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Fragen an George W.Bush und
Wolfgang Schuessel, Hofburg Wien, 21.6.2006
Raimund Loew: Chancellor Schüssel,
the European public is deeply worried by these secret prisoners that the
CIA has been transporting, is transporting through Europe. Did you get
assurance today from the President that this is not going to happen anymore,
that there won't be anymore in the kidnapping of terror suspects in Europe,
that this is a thing of the past?
And to the President, Mr. President, you said this is "absurd,"
but you might be aware that in Europe the image of America is still falling,
and dramatically in some areas. Let me give you some numbers. In Austria,
in this country only 14 percent of the people believe that the United
States, what they are doing is good for peace; 64 percent think that it
is bad. In the United Kingdom, your ally, there are more citizens who
believe that the United States policy under your leadership is helping
to destabilize the world than Iran. So my question to you is, why do you
think that you've failed so badly to convince Europeans, to win their
heads and hearts and minds? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, yes, I thought it was absurd for people to think
that we're more dangerous than Iran. It's a -- we're a transparent democracy.
People know exactly what's on our mind. We debate things in the open.
We've got a legislative process that's active. Look, people didn't agree
with my decision on Iraq, and I understand that. For Europe, September
the 11th was a moment; for us, it was a change of thinking. I vowed to
the American people I would do everything to defend our people, and will.
I fully understood that the longer we got away from September the 11th,
more people would forget the lessons of September the 11th. But I'm not
going to forget them. And, therefore, I will be steadfast and diligent
and strong in defending our country.
I don't govern by polls, you know. I just do what I think is right. And
I understand some of the decisions I made are controversial. But I made
them in the best interest of our country, and I think in the best interest
of the world. I believe when you look back at this moment, people will
say, it was right to encourage democracy in the Middle East. I understand
some people think that it can't work. I believe in the universality of
freedom; some don't. I'm going to act on my beliefs so long as I'm the
President of the United States. Some people say, it's okay to condemn
people for -- to tyranny. I don't believe it's okay to condemn people
to tyranny, particularly those of us who live in the free societies.
And so I understand, and I'll try to do my best to explain to the Europeans
that, on the one hand, we're tough when it comes to the war on terror;
on the other hand, we're providing more money than every before in the
world's history for HIV/AIDS on the continent of Africa. I'll say, on
the one hand, we're going to be tough when it comes to terrorist regimes
who harbor weapons. On the other hand, we'll help feed the hungry. I declared
Darfur to be a genocide because I care deeply about those who have been
afflicted by these renegade bands of people who are raping and murdering.
And so I will do my best to explain our foreign policy. On the one hand,
it's tough when it needs to be; on the other hand, it's compassionate.
And we'll let the polls figure out -- people can say what they want to
say. But leadership requires making hard choices based upon principle
and standing -- (President's mike goes out) -- and that's how I'm going
to continue to lead my country.
Thank you for your question.
CHANCELLOR SCHÜSSEL: Let me add -- let me add something. I think
Austria is really a good example to show that America has something to
do with freedom, democracy, prosperity, development. Don't forget I was
born in '45. At that time, Vienna and half of Austria laid in ruins. And
without the participation of America, what fate would have Europe? Where
would be Europe today? Not the peaceful, prosperous Europe like we love
it and where we live.
Nothing -- I will never forget that America fed us with food, with economic
support. The Marshall Plan was an immense aid and incentive to develop
industry, agriculture, tourism. And by the way, I said it to the President,
the Marshall Fund is still working in Austria. It's now transformed into
a kind -- in a fund for research and development -- still working.
The American people, at that time, the American government invested billions
of dollars in Europe to develop the former enemy. And now we are a partner.
So I think it's grotesque to say that America is a threat to the peace
in the world compared with North Korea, Iran, other countries.
Of course, we -- and I thank you very much for the question on human rights
and the over-flights and the secret prisons and Guantanamo. And it was
quite interesting to see how the debate was going on in -- this morning.
The President started, himself. He didn't wait that we raise the question.
He came up and said, look, this is my problem, this is where we are. And
I think we should be fair from the other side of the Atlantic. We should
understand that what September 11th meant to the American people. It was
a shock. For the first time, a real shock. A society values were attacked
-- American values, international values, European values were attacked
in the home country of the President and all Americans. And we should
not be naive. We Europeans are also attacked. We had bomb attacks in Madrid.
Hundreds of people were killed. We had bomb attacks in London subway,
buses were blown up. We had detected some terrorists who tried to shoot
down an Israeli plane. So we should not be naive.
And since September 11th -- and I think this is important to underline
that -- since September 11th, we are now able to define our targets, to
fight against terror and terrorists, to cut off their financial supplies,
to share information, to secure our citizens, our people. This is the
ultimate goal. Not creating enemies, virtual enemies, but to secure our
people and to secure peace in the world and to stabilize our societies.
The problem is -- and I will be very frank on that, and I said it the
same way like we did it here, and we say it now -- we are only -- we can
only have a victory in the fight against terror if we don't undermine
our common values. It can never be a victory, a credible victory over
terrorists if we give up our values: democracy, rule of law, individual
rights.
This is important to know. And our discussion with all the European parliament,
the European governments, I personally -- we are calling for the closure
of Guantanamo. But our discussion today went far beyond the closing of
Guantanamo, because we have -- we have a legal problem, we have gray areas.
And there should be no legal void, not in the fight against terrorists,
but also not in -- for individuals to be guaranteed in their individual
rights, in their freedom.
And it's quite interesting to see how the President reacted -- I welcome,
of course, your statement saying that you're looking forward to close
Guantanamo and it depends on the Supreme Court's decision. And we got
clear, clear signals and a commitment from the American side -- no torture,
no extraordinary or extra-territorial positions to deal with the terrorists
-- the McCain amendment, for instance. All the legal rights must be preserved.
But we have to help if we're to find a way-out strategy, to help countries
to take back the prisoners, either to charge them or to release them.
And there are international organizations which could help and could assist.
And we discussed this in detail. And I think it's important to know that
although there are differences in the legal perception, it was possible
to have such a statement.
And I really want to add, after my visit to you in December '05, last
December, we established a very good cooperation between John Bellinger,
the leading advisor of the State Department and the Austrian Bureau, the
Department for international law. And this is working. We are really working
in a precise, professional way on that. So thank you very much.
Let me say, Mr. President, I'm really happy that you are here, that you
were here in Vienna. Come back, if possible. You will find a little bit
more from our town and from the possibilities of our city. And don't let
us wait for another nearly 30 years for the next visit. All the best.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.
nach oben,
Fenster schließen
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