For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 4, 2005
Interview of the President by Latvian National Television
The Map Room
2:06 P.M. EDT
Q So that is no secret that you were a jet pilot, so how would
you describe, in a couple of sentences, where is Latvia on your radar?
THE PRESIDENT: Very interesting. Latvia is a country that has
made a big difference in important alliances to the United States, like
NATO. I remember when the moment came when the countries -- the new
countries admitted to NATO came into the room that I was sitting in and
I turned to the person I was sitting next to and said, it's going to be
so important for NATO to have these fresh -- these new countries,
because they bring a fresh outlook to freedom; these are people that
have recently lived under, in this case, communism, and realized what
it means to be free and it's going to be very important.
And so Latvia is very high on my radar screen. Plus, I'm very
close to the President.
Q How come you've become such good friends?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, she's a straightforward
person. I like straightforward people. You know, sometimes in
politics you get people who say one thing and don't mean it. When she
tells me something, she means it. She's a very engaging and very
intelligent woman. And I admire her courage. And so I'm fond of her.
Q You're good friends with President Putin of Russia. Do you
think you could encourage him to admit historical justice and admit the
fact that Baltic states were occupied in 1940?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, yes, I've talked to him about this issue when
I was in Slovakia. I said, do you understand, friend, that you've got
problems in the Baltics? You've got problems with Latvia because
people don't like -- the remembrances of the time of communism are
unpleasant remembrances and you need to work with these young
democracies. I explained to him that it's best that there be
democracies on his border -- free countries, because free countries
don't attack people; free countries listen to the hopes and aspirations
of people.
I don't know if I made any progress with him or not, but I have
made my position clear. I understand there's a lot of people in the
Baltics who are -- you know, don't view the celebration in Russia as a
day of liberation. Frankly, it's the beginning of a difficult period,
and I can understand why some leaders of countries aren't going and
some others are. That's a decision each leader must make, and I
respect the decision of each leader.
But I'm going to continue to speak very forcefully on freedom and
liberty and the Baltics are a great example of free countries.
Q But you are pretty certain that Russia is at least on the
right path of development and it does not pose any threat to its
smaller neighbors?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I certainly hope not. And one of the reasons
a relationship with the United States and Latvia is important is, is
that we will stand with Latvia if a larger country tries to intimidate
the people. That's the great thing about Latvia joining NATO, is that
the security is now guaranteed by not only the United States, but all
members of NATO.
Listen, the President and I speak about relations between Russia
and Latvia quite frequently. And my job at times is to send a message
that says, look, treat your neighbors with respect; free nations,
democracies on your border are good for you -- whether that be, by the
way, in the Baltics or in Ukraine, I've sent that same message -- or
Georgia. In other words, countries that are free countries are
countries that will be good neighbors.
Q What can we do about Belarus, because a couple of hundred
miles from where you're going to be visiting there sits the last
dictator of Europe. What can we do about it?
THE PRESIDENT: The "last dictator of Europe" is right, and we'll
continue to pressure Belarus and call upon the world, the rest of the
world, the free world -- not the whole world, but the free world -- to
work to give the people of Belarus a chance to live in a free society.
When I was in Slovakia I met with people of the Freedom Movement.
I know when Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, was in your part of
the world, she met leaders of the Freedom Movement, too. And we'll
continue to press forward. President Putin must understand that a free
Belarus is in his country's interest.
Q The sentiment of anti-Americanism, as I'm sure you know, is
quite widespread in Europe, and in my country, as well. Do you think
there is any degree of your own fault in the fact that this sentiment
is on the rise or --
THE PRESIDENT: I made some hard decisions. You know, going into
Iraq was a hard decision and I can understand people not liking that.
But I would hope people in Europe would understand that freedom is not
owned only by Europeans, that people around the world deserve to be
free. And as we act in our self-interest to fight terrorists, as we
work to make sure terrorists can't get weapons of mass destruction to
cause great harm, that we will also work to free people. After all,
the people of Latvia, of all people, ought to understand what it means
to live under the subjugation of a doctrine that doesn't allow for
freedom -- communism. And here people are living in the Middle East,
for example, under the brutal reign of tyrants: huge mass graves,
massive death, people tortured. And now they're living free. And when
8.5 million people went to vote in Iraq, that sent a clear message that
said: We will not let the terrorists intimidate us; we want to be free
-- just like people in the Balkans [sic] used to speak, we want to be
free.
You know, our country had a great history with the Baltics, that we
said, your embassies will remain little havens for freedom. We never
recognized the lack of independence in the Baltics. We always believed
that you should be free. And I hope over time the young people of
Latvia understand that that's what we stand for in America. We stand
for freedom. We don't believe freedom is America's gift. We believe
there's universal desire to be free. And the world will be more
peaceful.
The hard decisions I've made I am confident will make this world a
more peaceful place.
Q Thanks very much, Mr. Bush.
THE PRESIDENT: Welcome.
Q I hope it's a good visit.
THE PRESIDENT: I'm confident it will be. I'm looking forward to
it.
END 2:13 P.M. EDT
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