Remarks by
President Bush and President Arroyo
in a Photo Opportunity
Malacanang Palace
Manila, Philippines
October 18, 2003
PRESIDENT ARROYO: I'd like to thank President Bush for coming to the
Philippines on this state visit. It affirms the warm and deep relations
between our two countries. It's another building block in the revitalized
and maturing alliance, rooted in shared histories and shared values,
a common interest in global peace and prosperity, as well as a real
commitment of combating terrorism and advancing freedom.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the United States for its
support for the Philippines as a non-permanent member of the Security
Council for the term 2004 to 2005, and also for designating the Philippines
as a major non-NATO ally.
I also welcome the Joint Defense Assessment named by our respective
defense agencies. It recognizes that the world today requires a new
perspective on political and economic security. The assessment recognizes
the determination of the Philippines to take greater responsibility
for its own political and economic security, even as it acknowledges
that strong relations with the U.S. will contribute greatly to peace
and prosperity, stability and security, especially from terrorism. Indeed,
we must close ranks and stand firm against terrorist threats, however
grave, however armed, and from whatever quarter.
When those violence happened in May 2001, the Philippines chose to
fight terrorism, compensating for such modest means of its commands
with unshakable resolve to defeat it once and for all.
I thank President Bush for continued security assistance which enhances
the means to defeat terrorism. I also appreciate the help of President
Bush for increased economic assistance to alleviate poverty and other
socio-economic ills from which terrorism draws its strength. I take
pride in the robust economic ties that bind the Philippines and the
United States.
This past week, in preparation for this visit, we witnessed the launching
in the Philippines of Convergence, the largest customer air service
company in the world, which has hired 3,000 workers in its first year
of operation. We also witnessed the launching of a new $50-million investment
from Ford to launch the Philippines as an export hub for the world.
We received $33 million of new USAID money for educational assistance
in the conflict-affected areas, and we celebrated the electrification
of 1,650 barangays with a contribution of one million pesos per barangay
from Mirant Cal Energy in San Roque all in preparation for your visit,
Mr. President.
I look forward to the rest of my talks with President Bush and members
of his administration. Once again, thank you, Mr. President, and thanks
to Mrs. Bush for making this state visit to the Philippines.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, thanks. It's been a -- this is going
to be a great trip, thanks to your wonderful hospitality. I want to
thank you and your government for such wonderful arrangements. And I
want to thank the people of Manila for being so friendly to Laura and
me as we drove through the streets -- there was an outpouring of enthusiasm
and waving that really made us feel great. And I want to thank your
country very much.
I'm here to continue our important discussions. And I want to remind
the people of this country what a great leader you've been when it comes
to fighting terror. You've been strong and stalwart, and that's what's
needed. The terrorists want to frighten people into inaction. They want
to create fear, and therefore, have their way. And you have -- you've
been strong. And I appreciate that very much. We want to continue to
help you.
And I also want to thank you for your vision of understand that freedom
is important, it's a human right, and where there's human suffering
and tyranny, that -- at the same time, terrorist links -- the free world
must work to change conditions, hopefully in peaceful ways, but sometimes
tyranny is so stubborn and ignores the reality, that we have to take
tough decisions. And, Mr. President, you understand that. And I want
to thank you very much for that.
I also want to continue to work on close ties, particularly when it
comes to trade and jobs. We want the people of the Philippines working,
and we want the people of America working. And by having good free trade
and fair trade, we can help both countries.
And finally, I want to thank you very much for working together on
matters of education. We've got a great education initiative, and you
recognize, like I recognize, that education is the best way to fight
poverty. And therefore, education is also a great way to enhance democracy.
And thank you for your leadership. Thanks for your hospitality. I'm
looking forward to the rest of the day in this beautiful country.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: If it's all right, we've got, obviously, some anxiety
built up in our press corps there -- (laughter.)
Q: Mr. President --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. Speaking about anxiety -- yes. (Laughter.) --
traveling crowd here.
Q: How serious do you think the terrorism threat is here in the Philippines?
