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President Bush Holds Press Availability with Colombian President Uribe

Aired November 22, 2004 - 14:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're waiting for a live news conference any minute now from the Indiana Pacers about the highly publicized brawl at the Pacers/ Pistons game last Friday night. Prosecutors say that criminal charges could be filed against players and fans. The NBA says it will review arena security. We'll bring you that news conference as soon as it begins.
The penalty phase of the Scott Peterson murder trial has been delayed until next Tuesday. Today Peterson's lead attorney Mark Geragos filed a motion demanding a change of venue and a new jury. The judge says he is not inclined to move the sentencing.

A plane that was planning to pick up former president George Bush for a business trip to Ecuador crashed this morning in Houston. All three of those crew members were killed. CNN affiliate KHOU reports that the Gulfstream 2 apparently clipped a light pole on its landing approach.

President Bush is paying a visit to Columbia to show his support for the South American nation's war on drugs. The U.S. has given Columbia $3 billion to aid in that fight against drug traffickers. President Bush has scheduled a news conference ahead this hour. We'll cover it live.

Some U.S. troops in Iraq are kicking back a bit after securing the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. But there's still much work ahead. CNN's Jane Arraf is embedded with U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): For some of the American troops in Falluja, a celebration. The heavy armor in the battle, the army's task force 22 and its soldiers are going back to their bases. For this occasion only, courtesy of the marines they fought with, for the first time in months, they get a beer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It tastes a lot better because you know, it feels like we deserve this way more than any other beer we've ever drank.

ARRAF: The task force commander raises a toast to the army's four men killed and others wounded in battle. And another for the marines and other troops remaining.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got the easy part. All we had to do was go in and kick somebody's butt. Those guys are going to put a city back together and bring the civilians back.

ARRAF: The soldiers included gunners, tankers, artillery men. They fired almost 1,000 rounds of artillery, the most in a battle for a city since Vietnam, clearing the way for marines to spread throughout the city. This was the most intense combat most of these soldiers have ever seen. But even though the high intensity conflict is over, some of the biggest challenges for Falluja are still ahead.

Marine officials at a post-battle briefing said the speed of the fight exceeded their wildest expectations. They said, though, with 60,000 buildings in Falluja, each of them able to hold weapons or insurgents, there's no definite timetable for the marines to leave or citizens to return. A civil affairs official said the Iraqi government using U.S. money was speeding ahead with plans to reconstruct the heavily damaged city. The army troops just days from returning to their home base and months from going home to their stations in Germany were celebrating finishing their role in the fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Drinking to the United States.

ARRAF: Sergeant First Class Brit Kimmell held a puppy he rescued from the rubble. In a neighborhood long ago abandoned by civilians, the dogs were among the few living things.

SGT. 1ST CLASS BRIT KIMMELL, U.S. ARMY: We was coming out of a bunker and about ready to throw a fragmentation grenade in there, got a little closer and realized there was nothing in there, looked a little closer and the puppy's in there. Pick of the runt.

ARRAF: They named her Falluja, not something that would go over well with city residents, but for these soldiers, a symbol of survival and hope through the devastation. Jane Arraf, CNN near Falluja.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Other news around the world, following the funeral of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, his family is voicing concern over how he died. His nephew says there's no cause of death in his medical records and he says that toxicology tests show that Arafat was not poisoned as rumored. Palestinian officials have also denied those rumors.

And chaos in Kiev. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians gathered in the capital city to protest presidential election returns. The Kremlin-backed prime minister is ahead of the reformist candidate with more than 99 percent of precincts counted. Protesters are calling the election fraudulent. Some municipal governments are rejecting the official results.

Straight ahead, we are awaiting two live events. First the president of the United States live from Cartagena, Colombia. We're waiting for him to step on the stand. You see his wife Laura Bush there just crossing the waterfront. The U.S. has given Colombia $3 billion to aid in the fight against drug traffickers. We'll hear what he says to say with the Colombian president. Also we're waiting for a live news conference any minute from the Indiana Pacers here in the interview room about that highly publicized brawl at the Pacers/Pistons game last Friday night. Pretty harsh charges coming forward. We'll find out what the NBA says it's going to do. Bring you those live events as soon as they happen. Quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Take you straight live to Cartagena, Colombia now. Side by side the president of the United States and the president of Colombia. The president showing his support for the South American nation's war on drugs. Let's listen in.

PRESIDENT ALVARA URIBE, COLOMBIA (through translator): Welcome to the historic city of Cartagena de Indias, an expression of this Colombia, full of possibilities, with many problems to resolve and with citizens who are happy, who are joyous and who have not been made bitter by terrorism and the poverty that it has brought with it.

Thank you, President Bush, and thank you, Mrs. Bush, for honoring us with your visit. We greatly appreciate the support of your government and of the U.S. people.

