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that he will work with the Baltics in a cooper- The President. Yes, absolutely. First of ative way, because it really is in ’s in- all, I can understand the decision by your terest to have free countries and democracies President and the President of , as on her border. The more democracies on the well as the President of . These are border of a country, the more peaceful the difficult decisions because—and they reflect country will be. the difficult times. And I honor those deci- And so this is a bittersweet moment for sions. But I understand. a lot of people in America who are from the There’s a lot of Americans who came— Baltics—a lot of here, whose families were in the Baltics. And this by the way—who, on the one hand, are really is a bittersweet moment for them when you happy the defeated nazism, on think about it. On the one hand, our country the other hand, saw their homeland taken helped defeat fascism, and upon the defeat over by a repressive communist regime. of fascism, they saw their homelands be taken over by a repressive ideology. And so President’s Previous Visit to Lithuania I fully understand and, matter of fact, under- Q. Mr. President, thank you. It was a stood it to the point where I brought it up pleasure. to President Putin when I saw him in Slo- The President. Great. And listen, I want vakia and just said, ‘‘You’ve got to understand to say one other thing: I want to thank the this is going to create some sensitivities people of Lithuania for the warm reception among our friends, among America’s friends, Laura and I received the last time we were and Lithuania and Latvia.’’ there. It was one of the great visits of my Presidency. I remember sitting in the town— Democracy in the Baltic States standing in the town square, and it was very Q. It’s quite strange situation now. The interesting, seeing a lot of older Lithuanians war is over for 60 years, and it’s not still over. with tears in their eyes. I guess they never Whose fault is it? Whose represented—— thought they’d see the day where the Amer- The President. No, I appreciate that. ican President came. It touched my heart a Look, it’s—I think it’s time to move beyond lot. And then I saw a lot of young Lithuanians fault and focus on the future. Now, that’s wondering what the heck the American easy for me to say because I didn’t have any President was all about—you know, they kind family members that were repressed or fami- of—so it was a very touching visit. lies divided. I didn’t have to live under the Thank you. yoke of communism. But I do believe that time will help heal the wounds. NOTE: The interview was taped at 2:14 p.m. in And listen, the Baltics are doing great. the Map Room at the White House for later Their economies are growing. They’re get- broadcast and was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 5. In his remarks, the ting stronger. Freedom is working. People President referred to President Valdas Adamkus are able to express themselves in the public of Lithuania; and President Vladimir Putin of Rus- square. Independent media can come and sia. interview the President in the White House. I mean, it is a—these are exciting times. But I readily understand why it takes time to heal Interview With Estonian Television the wounds of the past. May 4, 2005 Democracy in Russia 60th Anniversary of the End of World Q. Democracy and the human rights situa- War II in tion in Russia is quite worrying. Are you Q. Thank you very much, Mr. President, going to discuss this item during your visit for joining our viewers. Mr. President, do you to Moscow? understand and accept the reasons and expla- The President. Oh, of course. I have— nations that two Baltic Presidents are not at- first of all, I’ve got a relationship with Presi- tending the celebrations in Moscow, 9th dent Putin that enables me to be able to have May? a frank discussion. He gave an interesting

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speech the other day. The press tend to focus very close to Usama bin Laden, was brought on a comment about the Soviet times, and to justice in Pakistan by the Pak Government, of course, that obviously riled emotions in with our help, but nevertheless, the Pak Gov- the Baltics. I understand that. But he also ernment did the hard work—Abu Faraj al- went on to talk about democracy. I thought Libbi. That’s a very important part of defeat- it was interesting that he spent a lot of time ing the Al Qaida. on his big speech to the nation on democracy. But no, we’ll stay on the offense. And we’ll I believe Russia’s interest lie to her west. I be relentless and tireless in doing so. The believe that Russia, by embracing the values best way to defeat terrorism in the long run, that we share, will be able to deal with the though, is by spreading freedom, is by giving many problems that she has. Russia has got people a chance to live in a free society. enormous problems. Q. How long it takes to curb, finally? And so, yes, of course, I’ll talk to President The President. Yes, that’s a good ques- Putin about that. And I will do so in a cooper- tion. However long—it takes as long as nec- ative way, in a cooperative spirit. This is not essary. I just don’t know. I don’t have a— an antagonistic relationship. And I don’t I can’t give you a timetable. But whatever think you want the relationship to be antago- it takes, so long as I’m the President and nistic. After all, Russia is your neighbor. I there’s a threat to the United States of Amer- think you would want your friend the United ica and to our people—you see, a lot of peo- States to be in a position where I can go ple in Europe, for them, September the 11th in and have a constructive, direct dialog. And was a date, a passing moment. No question I think one people—one thing people have they expressed deep sympathy, for which the learned about me is I’m a pretty direct per- United States is grateful. But for us, it was son. I say what’s on my mind; I try to do a change of attitude. It was a change of for- so diplomatically. But yes, I will. And I do eign policy. And I told the people when I so for the interests of the United States and ran for office the second time, I said, ‘‘If you for our friends and for the world. put me in office, every day I’m in office, I’ll be relentless in chasing down the enemy.’’ War on Terror And so, for however long it takes. Q. Mr. President, I can’t let you go from It takes a while for freedom to take hold. here without a question of terrorism. I know that. Look at Iraq. Iraq is going from The President. Sure. a tyranny to a free society, and it’s not easy. Q. Latest surveys show that the numbers But they’re getting there. This country is be- of terrorism are increasing, not decreasing. ginning to—it’s getting on its feet. The secu- The President. Yes. rity forces are beginning to work better. The Q. Why is that? terrorists are more desperate. But that free The President. Well—— society will be an important part of sending Q. You have made a lot of efforts. a message to others. And free societies are The President. Yes, that’s why. If we peaceful societies. And that’s the great exam- weren’t trying to find the enemy and bring ple of Estonia, for which the United States them to justice, the world would look rel- is grateful, and we’re proud to call you friend. atively peaceful. But we’re on the offense. Q. Thank you very much, Mr. President. And so when you engage the enemy, when The President. My honor. you try to bring them to justice, they don’t Q. Very much, indeed. like to be brought to justice. The President. Thanks for coming. I’ve always told the American people here, ‘‘It’s best to find them where they try to hide NOTE: The interview was taped at 2:23 p.m. in so that we don’t have to deal with them here the Map Room at the White House for later broadcast and was released by the Office of the at home.’’ And so part of the reasons why Press Secretary on May 5. In his remarks, the there’s—activity is up is because we’re chas- President referred to President Vaira Vike- ing them down. As a matter of fact, today Freiberga of Latvia; President Valdas Adamkus of a big news report came out that I would say Lithuania; President Arnold Ruutel of Estonia; one of the top Al Qaida leaders, a person President Vladimir Putin of Russia; Usama bin