And what specifically can you do to help President Arroyo deal with
it?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I think the Abu Sayyaf is serious. It's serious
because there are not rules when it comes to a crowd like the Abu Sayyaf.
They kidnap, they kill, they maim. And there's only one way to deal
with them, and that's to find them and to bring them to justice, which
is precisely what the Arroyo government has been doing.
I was briefed before you all came in about the progress made against
the Abu Sayyaf group. Not only is the leadership been slowly but surely
brought to justice, but many members of the Abu Sayyaf have been brought
to justice.
The best thing we can continue to do within our respective constitutions
and/or budgets is to work in a close cooperative way, starting with
intelligence-sharing, and then providing the assets and the capacity
and training to move quickly when a particular target is found.
The cooperation between the United States and the Philippines is strong.
The success against this particular group is a model for the region,
as far as I'm concerned. And I want to thank the President for that.
Q: Mr. President, you're trying to put security on the agenda at APEC.
Do you think some leaders of this region, some countries are not doing
enough to crack down on terrorism?
PRESIDENT BUSH: No, I think security is on the agenda. What I'm trying
to do, and will do, is to remind people that the war on terror goes
on. See, the easiest thing to do is to think the war on terror is over
with. It's certainly the most comfortable approach. And I just will
remind people that, in view of the United States, that the United States
is still threatened, and our friends are threatened, and therefore,
we must continue to cooperate work.
And the good news is that I don't have to convince Madam President
of that. She understands that as well as anybody in the region.
We'll also, of course, talk about jobs. And I want our people working.
And I know the President wants the people of the Philippines working.
And trade is important, it's an important way to lift lives on both
sides of the Pacific. But it's also important to have free -- fair trade.
In other words, we want the trade to be -- markets to be equally open.
And that's an important conversation that I will have with members of
APEC.
And the other thing, of course, is a chance to renew friendships and
to be able to kind of continue discussions that I had been having in
the past. The President and I, gosh, we've talked a lot. We've met a
lot and we've talked a lot. These meetings are important ways to keep
our friendships going and keep our common interests alive.
Q: Mr. President --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Stretch. We call him Stretch. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ARROYO: I can see why. (Laughter.)
Q: You got a resolution through the U.N. this week, but some of the
countries that opposed the war, going back to last year -- France, Germany,
Russia -- still haven't come forward with any contributions. Do you
think this -- and some members of your administration cautioned us against
assuming there will be any major inflow of contributions, troops and
money, as a result of this. Do you think that's a realistic outlook
on things?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, first, let me thank those countries for their
vote at the U.N. That was a very important vote. And as a matter of
fact, the first thing that the President and I discussed, and the first
thing that Prime Minister Koizumi and I discussed was the vote at the
U.N. It's important for these countries around the world to see the
U.N. act the way the U.N. acted in a 15-0 U.N. Security Council resolution
vote. It was a strong vote.
And as to whether or not they'll participate, time will tell. But I
-- take, for example, Germany. Germany is participating in the aftermath
of certain battles in the war on terror, and that is in Afghanistan.
They're making a very serious, important contribution. And for that
we are very grateful. And there will be other ways for nations to contribute
in the overall war on terror.
And I'm pleased with the progress we are making in Iraq. The President
and I discussed that progress, and it's measurable progress. For example,
we had a goal of a thousand schools to open after the end of the conflict,
and it wasn't a thousand schools that were refurbished and opened, but
it was 1,500 -- 1,500 -- schools. And the electricity is coming on.
The water is more pure. And I can cite a series of examples where life
is improving for the Iraqi citizen.
It is still a dangerous place because there's still haters and thugs
and terrorists who are willing to take innocent life. And the reason
why is, is because they want America to leave. They want to create the
conditions of fear, and therefore, we'll say, we've had enough. Well,
we're not leaving. See, we're not leaving until we complete the task.
And I am pleased with progress. And one of the President's ministers
was there, talking about education matters and the need for us to continue
to work together to improve the lives of the Iraqi citizens, and we
will. It's in our interest that Iraq be free and peaceful. It will help
change the world.
And I want to thank the President for her strong support. There are
Philippine citizens there today.
All right, thank you all.
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