(UNINTELLIGIBLE) the Colombian people fight for democracy, terrorism has assassinated democratic fighters. While the Colombian people fights for growth, employment and social justice, terrorism has halted our economy. It made poverty more acute and produced internal displacement and a stampede towards other countries.

While the Colombian army destroys the anti-personnel land mines and gives the world the example of facing the terrorist threat by following of law and respecting human rights, the terrorists have killed 600 Colombians over the last year, especially members of law enforcement forces.

While the Colombian people love to live in peace and respect the ethical rule of not hurting your neighbor, terrorism only wreaks havoc and destruction.

The drugs that finance terrorism have sacrificed generations of Colombians. The thousands of young people who have been assassinated or put in jail and their families are saddened.

URIBE (through translator): The drugs that finance terrorism threaten to destroy the Amazonian jungle. They already tried this by eliminating 1.7 million hectares of tropical forest in Colombia.

The support of the United States left behind speeches (ph) and has become an effective type of help. And we trust that the United States and President Bush will continue with that help until Colombia is free of the scourge of terrorism and drugs.

We cannot stop this task halfway through. We will win, but we have not won yet. We have made progress, but the serpent is still alive. President Bush, our success against terrorism will be the success of the people, of democracy, of the supremacy of law. Our success will be the guarantee for the happiness of our children and future generations. Our success will avoid contagion to other neighboring countries. And our success will be a reason for pride in the U.S. and Colombia for those who have suffered from the scourge of drugs.

The negotiation of a free trade agreement is a step in the process to unify the Americas, and we are sure that it will be an agreement reached with equity, offering opportunity for the agricultural sector, for small business, activities that we need to bolster in order to provide true alternatives of revindication for the poor and to foster the creativity of our social enterprises that are based on our capitalist society.

The respect for intellectual property must be joined to the rights of researchers so that science can move forward and so that the people will have the right to have universal access to new medications and welfare.

We attach great importance to this visit, President Bush.

Just after your new victory and at the beginning of your second term, this is a new example of your friendship for Colombia and a clear indication of a renewed interest in Latin America.

URIBE (through translator): Latin America needs social cohesion, good governance and trust in integration.

The role of the United States and the multilateral institutions in the IMF, your signals to the markets will be definitive so that this continent can build social justice.

The role of the United States in the struggle against terrorism and in the respect for the tolerant debate of opposing ideas is definitive for good governance on the continent.

The equity we need to guarantee in the free trade agreement is going to be a beacon to establish the necessary confidence for all the Americas to become integrated.

In the same spot, your father stood, President George Bush, along with President Vajello (ph) Barco (ph) at a summit meeting against drugs, this historic city is pleased to show you its past and its promise for the future.

Endowed by nature (ph), like other parts of Colombia, is grateful for the help of the United States. This beautiful city, which is now adorned by your visit, wants you to take back to the people of the United States an invitation to come and visit.

In order to do so, and with your help, we have made a major effort, Mr. President, which translates into greater security.

We welcome you, President Bush, with gratitude and with friendship. In the midst of our emotional reflections of Abraham Lincoln and Simon Bolivar (UNINTELLIGIBLE) paradigms of a commitment to their peoples and the idea of authority and order to respect the law.

In Gettysburg, President Lincoln made the democratic statement that establishes that the government of the people by the people and for the people must never perish from the face of this earth.

URIBE: (through translator): The message to the Ocana (ph) convention by the liberator Bolivar is for us a proposal that the strength of the state must guarantee the life of the weak and must guarantee the government and the strength of institutions as a warranty of virtue and the permanence of our nation.

Thank you very much, President Bush for this wonderful visit. Thank you, Mrs. Bush.

BUSH: Mr. President, thank you very much.

I appreciate those kind words.

Laura and I are so honored to be here. We want to thank you and Mrs. Uribe for such warm hospitality, such gracious hospitality.

We thank your cabinet and thank the Colombian people, as well.

I'm proud to be with my friend, President Uribe. El es mi amigo. He's a strong -- and he's courageous like the nation he leads. He has been tireless in the fight against terror, and he's making progress on behalf of the people of Colombia.

President Uribe and the Colombian people are dedicated to the triumph of democracy and the rule of law against the forces of violence. And the United States stands with you.

Our two nations share in the struggle against drugs. The drug traffickers who practice violence and intimidation in this country send their addictive and deadly products to the United States. Defeating them is vital to the safety of our peoples and to the stability of this hemisphere.

President Uribe and I also share a basic optimism. This war against narcoterrorism can and will be won, and Colombia is well on its way to that victory.

During the president's tenure in office, he's built an impressive record. Kidnappings in Colombia are significantly down. Terrorist attacks and homicides have declined. Cocaine seizures have risen dramatically. And since July of last year, dozens of leaders and financiers of the FARC narcoterrorist organization have been killed or captured.

BUSH: President Uribe has also reformed Colombia's judicial system and is aggressively fighting corruption.

