Remarks by the President at a Joint Press Availability with Australian Prime Minister John Howard (Text Only)

Remarks by the President at a Joint Press Availability with Australian Prime Minister John Howard
The Rose Garden

PRESIDENT BUSH: Good morning. Thanks for coming. A couple of opening statements and then we'll answer two questions from each side.

It is my honor to welcome, back to the White House, my friend, and our ally, Prime Minister John Howard. He is a close friend of mine. I appreciate the frequent discussions we have. I value his advice. I appreciate his clear vision.

Our two nations were allies in every major conflict of the last century. We've each lost citizens in the first war of the new century. I will never forget standing with the Prime Minister on September the 10th, 2001, the day before the world changed forever.

Americans will never forget the vicious attack in Bali which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent Australians. Today, Australians and Americans are standing together on the front lines of freedom. As members of the common coalition our two nations helped to free the people of Afghanistan and Iraq from the grip of tyranny. Today we're working together to help the Afghan and Iraqi people build free societies and prevent tyranny's return.

Today the Prime Minister and I discussed our coalition's progress in Iraq. That country took a major step two days ago when the new interim government was named. That government will assume full sovereignty later this month. Our coalition will remain in Iraq to help them along the path of freedom. The new Iraqi government's foremost task will be to prepare Iraq for a national election no later than January of next year. And to work with our coalition to provide the security that will make that election possible. A sovereign Iraq deserves the full support of the international community as it works to establish a representative and freely elected system of government in the months ahead.

We're working toward a new Security Council resolution that will express international support for Iraq's interim government, reaffirm the world's security commitment to the Iraqi people and encourage other U.N. members to join in the effort of building a free Iraq. I appreciate the Prime Minister's advice and support for the ongoing process. Today, I'll leave for Europe, and then we'll host the G8 Summit.

I will continue to discuss with world leaders our common responsibility to help the new government of Iraq, and our common opportunity to help the -- advance the momentum of freedom in the broader Middle East. Freedom must succeed in Iraq. In the long run, the defeat of terror requires the triumph of hope. A free Iraq rising in the heart of the Middle East will show the people of that region a clear alternative to the bitterness that feeds terror. Freedom is the true foundation of stability, prosperity and peace. By working for freedom in the Middle East we make America, Australia and the world safer.

The United States and Australia are committed the principles of human dignity. Today, I assured the Prime Minister that my nation will conduct a full accounting of the cruel and disgraceful abuse of Iraqi detainees. He strongly reflected his government's and the Australian people's desires to make sure that the Australians being held in Guantanamo are not only treated fairly, but their cases are brought to finality. And I appreciated your candid discussion, Mr. Prime Minster.

We also, of course, discussed issues that affect our economies. Just last month our two nations signed an important free trade agreement that would eliminate nearly all tariffs on manufactured goods, open international markets and deepen our strong economic ties. This agreement is good for both countries. And our Congress and the Australian Parliament should ratify the free trade agreement as soon as possible. I assured the Prime Minster that I'll work with leadership in the Congress, in our Congress, to move this agreement forward.

Australia and the United States have never been closer. Our closeness is based on a shared belief in the power of freedom and democracy to change lives. As the Prime Minster has said, the war on terror is not a contest of civilization it is a contest of convictions. Our victory hinges on the free world's willingness to protect and encourage democratic values. I look forward to seeing the Prime Minister in France later this week as we commemorate the Normandy landings. It will be a fitting time to remember our partnerships in past wars of freedom, as well as the sacrifices we have made together in our current struggle.

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD: Thank you, Mr. President. May I express to you personally and to your wife, Laura, and to the members of your administration my gratitude for the very warm welcome that you've extended to me and my wife, and the other members of my party. You reminded me, Mr. President, that the first occasion on which we met in our respective positions was, indeed, the 10th of September, 2001, at the Naval dockyard not far from here, and then we later continued our discussions at the White House.

Since then, we have worked together not only as leaders of two countries that share the values of democracy, that share the values of aspirational people who believe in economic achievements and individual liberty, but we've also worked together very closely in the war against terror. We continue to work closely with you and share your aspirations for a free and democratic Iraq.

The establishment of the Iraqi interim government is a major step forward. It is a light to the future, so far as Iraq is concerned. It is a visible demonstration of the willingness of Iraqi leaders to stand before their people and to show leadership.

The Western world, the countries of the free world have a lot at stake in relation to Iraq. If the democratic future of Iraq can be achieved, that will have beneficial consequences not only in Iraq, but it will also be a wonderful demonstration in the Middle East and around the world that democracy is not something which is confined to countries that have historically enjoyed it. I regard that as something of an arrogant attitude on behalf of those who think that, in some way, democracy cannot be extended to countries that haven't regularly enjoyed it over past decades.

