the -- General Kimmitt
declared to the press corps, in Iraq I believe it was, that there was
an ongoing investigation. In other words, he made it clear. The Army
said, we've discovered something, we've discovered an issue, and,
therefore, we're now going to investigate it. It was a declaration to
-- to the world that there was an issue, and then there is a process.
But part of what this ongoing investigation will do, will answer
that question, answer your questions, so we better understand the
process, the procedures, and more importantly, to make sure that it
doesn't happen again. So as I told His Majesty, I said, we will --
people will be brought to justice in a way commensurate with how our
system works.
We also want to make sure there's not a larger problem. And that's
what the Secretary has assured me will happen. In other words, we will
take a good, full look at a variety of issues to make sure it doesn't
happen.
The acts were abhorrent, Steve. They sickened my stomach. I know
they sickened yours, too. You're a decent American. Any decent soul
doesn't want a human being treated that way. And it is -- it's a stain
on our country's honor and our country's reputation. I full understand
that. And that's why it's important that justice be done.
But it's also important for people -- and I explained this to His
Majesty, and I think he understands this -- that the actions of the
people in that prison do not reflect the nature of the men and women
who wear our uniform. We've got brave souls in Iraq, sacrificing so
that somebody can be free. And helping that -- the Iraqi citizens be
free, it helps America be more secure. There are thousands of acts of
kindness and decency taking place every day in Iraq, because our
soldiers, our men and women in uniform, are honorable, decent, loving
people.
And we'll find out the truth. We'll take a good look at the whole
system to determine -- to make sure this doesn't happen again. But I
am -- I am -- I am sickened by what I saw, and sickened that somebody
gets the wrong impression of people who are serving this country and
this world with such dignity.
One more question.
Q Your Majesty?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Wait, you're not a Jordanian.
HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH: We already asked a question.
PRESIDENT BUSH: You want to call on an American? That's very
noble of you, Your Majesty. (Laughter.) Very thoughtful.
Q Mr. President, are you asking Arab nations to send troops to
Iraq?
And, Your Majesty, would you send Jordanian troops to Iraq?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I've never asked a nation to do that which they
aren't comfortable doing. Jordan has been a loyal friend. They've
contributed in so many ways to peace and stability. We did discuss
Afghanistan, but we have not discussed sending troops to Iraq.
I'll tell you, His Majesty has got good advice, though, about
Iraq. He's in the neighborhood, he hears from people, he's constantly
aware of what's going on on the ground, and his advice has been very
good. And part of the advice is to make sure that Sunni Iraqis have
got a bright future. In other words, people aren't going to be buying
into the transfer of sovereignty if they don't think tomorrow is going
to be a better day. And he gave me very good advice about making sure
that there's a distinction between those who are violent, those who are
corrupt, those who are -- would not serve a new country well, and the
thousands who will, the honorable citizens, working together to make
sure Iraq emerges as a free, contiguous country.
And I told His Majesty -- I think he gets the sense from me -- we
have an historic opportunity to begin to change a part of the world
that needs to be changed in some areas. And here is a chance to take
what was a threat and a destabilizing force, and convert it into a
force for good and reform and hope.
And I appreciate your vision and your understanding of that, Your
Majesty.
HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH: I think that we in Jordan are too
close, as other countries to Iraq are also, to send troops. I think it
would be very difficult for Jordanians to be objective in committing
troops to Iraq. We do have a long history of U.N. peacekeeping
operations all over the world, but at this stage, I think the politics
of the issue does not make sense for Jordanians to send troops at this
time.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Your Majesty. Good job. Good job.