23 November 2002
Bush Says Romania Will Bring Moral Clarity to NATO Alliance
(NATO's invitation is vote of confidence, says president) (1320)
President George W. Bush said that NATO's invitation for Romania to
join the Alliance is recognition of the country's decision, despite
many hardships, to choose the path of freedom and democracy.
"Romania has made an historic journey," Bush said in remarks to
citizens gathered in the Piata Revolutiei in Bucharest. "Instead of
hatred, you have chosen tolerance. Instead of destructive rivalry with
your neighbors, you have chosen reconciliation. Instead of state
control, you have chosen free markets and rule of law. And instead of
dictatorship, you have built a proud and working democracy."
President Bush added, "America respects your labor, your patience,
your daily determination to find a better life."
Along with contributions of troops to stability in Europe and the
global war on terrorism, Bush said, Romania brings a moral clarity to
NATO. "You value freedom because you have lived without it," the
president said. "You know the difference between good and evil because
you have seen evil's face."
For its part, President Bush said, NATO's pledges mean that, should
any nation threaten Romania, "the United States of America and NATO
will be by your side."
Today, the world faces the threat to peace posed by Iraq's weapons of
mass destruction, Bush said, pointing out that the United Nations and
NATO have now spoken with one voice, saying that the Iraqi regime must
disarm completely.
President Bush also said that Romania, by virtue of geography and
history, could place an important role in building bridges of
cooperation across the Black Sea to Russia.
Following is the transcript of President Bush's remarks to the
citizens of Romania in Bucharest on November 23:
(begin transcript)
Office of the Press Secretary
The White House
November 23, 2002
Remarks by the President to the Citizens of Romania
Piata Revolutiei
Bucharest, Romania
PRESIDENT BUSH: Salut! (Applause.) Thank you all. Thank you, Mr.
President. Thank you for being out here in the rain. Thank you for
such a warm welcome. Laura and I are honored to be in this great
country. (Applause.) As we started speaking, a rainbow appeared.
(Applause.) God is smiling on us today. (Applause.)
I'm proud to stand in this great square and to bring the good wishes
of the American people. (Applause.) Today we reaffirm the friendship
between your country and mine. I'm honored to carry a message to the
people of Romania: We proudly invite you to join NATO, the great
alliance of freedom. (Applause.)
All around us are reminders of Romania's history and the culture we
share. Close by is a church, three centuries old, a symbol of the
faith that overcomes all oppression. In this square we see monuments
of Romanian patriots who lost their lives in liberty -- for the
liberty of your nation. (Applause.) And here, in December of 1989, you
broke the silence of your captivity. From that balcony, the dictator
heard your voices and faltered -- and fled. Two generations of bitter
tyranny ended, and all the world witnessed the courage of Romania, the
courage that set you free. (Applause.)
Since those days of liberation, Romania has made an historic journey.
Instead of hatred, you have chosen tolerance. Instead of destructive
rivalry with your neighbors, you have chosen reconciliation. Instead
of state control, you have chosen free markets and rule of law. And
instead of dictatorship, you have built a proud and working democracy.
(Applause.)
The path of freedom you've chosen is not easy, but it's the only path
worth taking. I know that your hardship did not end with your
oppression. America respects your labor, your patience, your daily
determination to find a better life. Your effort has been recognized
by an offer to NATO membership. We welcome Romania into NATO.
(Applause.)
NATO's invitation to join was also a vote of confidence that you will
continue the hard work of political, economic and military reform. And
as you do, you will have partners in all the nations of NATO.
The promises of our Alliance are sacred, and we will keep our pledges
to all the nations that join us. Should any danger threaten Romania --
should any nation threaten Romania, the United States of America and
NATO will be by your side. (Applause.) As a NATO ally, you can have
this confidence -- no one will be able to take away the freedom of
your country. (Applause.)
NATO membership will make Romania more secure. And Romania will add to
the strength of the NATO Alliance as we face unprecedented new
dangers. Already, our troops are serving side by side in Afghanistan.
Already, Romania has joined the global coalition against terror. And
we thank you very much. (Applause.)
The world has suffered enough from fanatics who seek to impose their
will through fear and murder. The NATO Alliance and the civilized
world are confronting the new enemies of freedom, and we will prevail.
(Applause.)
Your country also brings moral clarity to our NATO Alliance. You value
freedom because you have lived without it. You know the difference
between good and evil because you have seen evil's face. The people of
Romania understand that aggressive dictators cannot be appeased or
ignored; they must always be opposed.
An aggressive dictator now rules in Iraq. By his search for terrible
weapons, by his ties to terror groups, by his development of
prohibited ballistic missiles, the dictator of Iraq threatens the
security of every free nation, including the free nations of Europe.
The United Nations Security Council, and now NATO have spoken with one
voice: the Iraqi regime will completely disarm itself of weapons of
mass murder, or we, the United States, will lead a coalition of
willing nations and disarm that regime in the name of peace.
(Applause.)
Every nation must confront danger. Every free nation has a
responsibility to play its full and responsible role. And together,
Mr. President, we will preserve our freedoms and we will work together
to keep the peace. (Applause.)
In the peaceful future we're building, Romania will strengthen our
lives in another way -- as a bridge to a new Russia. For centuries,
Romania's geography was a source of danger. Now, you can help our
Alliance to extend a hand of cooperation across the Black Sea.
Russia has nothing to fear from the growth of NATO, because Russia
needs peaceful, stable neighbors, like Romania. As I told President
Putin yesterday, a Russia that is fully part of Europe needs no buffer
zone separating it from Europe. America and Romania are friends to the
Russian people, and so is the NATO Alliance. (Applause.)
Mr. President, citizens of Romania, Laura and my visit to your
beautiful country has been short; but the friendship, and soon the
alliance between our countries will endure. (Applause.)
On this historic square, among the monuments to Romania's greatness,
there's also a building left in ruins -- the former offices of the
secret police. It is a fitting reminder of all the cruelties done
there, and the justice that rose up against oppression. That grim
monument also recalls the many brave Romanians who did not live to see
this day. Our prayers are for them and their families. (Applause.)
Yet, today, their hopes are being fulfilled. The nation they love is
rising. Romania has won its freedom. Romania is resolute in difficulty
and moving toward greater prosperity. And Romania is finding its place
in history's greatest alliance for freedom. (Applause.)
I have come to tell you that the world, and my country, knows the
character of the people of this great country. We respect your
country. We love the fact that you love freedom. May God bless you and
your families. May God bless Romania. And may God bless America. Thank
you all. (Applause.)
(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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