President of the Republic of Poland Aleksander
Kwaśniewski visited USA
In February the President of the
Republic of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski visited United States. During his two day visit
he met with President George W. Bush, members of the Congress and representatives of the
administration. The Presidents discussed important international policy and policy related
to bilateral relationship. Topics related to Iraq and Ukraine were analyzed. Both parties
expressed their mutual desire to continue the stabilization mission in Iraq until its
completion. President Bush underlined the important role President Kwaśniewski played in
solving the problem of Ukraine elections and the possibility of further cooperation in
creating the policy toward that country. They discussed the planned trip of the President
of United States to Europe. The visa waver program was also a topic of the talks.
“Policy of the country has been under review for a while, and now we've got a way
forward to make trips to America easier for Polish citizens” stated the American
President. A “road map” was adopted showing the goals to be achieved on the road to
add Poland to the 27 countries exempt from US visa requirements. The Presidents talked
about the transatlantic relationships and the need for closer cooperation. President Bush
declared financial assistance for the Polish army from the “solidarity initiative”
fund President Aleksander Kwaśniewski met with Mayor of Washington Mr. Anthony A.
Williams who presented the President with the “Key to the City”. Before his departure
the Polish President presented Peter Nowak coach with the Knights Cross of the Order of
Merit of the Republic of Poland for his achievements.
President George Bush
and Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski Discuss International Policy
The Oval Office
PRESIDENT BUSH: The President and I will
have opening statements. I'll answer a question from the American press; he'll answer a
question -- or somebody will answer a question from the Polish press. And we'll do this
twice.
Thank you all for coming. Welcome back to
the Oval Office. It is my great pleasure to welcome my friend back here to discuss
important international policy and policy related to our bilateral relationship. We
discussed, and will continue to discuss, very important issues. We'll talk about, of
course, Iraq and our mutual desire to train Iraqis so that they can defend their own
freedom. We'll talk about my trip to Europe. I'm looking forward to advice from my friend.
We'll continue to discuss the Ukraine. And
let me just step back and say that I'm impressed by the leadership of President
Kwasniewski when it came to the Ukraine. He showed remarkable leadership. And the people
of Ukraine are better for it, and the world appreciates that and I appreciate it.
We'll spend time continuing to talk about
the importance of our bilateral relationship, whether it be trade and commerce, or whether
it be the ability of Polish folks to travel to the United States of America. The visa
policy of the country has been under review for a while, and now we've got a way forward
to make trips to America easier for Polish citizens.
I want to thank you for your leadership on
that issue, Mr. Prime Minister. I mean, Mr. President. Excuse me. I demoted him.
(Laughter.) Well, it's not a demotion.
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: No.
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's a lateral transfer.
(Laughter.) Anyway, I am thrilled you're here, and look forward to seeing you not only
over lunch, but in Brussels on my trip. Welcome.
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Thank you. So I
should speak Polish in the beginning.
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, first
of all, I would like to express my joy that this is my fourth visit already to the White
House, visiting President George W. Bush.
I want to tell you that we talked about
Polish-American cooperation, which has now a strategic, lasting character. And in the
recent years, we have had many successful events in cooperation with the United States.
During our meeting today we talked about
Iraq. Poland participates in the stabilization mission in Iraq, and we are full of
optimism thinking about that country and about the successful completion of our mission.
We have been talking about the
transatlantic relationships, and we are very happy that America is getting closer and is
having better and better relations with our European neighbors and also with Poland. We
talked about bilateral cooperation, and both President Bush and myself talked about the
adoption of the road map that is going to solve the visa problem. And it implies concrete
decisions that are going to be made in relation to the visa regime, doing away with some
old information -- old data, statistics concerning the immigration violation from before
1989, easing the procedures, review of different -- that are connected to the visa system,
and further cooperation with the Congress in order to facilitate the process as much as
possible.
We hope that the road map that has been
accepted will be a very good solution. Poland will have to observe many rules, and it will
bring about a final doing away with this problem that has been present in our talks for
many years now.
I would like also to say that as far as the
thank-you words concerning Ukraine are concerned, everything wouldn't be possible without
the participation of the United States. And without the United States' role, it wouldn't
be possible to finish the crisis situation in Ukraine and strengthen democracy in that
country. It is the success of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, but it is also the success
of all of us.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Very good, thank you.
Deb.
Q: Mr. President, Secretary Rice said today
in Brussels that the United States would not tolerate foot-dragging by Tehran on
accounting for their nuclear program. Is time running out for Iran to come to terms with
the European negotiators?
PRESIDENT BUSH: The Iranians just need to
know that the free world is working together to send a very clear message: Don't develop a
nuclear weapon. And the reason we're sending that message is because Iran with a nuclear
weapon would be a very destabilizing force in the world.
And I look forward to going over to Europe
to continue discussing this issue with our allies. It's important we speak with one voice.
I'm very pleased with the response that European leaders have given to Dr. Rice on this
issue. She has made -- her trip, by the way, has been a fantastic trip. I want to thank
Aleksander, the President, for being so gracious to her on the first leg of her trip, or
one of the first legs on her trip. But the message is, is that we're going to speak with
one voice, and we'll continue to do so.
Yes, Polish --
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Yes, please, Polish
press.