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Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organiza- Almighty in reverence and humility. Every tion; and Abu Faraj al-Libbi, senior Al Qaida asso- day, our churches and synagogues and ciate arrested in Pakistan on April 30. mosques and temples are filled with men and women who pray to our Maker. And almost Remarks on the National Day of every day, I am given a special reminder of this great generosity of spirit when someone Prayer comes up and says, ‘‘Mr. President, I’m pray- May 5, 2005 ing for you.’’ The President. Good morning, and wel- Prayer has been an important part of come to the White House. Laura and I are American public life as well. Many of our honored to join you on this important occa- forefathers came to these shores seeking the sion. freedom to worship. The first Continental I want to thank Shirley Dobson, the chair- Congress began by asking the Almighty for man of the National Day of Prayer. Thank the wisdom that would enable them to settle you for organizing this event, and thank you things on the best and surest foundation. And for your wonderful comments. I’m glad to when our Founders provided that sure foun- see you brought your husband, Jim, with you. dation in the Declaration of Independence, [Laughter] It’s good to have Vonette Bright they declared it a self-evident truth that our with us; welcome. I appreciate my fellow right to liberty comes from God. Texan, Max Lucado, for his wonderful pray- And so we pray as a nation for three main er. Thank you very much; welcome. I’m glad reasons. We pray to give thanks for our free- you and Denalyn are with us. Rabbi, thank dom. Freedom is our birthright because the you for your reading of the psalm. It’s good Creator wrote it into our common human na- to have your family here; welcome. I appre- ture. No Government can ever take a gift ciate Father Charles Pope, pastor of St. from God away. And in our great country, Thomas More , here in DC. among the freedoms we celebrate is the free- Kind of sounded more like a Baptist preacher dom to pray as you wish or not at all. And to me. [Laughter] when we offer thanks to our Creator for the Laura and I are proud Methodists, and gift of freedom, we acknowledge that it was we’re pleased to be here with Bishop Peter meant for all men and women and for all Weaver, who is the president of the Council times. of Methodist Bishops, who will deliver the Second, we pray for help in defending the closing prayer. Thank you. gift of freedom from those who seek to de- It’s such an honor to be here with the St. stroy it. Washington prayed at Valley Forge. Olaf Choir led by Anton Armstrong. You’ve Franklin Roosevelt sent American troops off got such beautiful music. Thank you for shar- to liberate a continent with his D-day prayer. ing with us. I’m sure they’re having a prayer- Today, we pray for the troops who are de- ful moment right now—[laughter]—praying fending our freedom against determined en- that I hurry up and finish because they have emies around the globe. We seek God’s been standing for quite a while. [Laughter] blessing for the families they have left be- The National Day of Prayer is an annual hind, and we commit to Heaven’s care those event established in 1952 by an Act of the brave men and women he has called home. . Yet, this day is part Audience members. Amen. of a broader tradition that reaches back to The President. Finally, we pray to ac- the beginnings of America. From the landing knowledge our dependence on the Almighty. of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock to the Prayerful people understand the limits of launch of the American Revolution, the men human strength. We recognize that our plans and women who founded this Nation in free- are not always God’s plans. Yet, we know that dom relied on prayer to protect and preserve a God who created us for freedom is not in- it. different to injustice or cruelty or evil. So Today, prayer continues to play an impor- we ask that our hearts may be aligned with tant part in the personal lives of many Ameri- His and that we may be given the strength cans. Every day, millions of us turn to the to do what is right and help those in need.

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