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Skriven 2005-02-22 23:32:52 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050222) for Tue, 2005 Feb 22
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President and Prime Minister Blair Discuss Iraq, NATO Meeting
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 22, 2005

President and Prime Minister Blair Discuss Iraq, NATO Meeting
Chief of Mission Residence
U.S. Embassy Belgium
Brussels, Belgium



8:42 A.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT BUSH: I just had a good breakfast. I always enjoy being with my
friend, Tony Blair. We talked about the progress being made in Iraq, and I
want to congratulate you on your vision. The Iraqis are -- you know, have
defied the terrorists and showed the world they want to live in a free
society, and we're there to help them achieve that.

I'm looking forward to the NATO meeting today. NATO is a vital relationship
for the United States and for Europe. And I'm looking forward to meeting
with the EU, as well. As I said in my speech yesterday, a strong Europe is
very important for the United States, and I really meant that. And the
Prime Minister is one of the strong leaders in Europe, and I really enjoy
my relationship with him.

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: First of all, I'm pleased to come and talk to the
President again and go through the range of different issues that we face
in the world today. And I both welcome the President's speech yesterday
very much and thanked him for it. And I think what it sets out is a very
clear way forward for us now. Whatever the differences in the international
community have been over the past couple of years, I think we have a really
solid basis now for going forward in a unified way. And if we take that
opportunity, it will be greatly for the benefit of the international
community.

We can see this, obviously, with Iraq, where after the democratic elections
that are held now, it's possible to see a way forward in which Iraq can
become a stable and a prosperous and a democratic state. And after all the
tragedies of the past and the dictatorship and the loss of life under
Saddam, there's now real prospect for the Iraqi people. And that, joined to
what has happened in Afghanistan, I think gives us real hope for the
future.

In addition, the President set out very clearly a way forward on the Middle
East peace process. There's a renewed sense of vigor and optimism in that
process. And with the London conference coming up next week, I think we've
got every possibility now of trying to reach a settlement, which I think
would do so much for international relations worldwide.

Then, of course, we also went through many of the other issues, to the
upcoming G8 later in the year and so on. So it was, as ever, a very
constructive, very useful discussion across a whole range of issues. And as
I say, I think that yesterday's speech and today's meeting at NATO gives us
an opportunity to restate for people in Europe and in America the
fundamental importance of this transatlantic alliance. It's been a
cornerstone of our security for many, many years; it's based on shared
values; it's absolutely the right thing for us to have at the center of our
relations. And we'll do everything we can to make sure that that
relationship is strong.

END 8:45 A.M. (Local)
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