10 October 2001
Transcript: Bush Sees NATO as Cornerstone of Global Anti-Terror Coalition
(October 10: Bush, Lord Robertson photo opportunity at White House)
(1240)
NATO is the cornerstone of the anti-terrorism coalition, President
Bush said October 10, but he added that the global anti-terror
coalition "goes way beyond NATO." The President cited as examples
support from Russia, the Organization of American States, Japan,
Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, the Organization of African
Unity, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
President Bush and NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson spoke with
reporters after their October 10 meeting at the White House to discuss
NATO's role in fighting terrorism.
"NATO nations are acting together in a broad campaign against terror,"
Bush said, and he called the invoking of Article 5, NATO's collective
defense clause, "an act of great friendship in a time of great need,
and our country will never forget."
"Many nations understand what NATO expressed, that an attack on us is
really an attack on legitimate governments and on freedom," Bush said.
He also thanked Robertson for the offer of NATO air surveillance
aircraft to help protect the United States.
Robertson said NATO "will continue to combine the best of America and
Europe at this difficult and troubled time."
The terrorists are "not unvanquishable. But we are, and we can win,
and we certainly will win."
Following is a transcript of the photo opportunity:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 10, 2001
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL LORD ROBERTSON IN
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
The Colonnade
1:51 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Lord Robertson, thank you very much for coming. I
appreciate your friendship and I appreciate the consultations we just
had.
I want to welcome Nick Burns, our Ambassador to NATO and, of course,
Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well.
Within 28 hours of the assault on September 11th, NATO, for the first
time in its 52 years of existence, invoked the Collective Defense
Clause. It didn't take long for our friends to respond. A lot of that
had to do with the leadership of Lord Robertson. This was an act of
great friendship in a time of great need, and our country will never
forget.
Today, NATO nations are acting together in a broad campaign against
terror. Britain is side by side with us in Afghanistan. The nations of
NATO are sharing intelligence, coordinating law enforcement, and
cracking down on the financing of terrorist organizations. Some NATO
members will provide logistic support to military operations. And
others have offered to fight if we deem necessary.
And right now, in an unprecedented display of friendship, NATO air
surveillance aircraft are on their way to the United States to help
keep our country safe. Lord Robertson, I want to thank you for that,
as well, and so do the American people. This has never happened
before, that NATO has come to help defend our country. But it happened
in this time of need. And for that, we're grateful.
Together, we're building a very strong coalition against terror. And
NATO is the cornerstone of that coalition. But I want to remind my
fellow citizens, the coalition goes way beyond NATO.
Russia is sharing intelligence and offering strong diplomatic support.
The Organization of American States invoked the collective defense
clause of the Rio Treaty. Japan and Korea are offering logistical and
other support. I had a great conversation with Jiang Zemin of China
about his desire to join us in fighting terrorist activities.
Military forces from Australia and New Zealand are standing by to
assist in combat roles if needed. In Africa, the Organization of
African Unity has moved quickly and strongly to condemn the attacks,
and many are offering basic services, such as overflight and the
sharing of intelligence.
In the Middle East, many nations including Jordan, Egypt and Saudi
Arabia are offering law enforcement, intelligence and other
cooperation. In short, many nations understand what NATO expressed,
that an attack on us is really an attack on legitimate governments and
on freedom.
I want to welcome again our friend to the Rose Garden. Lord Robertson
has provided extraordinary leadership for an incredibly important
alliance. He's a good Scotsman, like many Americans are. He could have
been a Texan, it seems like to me, because he is courageous, open,
forthright, and not afraid to take a stand and to do what's right for
freedom.
Lord Robertson, welcome to the Rose Garden.
SECRETARY GENERAL ROBERTSON: Mr. President, thank you for these kind
and generous words. I'll take them back to the headquarters of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, because that is the organization
that you're part of, we're part of, and which has stood in solidarity
over all of these years.
I want to pay a tribute to your leadership during this difficult time
for your country, in this difficult time for the world, as well. We
stand shoulder to shoulder in a new kind of struggle, and a struggle
that we have to win.
The NATO allies, in the wake of the terrible atrocities of the 11th of
September wanted to move beyond sadness and sympathy, and we moved to
solidarity and support. And that is why we invoked Article 5 of the
Washington Treaty, conceived here in Washington in 1949 in very
difficult circumstances; and where the language is clear and simple:
an attack on one is an attack on all of the nations of the Alliance.
NATO still represents the biggest permanent coalition on this planet:
19 nations in the Alliance, 27 nations in addition in the Partnership
for Peace and part of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. And NATO
is providing now, as you said, serious and strong practical support to
the United States and the U.S.-led coalition operations that are going
on in the world today, a unique contribution, political cohesion
through Article 5; real capabilities, like the AWACS aircraft that
will be flying over continental United States by Friday of this week;
the tying-in of the partners and the partnership, military
interoperability that worked so well for the coalition in the Gulf
War, and a new look at the adaptation of forces so that we're ready to
deal with the threats of the future, just as we were able to deal with
the enemies of the past.
So the Alliance will continue to combine the best of America and
Europe at this difficult and troubled time.
These terrorists are not 10 feet tall, they are not insuperable.
They're not unvanquishable. But we are, and we can win, and we
certainly will win. And I'm very, very proud that NATO and the 19
nations of the Alliance are at the heart of a global coalition against
the most evil criminals of our age.
I'm very proud, Mr. President, that you thought fit to describe me as
a candidate for being a Texan. (Laughter.) Given my background, I know
that you've been in Scotland before, and I haven't been in Texas. But
I'll take it as a compliment, and I believe that you could be a
Scotsman, as well. (Laughter.) Like the great Scotsmen who made this
great country as well, and who, at the moment, happen to be leading
this Alliance. And this Scotsman, in particular, is proud to be doing
it and is determined that we'll win.
Thank you very much.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. God bless you. Thanks for coming.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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