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Remarks with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at a Youth

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Remarks with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at a Youth Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / May 8 777 proud to serve with you. Today I’m honored lands today, because on the 6th of May— to deliver the thanks of the American people. that’s what we call our Liberation Day—and Sixty years ago, on the 7th of May, the we always think about our freedom. And at world reacted with joy and relief at the defeat your last event, you said a lot about impor- of fascism in Europe. The next day, General tance of freedom and democracy, and you Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that ‘‘his- realize what Americans meant for the Euro- tory’s mightiest machine of conquest has pean countries after the Second World War. been utterly destroyed.’’ Yet the great de- During the Second World War, your people mocracies soon found that a new mission had were here, but after, you helped us. come to us, not merely to defeat a single dic- And it’s very important that you’re here tator but to defeat the idea of dictatorship today and that you’ll have the meeting in on this continent. Through the decades of Margraten. It’s so important to be there and that struggle, some endured the rule of ty- also for us to show our respect and to say rants; all lived in the frightening shadow of thanks for what all the Americans have done war. Yet because we lifted our sights and held for the Netherlands. firm to our principles, freedom prevailed. We already had a breakfast meeting. We Now, ladies and gentlemen, the freedom talked about some very important issues. We of Europe, won by courage, must be secured talked about the Middle East peace process. by effort and good will. In our time, as well, We talked about the struggle against ter- we must raise our sights. In the distance we rorism because we are—we have the same can see another great goal, not merely the position. It’s a threat to world society. We absence of tyranny on this continent but the have to work together. We talked about the end of tyranny in our world. Once again, situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. We talked we’re asked to hold firm to our principles about China and some other issues. We and to value the liberty of others. And once talked about political situation in the Nether- again, if we do our part, freedom will prevail. lands and the United States. It was a very Thank you, and God bless. fruitful and interesting meeting. Mr. President, it’s great that you’re in the NOTE: The President spoke at 5:09 p.m. at the Netherlands. We appreciate very much that Small Guild Hall. In his remarks, he referred to you’re here today and that we have the meet- President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia and her ing in Margraten. But also today we have a husband, Imants Freibergs; Prime Minister Aigars meeting with students, and we thank you for Kalvitis of Latvia; President Arnold Ruutel of Es- being here and be willing to have a discussion tonia; President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania; President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine; Presi- with these young people. It’s very important. dent Vladimir Putin of Russia; President It’s always challenging and encouraging if Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian you have the meeting with the students. Authority; and President Jalal Talabani of the Iraqi And now, Mr. President, I give you the Transitional Government. floor. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. It’s an honor to be in the Nether- Remarks With Prime Minister lands. Laura and I have been really looking Jan Peter Balkenende at a forward to coming to your beautiful country. Youth Roundtable in Valkenburg, I want to thank you for the meeting we just the Netherlands had. It was a fruitful discussion. I appreciate May 8, 2005 your leadership, appreciate your friendship. You know, I will be honoring a generation Prime Minister Balkenende. Well, ladies that made enormous sacrifices so that my and gentlemen, good morning. It’s very good generation could grow up in a free world. that you’re here. But in the first place, I I’m really looking forward to going to the would like to say to the President of the cemetery and paying homage to those who United States, be welcome in the Nether- fought for freedom. It will be a solemn occa- lands. We really enjoy that you’re here. It’s sion but an important moment to reflect an important day that you’re in the Nether- upon. And I look forward to talking to the VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:48 May 17, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\TEMP\P19MYT4.013 P19MYT4 778 May 8 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 next generation about the responsibilities which they weren’t able to do at times, to that you’ll have to make sure the commu- be able to protect ourselves. And yet, Con- nities in which you grow up are hopeful com- gress is now evaluating certain aspects of that munities and this country in—which you love law. That’s what happens in democracies and is a free country. stands in stark contrast, by the way, to soci- I want to thank you all for coming. I’m eties that are closed and nontransparent, honored that you took time out of your life where people don’t get to determine the to come and have a visit with me. There’s course of action. nothing like a young generation of Americans And so to answer your question, it depends to keep an old guy—I mean, young genera- upon what Congress says and whether or not tion of citizens to keep an old guy like me I agree with it, because I have the right to feeling young. veto any law as well. Of course, they have But Mr. Prime Minister, again, thanks for the right to override my veto. But I feel com- your hospitality. I want to thank Her Majesty fortable in telling you that we’ve been able as well for joining Laura and me today. It’s to successfully balance the civil liberties of awfully, awfully kind of her to do so. Thank our citizens with the necessary—the neces- you. sity to protect ourselves. Prime Minister Balkenende. Thank you, Listen, one of the interesting things about Mr. President. Now the time is for the stu- September the 11th that I want you to under- dents. Looking to the relationship between stand as we have this discussion is that I fully the United States and the Netherlands, it’s understand that for some, September the good to say that many things are uniting us, 11th was an important moment and a terrible but also sometimes you have some division. moment—and we appreciate the condo- That’s also possible, and that’s also good for lences of the people of the Netherlands— the debate. And maybe it’s good now to give but for us, it was a change of attitude. I mean, the floor to you, and maybe it’s good to start it changed a lot about how I looked at the with Miss Madeline Hoffmeister. world, and a lot of Americans, it changed how Q. Thank you very much. Mr. President, they looked at the world. I mean, it was more I have a question relating of—concerning the than just an attack. It was a whole mindset. terrorism. And you made many laws after 9/ And that’s why your question is really rel- 11, many laws and many measures. And I’m evant—did that mindset, did that change of wondering, will there be a time when you attitude cause us to then begin to take away drop those laws and when you decrease the certain civil liberties? And I would argue, it measures? did not. President Bush. No, I appreciate that question. Look, a free society such as ours, Prime Minister Balkenende. You’re con- obviously, must balance the Government’s vinced by the President? [Laughter] most important duty, which is to protect the President Bush. Don’t put her on the American people from harm, with the civil spot. [Laughter] That’s a little rough ques- liberties of our citizens. And every law we tion, Mr. Prime Minister. passed that was aimed to protect us in this Q. Thank you. I’ve a question about the new era of threats from abroad and the will- reason you are here. We are honoring the ingness for people to kill without mercy has soldiers who died in the Second World War. been scrutinized and, of course, balanced by In the years later, America was involved in our Constitution. But the question really is, a lot of conflicts, in a lot of wars. What’s the can a transparent society openly deal with benefit when you can ask to your people— a debate about civil liberty versus the tension you are, in the first place, President of Amer- of protecting ourselves? And I believe we ica, you’re responsible for your own peo- have done so in good balance in America, ple—— but we’re constantly reevaluating law. President Bush. Right—— The PATRIOT Act was passed. It was a Q. ——what can you ask from your peo- very important measure to enable our law ple, not only the dead and the wounded but enforcement officials to share information, also the economic consequences? Last week VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:48 May 17, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\TEMP\P19MYT4.013 P19MYT4 Administration of George W.
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