Interview with Rustavi 2 Television of Georgia May 5, 2005
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Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / May 6 761 the Russian leader but the British and Amer- doesn’t control price. And I told him, I said, ican leader were at the table and agreed on ‘‘If I had a magic wand, I would wave it and the agreement. lower your price.’’ But I—that’s not the way it works. This is a world based—the price Baltic States based upon supply and demand. And de- Q. In Russia, we’re very concerned on the mand has been going up relative to supply, rise of neo-nazism in Baltic States when Rus- which has been beneficial for oil-producing sian war veterans are humiliated publicly, countries like Russia. when monuments to Russian soldiers are And I don’t know what the right price is. vandalized, and at the same time, where, on Obviously, the lower the better for our econ- May 8th, there is a plan to open the monu- omy, because every time the money—the ment to Nazi Brigade, that is well known only dollars go up on the gasoline price, money for fighting—not only for fighting against leaves the pocketbooks of the working peo- Russians but also for quite ugly things that ple. But that’s the way the economy works. were common for SS troops. Hopefully, higher price will stimulate more The President. Yes. Well, look, there is— production. More production will then help I’ve got a message when I go to the Baltics, the price reach an equilibrium. and that is it’s important to respect democ- And the market is what it is. That’s—the racy but, also, the respect of democracy is markets decide, not governments. I would respect for minority rights. In other words, hope that Russia would encourage a lot of a true democracy is one that says minorities investment, to open up the vast reserves she are important and that the will of the major- has. We need to do more exploration here. ity can’t trample the minority. I spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia And as to whether or not nations are hon- who assured me that he is trying to put oring nazism, I mean, of course that should more—to find more oil. And that’s what high be rejected. Nazism was defeated. We’re prices do. But people who have got oil have celebrating the defeat of nazism. We don’t got to understand if the price gets too high, want to see nazism return. It’s an extremist it could wreck economies, which will mean point of view that believes that you should there’s less purchasing power for the prod- be able to trample the rights of minorities. uct. It was the Nazis who annihilated millions of Q. Thank you, Mr. President, and wel- Jews, for example, and there’s a classic exam- come to Moscow. ple of the rights of minorities being trampled. The President. Looking forward to it. And we must never forget the lessons of why Thank you, sir. we fought together in World War II. And so I’m looking forward to delivering that NOTE: The interview was taped at 9:58 a.m. in message of tolerance. the Map Room at the White House for later Gasoline Prices broadcast and was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 6. In his remarks, the Q. There is a question that has nothing President referred to Crown Prince Abdullah of to do with your visit to Russia but is very Saudi Arabia. important to our country as an oil-producing country. Once you mentioned that you’ll be happy to find a magic wand and to cut the Interview With Rustavi 2 Television price on oil. So what oil price will be accept- of Georgia able for the United States, and what do you May 5, 2005 think is the chance of finding this magic wand? The President. Well, I appreciate—no, President’s Upcoming Visit to Georgia there is no magic wand. A soldier asked me, Q. Mr. President, let me thank you very he said, ‘‘Why don’t you lower gasoline much for this opportunity to interview you. prices,’’ as if the government controlled And on behalf of Georgian people, let me price. And in our country, the Government welcome you to Georgia. VerDate jul 14 2003 21:55 May 09, 2005 Jkt 205250 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYT4.006 P18MYT4 762 May 6 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 Why have you decided to visit Georgia? are getting worse. So how is U.S. going to None of the American Presidents have vis- support these transitional democracies in the ited this country before. future? The President. You know, I got to know The President. No, that’s a great ques- your President, and I can remember him urg- tion, and the first thing is, is that when I ing me to come to Georgia. He’s got such see President Putin, I will remind him again enthusiasm about life and about the future that democracies on his border will make it of Georgia. And I have been most impressed easier for Russia to grow in a peaceful way. by the aftermath of the Rose Revolution, that Democracies are peaceful. Democracies I said, ‘‘I want to go. I want to see—I want don’t like war, and democracies are the best to feel the sense of a new democracy. I want form of government to deal with animosities to be there to thank the Georgian people for and concerns. setting such a good example for other coun- And so I will remind him that this is not tries that have followed.’’ And so I’m really a plot by anybody or any nation. This is just looking forward to the trip. the inevitable course of humankind because all humans want to be free. And as Georgia’s Georgian Economy/Georgia-Russia economy begins to grow and pick up, Russia Relations will have a trading partner; Russia will realize Q. Mr. President, Georgia faces a lot of that a prosperous democracy in her south is problems, among them two unresolved con- good for the people of Russia. flicts, quite difficult economic situation, Rus- sian military presence in the country. How Cooperative Response to Pankisi Gorge do you see resolving all those problems? Terrorists The President. Peacefully. And I think they will be resolved peacefully. But you’re Q. U.S. Department’s annual report on right. It’s difficult to go from a country of— terrorism raised some questions about the a communist country to a free country. It’s stability in Pankisi Gorge. not easy. I think the President understands The President. Yes. that and his Government understands that. Q. But Georgian Government, with sup- On the economic front, there’s a lot of port of U.S., was successful in cleaning this work to be done, but by routing out corrup- gorge of military elements. So how will rela- tion and insisting upon rule of law and trans- tions—I mean, military cooperation between parency, that will help to attract investment Georgia and the United States in the future? and capital. The President. Well, I appreciate that. Secondly, in terms of the regional disputes No, it’s going to be very close, obviously at or the bases, I can help some. But the best the request of the Georgian Government. way to do this—deal with this issue is to do And I—the Georgian Government asked for it peacefully between Russia and Georgia. help in routing out the terrorists who had And I think we’ve got a very good chance lodged themselves in the Pankisi Gorge— of seeing these issues resolved in a peaceful training help. We were more than happy to way. It just takes time sometimes to deal with provide it. But remember what was inter- old disputes. esting about some of those operations: There was close cooperation with the Russians. And Russia and Democracies in Eastern I thought that was very helpful and very in- Europe structive about what can happen, because it’s Q. The latest developments of the Eastern in Russia’s interest, it’s in the United States’ European region, I mean, the Georgia’s Rose interest, and more importantly, it’s in Geor- Revolution and Orange Revolution—— gia’s interest to make sure the Pankisi Gorge The President. Yes. is clear of terrorist traffic or terrorist safe Q. ——in Ukraine and elections in haven. No country wants terrorists who are Moldova and revolution in Kyrgyzstan, willing to cause harm living within their bor- caused Russia’s negative reaction. And rela- der. And so I found this to be a very instruc- tions between Moscow and these countries tive and interesting cooperative arrangement. VerDate jul 14 2003 21:55 May 09, 2005 Jkt 205250 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYT4.006 P18MYT4 Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 763 Georgia’s Possible NATO Membership he and Mrs. Bush met with 2005 Preserve Q. Georgia is seeking NATO membership. America Presidential Award recipients. The President. Yes. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the Q. How big is chance? President and Mrs. Bush participated in an The President. It’s good. But remember, interview with Al Roker of NBC television this is a performance-based criterion. In for later broadcast. other words, there’s a way to get into NATO.