740 May 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 upon Senate confirmation, will become the soldiers to victory in the Battle of Pueblo on U.S. Ambassador to Spain. the cinco de Mayo, 1862. Mi amigo, el juez del sur de Texas, Ricardo Here at the White House, the triumph of Hinojosa. The U.S. Surgeon General and his Cinco de Mayo was recognized by President wife, Diane—Dr. Richard Carmona. Abraham Lincoln. And through the genera- El Embajador de Mexico, welcome. tions, Americans have continued to look on El Embajador de Estados Unidos a Mexico, our neighbor to the south with fondness and Tony Garza, y su esposa nueva, Maria. Wel- deep respect. Tonight we look to the future come. with confidence in our warm and growing I want to thank Congressman Henry friendship. Bonilla and Sheryl for joining us today—wel- And so now it is my pleasure to offer a come, Congressman. Congressman Henry toast: May God bless the people of Mexico Cuellar de Texas, welcome. and all the sons and daughters of Mexico who Josefina Vazquez Mota, Mexico’s Secretary call America home. Que Dios los bendiga. for Social Development, welcome. I want to thank Christian Castro, recording NOTE: The President spoke at 8:01 p.m. in the artist, who is going to perform tonight. I ap- Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, preciate Jaci Velasquez; where’s Jaci? Jaci is he referred to Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. somewhere. There she is. Thanks. She’s Gutierrez and his wife, Edilia; Treasurer of the United States Anna Cabral and her husband, Vic- going to emcee. I want to thank Mariachi tor; Ricardo H. Hinojosa, chair, U.S. Sentencing Sol de Mexico. Commission; Ambassador to the U.S. Carlos Cinco de Mayo commemorates a joyful Alberto de Icaza Gonzalez of Mexico; U.S. Ambas- moment in Mexican history. Tonight we’re sador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza, Jr., and his proud to celebrate that moment together. wife, Maria; Congressman Henry Bonilla and his The United States and Mexico are united by wife, Sheryl; and entertainers Jaci Velasquez and ties of family, faith in God, and a deep love Mariachi Sol de Mexico. The Office of the Press for freedom. Secretary also released a Spanish language tran- script of these remarks. More than 25 million men and women of Mexican origin now make their homes in the United States. And they’re making our Na- Interview With Lithuanian National tion more vibrant and more hopeful every Television day. Mexican Americans have enriched the American experience with contributions to May 4, 2005 music and dancing and the arts. Latino entre- preneurs are starting their own businesses all Lithuanian Support for Freedom in across America and are creating jobs and Ukraine trading in freedom with businesses across Q. Mr. President, you thanked President borders. More Hispanic Americans own their Valdas Adamkus for his efforts spreading the own homes today than ever before. And freedom in neighboring countries. What else Mexican Americans are firmly committed to could Lithuania do spreading the freedom leaving no child behind in America. in this region? Mexican Americans are also strengthening The President. Well, first, I did thank the our country with their patriotism and service. President for his good work in the Ukraine. Thousands of Mexican Americans have sac- I thought it was a really great moment when rificed in the Armed Services for our free- the head of Lithuania got involved and en- dom. And more than 8,700 men and women couraged the whole world to take notice of born in Mexico now wear the uniform of the the freedom movement in the Ukraine. And United States military. These dedicated men by the way, that’s a—the second election was and women are making America safer, and a really important moment in the liberty they’re making the world safer. And they’re movement. And I thanked him for that, carrying on the courage and devotion that genuinely so. And I want to say it again: I inspired an outnumbered band of Mexican thank him for that. VerDate jul 14 2003 21:55 May 09, 2005 Jkt 205250 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYT4.006 P18MYT4 Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / May 5 741 Lithuania serves as a great example of The President. Well, as you know, we’ve what is possible. After years of being sub- got for our partners in Iraq and—we’ve got jugated to harsh rule, the Lithuanians are some solidarity funds. We want to work now free, and they’re showing they can grow through the foreign aid money to help Lith- the economy and that people have a chance uania in her efforts to help build a better to express themselves and there’s a vibrant world. Again, I applaud the President. I society when you’re free. And it has been thank the people of Lithuania for the support hard; the transition from communism to a in Afghanistan. free democracy is a hard transition. And it’s It’s important that Afghanistan be free and very important for the Lithuanians and the peaceful; it will serve as an example for oth- Government to share that experience with ers. Again, I keep saying this to people, but others who will be going through the same you’ve just got to—the people of Lithuania thing. And so I am very proud of Lithuania, have got to know how I feel. I believe every- and I’m proud to call her friend. body desires to be free, and I believe every- body deserves to be free. And societies will Democracy in Belarus grow up around different customs and habits. I don’t expect people to look like American Q. Mr. President, you showed a strong form of government, but I do believe the support for democracy cause in Belarus. And world ought to work together to enable peo- what is your administration planning to do, ple to live free lives and then help countries, given the fact that Belarus Presidential elec- once they’ve become liberated from a tyrant, tion is planned next year? in the case of Afghanistan. The President. Well, first of all, we’ll work And that’s what Lithuania is doing. And with you, countries in the neighborhood, I’m confident the President is doing so be- countries around—the free countries of the cause—for the same reason I am, because world, to insist there be free elections and he understands that free societies, in the long make sure there’s free elections. This is the run, will make the world peaceful. And that’s last remaining dictatorship in Europe. And what we want for our children and our grand- Condi Rice was in the neighborhood re- children; we want there to be peace. cently, as you know, Secretary of State Rice, and she brought up the subject. She met with President’s Upcoming Meeting With people who are embracing the freedom Russian President Putin movement in Belarus. I did as well when I Q. You’re going to meet Mr. Putin. Will was in Slovakia. you repeat your words to him that the Second And so one of the roles that the United World War has brought the Soviet occupa- States can play is to speak clearly about the tion to the Baltic States? need for Belarus to be free and to work with The President. Yes, of course I’ll remind people to insist that Belarus be free and, him of that. I told him in Slovakia that I felt when the elections come, make sure the elec- it was important for him to understand that tions are free and have monitors and inter- my friends the leaders of the Baltics are national observers. As you know, that made upset. In other words, they don’t view the a big difference in the Ukraine, for example. end of World War II as a great moment of No, it’s—and I think—listen, I believe every- celebration, and there’s a reason why. He body wants to be free, and I believe if the took it in. Your President has decided not world works together to achieve that, many to go to Moscow. I respect him for that deci- people will be free. sion. Each leader in the Baltics has to make the decision they’re comfortable with. And Lithuania’s Role in Afghanistan it was a very difficult period, and so this is Q. Lithuania is taking a concrete role in a hard decision. And I respect the decisions the reconstructing of Afghanistan. of the three leaders. The President. Yes. But I did make it clear to President Putin Q. What kind of specific support do you that there is great angst—people don’t view ask—offer Lithuania? this as a liberating moment—and hopefully VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:00 May 10, 2005 Jkt 205250 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P18MYT4.006 P18MYT4 742 May 5 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 that he will work with the Baltics in a cooper- The President. Yes, absolutely. First of ative way, because it really is in Russia’s in- all, I can understand the decision by your terest to have free countries and democracies President and the President of Lithuania, as on her border. The more democracies on the well as the President of Latvia. These are border of a country, the more peaceful the difficult decisions because—and they reflect country will be.