Q: I have a question to President Bush. Are
you going to -- concerning the visa problem, are you going to support the legislation
being introduced in the Congress? I talked to some congressmen; they say they keep
receiving mixed signals from the White House concerning the issue.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we've got a way
forward to answer the questions of a lot of the members of the United States Congress to
get this issue solved. And the President has been very -- hard at work in helping develop
a road map that is fair to the Polish people. And I adopt the principles and accept the
recommendations of the road map, and that will become the basis for legislation.
Adam.
Q: Mark McClellan is now acknowledging the
new Medicare drug benefit will cost $720 billion, far more than the White House initially
said. Will you consider steps to lower the cost? Might Medicare be a bigger problem now
than Social Security?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, there's no question
that there is a unfunded liability inherent in Medicare that we're -- Congress and the
administration is going to have to deal with over time. Obviously, I've chosen to deal
with Social Security first. And once we accomplish -- once we modernize and save Social
Security for a young generation of Americans, then it will be time to deal with the
unfunded liabilities in Medicare. The same issue that deals with -- creates a problem with
Social Security creates a problem for Medicare. In other words, baby boomers are retiring
with fewer payers going into the system. And I look forward to working with them.
Listen, the reforms haven't even begun yet.
I signed a piece of legislation last year and the major reforms of providing prescription
drugs for our seniors kicks in next year. And I look forward to watching those reforms
take effect. I'm convinced they'll have cost savings for our society, and I know it will
make the life of our seniors better.
Q: I've got a question to President Bush.
Sir, will the United States increase its assistance in modernization of Polish armed
forces?
PRESIDENT BUSH: We -- Aleksander and I, the
President and I talked about that. He has been very insistent that -- about our mil-to-mil
relations. He's been very forthright and very clear, and I appreciate his leadership on
this issue. I am -- intend -- I say "intend" because our system is one where I
make requests; Congress has to appropriate the money. But we will make requests that will
enable there to be a mil-to-mil expenditure to help Poland modernize and fulfill its
mission of about $100 million this year.
Now, again, I repeat, I don't get to write
the checks in the American system; the government -- the Congress does that. But I get to
put out requests. And I assured the President that would be -- when it's all said and
done, that would be the request that we would put forward. I'm confident the Congress will
respond.
Listen, Poland has been a fantastic ally,
because the President and the people of Poland love freedom. And I know the people of your
country must have been thrilled when the millions of people went to the polls and showed
that people from all parts of the world want to live in a free society, just like your
great nation has shown the world over the last decade.
So, Mr. President, welcome. Thanks for
coming. I value our friendship.
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Thank you, Mr.
President.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all.
VISA
AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGE
At their
February 9 meeting, President Bush and President Kwaśniewski affirmed the goal of Poland
entering the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and agreed to the following roadmap of mutual
steps to advance this goal in conformity with U.S. legislative criteria.
President Bush will ask the Departments of
Homeland Security and State to consider a “clean slate” for Polish nationals who
overstayed their authorized visits to the United States during the pre-1989 totalitarian
period.
President Kwaśniewski will commit to launch a public campaign urging
Polish citizens not to overstay; the Polish government will work with the United States
government to publicize problems of the current overstay rate. (“Go to America, Return
to Poland.”)
President Bush will ask the Department of
State to comprehensively review assumptions under which consular sections in Poland
apply criteria for tourist and business visas, in light of improving economic, social and
security conditions in Poland as a result of EU membership.
The United States and Poland agree to work
together to conduct a new baseline study in 2006 of Polish tourist visa non-adjusted
overstay rate based on 2005 data (i.e. the first full year of post-EU membership for
Poland).
President Bush will ask the Department of
Homeland Security to consider expanding and improving the Immigration Advisory
Program at Okęcie Airport to include all Polish passengers traveling to the U.S.
United States and Poland agree to review
Polish progress toward meeting the legislative criteria for VWP on an annual basis.Poland
commits to meet biometric and other technical and security criteria of VWP as soon as
practicable. The United States will offer technical advice and assistance.President Bush
agrees to explore expanded exchange programs as well as possible carves-out for Polish
citizens in existing programs.President Bush and President Kwaśniewski will consider
further recommendations to facilitate Poland entering the visa waiver program.
Statement of President Bush on Solidarity Initiative to Support our
Partners in Freedom
(Washington
February 9th, 2005)
The President intends to ask
Congress to support $400 million in additional funding to strengthen the capabilities of
our partners to advance democracy and stability around the world. These funds, which the
Administration will seek in the supplemental budget request, reflect the principle that an
investment in a partner in freedom today will help ensure that America will stand united
with stronger partners in the future. This assistance will support nations that have
deployed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other partners promoting freedom
around the world.
As President Bush has said,
"the best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the
world." Our closest partners agree. For many of these partners, now vibrant
democracies and staunch allies, the tragedy of tyranny is a painful chapter in their own
recent histories. They understand the value of freedom, and are delivering on their strong
commitment to fostering democracy at home by helping to advance freedom and stability
abroad.
Today, the President met with
one of our strongest partners in freedom, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski of Poland. The
Solidarity Initiative will assist nations such as Poland, which have taken political and
economic risks in order to act on their convictions, to develop and sustain the
capabilities needed to do so.
Congress has consistently
supported our partners in freedom in the past. We urge continued Congressional support for
these partners in the future.