In recent weeks, the news out of Iraq has not been as positive as we would have liked, and the reasons for that are understood. But that has not altered Australia's view. We will keep a presence in Iraq. We will maintain a presence in Iraq until the job assigned to the individual force elements of the ADF have been completed. This is not a time -- it is the worst time imaginable -- for allies to be showing any weakness in relation of the pursuit of our goals in Iraq. And I express my strong support for the leadership that the President has continued to display, particularly through some of the more difficult aspects of recent weeks.

We did take the opportunity of canvassing the free trade agreement, and I share very much the President's hope that the legislative processes in both of our countries can be disposed of as soon as possible. From Australia's point of view, this is a great opportunity to link our strong economy with the strongest economy the world has ever seen.

The economic relationship between Australia and the United States can only get better in so many areas, and I had the opportunity in California of discussing growing energy links between our two countries.

I've welcomed the assurances the President has given me regarding the proper treatment of the two Australian detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

I also want to take this opportunity of emphasizing that the relationship between our two countries, which goes back a long way, to which the President referred, is very much a relationship which is built on shared values. We are both countries that treasure the democratic tradition. We are both countries that treasure individual freedom. We are both countries that believe in individual effort and reward for that effort.

Ours is a society, as is the United States, that encourages people to work hard and to seek reward for that hard work, and, providing they pay their fair share of tax, to keep what they earn, and to build on it, and to invest for the future. Unless you have an aspirational society built on those principles, economic progress cannot be achieved.

We have been through as nations many struggles together. As the President said, we've been engaged together in every major conflict, beginning in World War I. But the thing that binds us together more than anything else is a common belief in certain fundamental values. And for me, the greatest opportunity that an occasion such as this presents is to reaffirm that common commitment.

We will differ, we will have changed emphasis. We will not agree on everything. But at the end of the day, if you share values in common, the relationship between two nations will always be sure, will always be predictable and, above all, will be enduring.

Q Mr. President, why have you consulted an attorney in the CIA leak investigation? Have you received any indication from prosecutors that they want to question you? And what could you tell them that might shed some light on this case?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I've told our administration that we'll fully cooperate with their investigation. I want to know the truth, and I'm willing to cooperate myself. And you need to refer your questions to them.

In terms of whether or not I need advice from my counsel, this is a criminal matter, it's a serious matter, I have met with an attorney to determine whether or not I need his advice. And if I deem I need his advice I'll probably hire him.

Q The Prime Minister said he got an assurance from you that the two Australians in Guantanamo Bay will get fair treatment. Can you give a guarantee they haven't been mistreated to this point, and when will you make a decision, or when will there be a decision made on whether they face trial?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. It is my understanding that Hicks -- the Hicks case will be referred to the military shortly; and that the other case is proceeding, as well. And we are -- the military is fully investigating any allegations as to whether or not they have been mistreated.

Q Mr. President, Secretary Powell has made it clear that Iraq would have no veto power over U.S.-led forces after the formal handover on June 30th. Why do you believe that countries like France and Russia would back a U.N. Security Council resolution if the understanding is that it would leave the Iraqi government powerless to stop an unwelcome military offensive within its borders?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me tell you this: The government of Iraq will be fully sovereign. And that means that our coalition will be there with the consent of the fully sovereign government. And that's what the U.N. resolution is going to say.

Now, Prime Minister Allawi has made it clear that he wants help from the coalition to deal with the security issues so that the country can have free elections, that's what he has said. He is the Prime Minister and that's what he had said. We've had these arrangements before, these security arrangements with other countries. We're good about forging relationships on the ground; respecting the sovereignty of the country; and at the same time being able to do our jobs that the host government expects to be done. And I am confident we'll work out a mutually acceptable security arrangement with the fully sovereign Iraqi government.

No other questions? This is unbelievable. You better hurry -- no, no, no -- Australian -- sorry, Elizabeth, you're not Australian. That's the second time in a row.

Q Mr. Howard and yourself reaffirmed the commitment that Australia and the U.S. have to staying the course in Iraq. But you would be aware the alternative prime minister in Australia, Mark Latham, has promised to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq by Christmas --

Q What signal would that send to the Iraqi people and the other members of the coalition?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I think that would be disastrous. It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that, we're pulling out. It would dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq. It would say that the Australian government doesn't see the hope of a free and democratic society leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy who believe that they can shake our will. See, they want to kill innocent life because they think that the Western world and the free world is weak; that when times get tough we will shirk our duty to those who long for freedom, and we'll leave. And I -- anyway.

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