My nation will continue to help Colombia prevail in this vital struggle. Since the year 2000, when we begin Plan Colombia, the United States has provided more than $3 billion in vital aid. We'll continue providing aid.

We've helped Colombia to strengthen its democracy to combat drug production to create a more transparent and effective judicial system, to increase the size and professionalism of its military and police forces, to protect human rights and to reduce corruption.

Mr. President, you and your government have not let us down.

Plan Colombia enjoys wide bipartisan support in my country and next year, I will ask our Congress to renew its support so that this courageous nation can win its war against narcoterrorists.

Full and final victory also requires the spread of prosperity and progress throughout this nation and throughout this region. President Uribe's economic reforms have created jobs and improved living standards. Investor confidence is up, unemployment is down and growth is strong.

Our two nations also share a strong commitment to advancing free and fair trade and economic growth throughout the Americas. We're working hard on a free trade agreement that will link the United States and Colombia as well as other Andean nations of South America in a wider economic partnership.

As hope advances, violence and extremism will retreat. President Uribe has a vision for a better Colombia, a vision of peace and prosperity that he is pursuing with skill and energy.

He's a fierce opponent of terror and drug trafficking. He's a defender of Colombia's democracy. And I'm proud to call him friend. Gracias, senor presidente.

(APPLAUSE)

QUESTION (through translator): Mr. President, President Bush, good afternoon. How far are you willing to pursue the groups that you have labeled as terrorists in Colombia, including the self-defense groups? And how do you see the peace process that is being carried out here with the self-defense groups?

And President Uribe, what did President Bush actually say to you about helping Colombia and being a little more flexible with regards to the FTA, especially with the farmers in our country?

Thank you.

BUSH: Well, first, let me talk about the security situation and the president's strategy to defeat groups like the FARC.

If I didn't think he had an effective strategy and the willingness to fight the FARC, I wouldn't be standing here in this great nation saying I'm going to work with Congress to continue the support.

In other words, I believe in results. My administration is a results-oriented administration.

And so when I first met with the president in the Oval Office a couple of years ago, we talked about how to achieve results for the good of Colombia and for the good of our hemisphere. And he said he's going to do the following things, and he did.

And so to answer your question, we will support him in this strategy because it's working.

URIBE (through translator): Thank you, President.

Can I answer him first?

The issue of the free trade agreement, we understand that the FTA has to be totally equitable, it has to be passed not just by the U.S. Congress, but also by Colombia's Congress, and also by the public opinion of the U.S. and of Colombia.

President Bush has understood throughout this process in assisting Colombia how important it is for the legal farming business in Colombia to prosper so that we have opportunities for our farmers.

URIBE (through translator): We understand there's (ph) very difficult to negotiate an agreement where everyone is working in good faith. But we will be able to get ahead for our people, and this will build more trust between our nations and it will be a reason for prosperity, but also it will be a major step forward in uniting the Americas.

QUESTION: The IAEA, Mr. President, has said that they apparently believe Iran's claim that they've suspended uranium enrichment is true. Are you skeptical at all of that, and if so why?

BUSH: Well, let's say, I hope it's true.

And I think the definition of truth is the willingness for the Iranian regime to allow for verification.

You know, they have said some things in the past, and it's very important for them to verify and earn the trust of those of us who are worried about them developing a nuclear weapon. And that's just not the United States, that's France and Great Britain and Germany and other nations around the world understand the dangers of the Iranian government having a nuclear weapon.

And so it looks like there is some progress. But to determine whether or not the progress is real, there must be verification and we look forward to seeing that verification.

QUESTION (through translator): President Bush has committed himself here broadly to extend Plan Colombia and to continue helping Colombia. I'd like to know how you're going to convince your Congress to continue helping us at a time that's so difficult with your own deficit after the war in Iraq?

And how much assistance will there be? Is it going to be as much as the $3 billion that has been given over the last four years?

BUSH: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

Look, here's what you got to do with the Congress: You say, first of all, it's an important issue, and the issue is whether or not we're willing to stand with a friend to help defeat narcotrafficking. Most members of Congress understand it is important to help Colombia defeat the narcotraffickers.

And so the first question is whether or not there will be a consensus about the importance. I think there will be.

And secondly, do we want to continue spending money on the project that's important? And the answer to that question is: only if there are results.

And there have been significant results. The number of acres under cultivation are down significantly. The number of arrests are up. The number of murders is down.

In other words, this man's plan is working. And there is a focused strategy.

How do we know? Because our ambassador is working closely with the government, southern Command is working closely with the government. We're very aware of not only the strategy, but the will of this government to implement the strategy.

And so to answer your question, I'm very optimistic about continued funding. And I look forward to working with Congress to achieve a level that will make the plan effective.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.

Last night in Santiago, a dinner for 200 guests had to be scaled back dramatically after the Chileans objected to U.S. security plans that must have been in place for some time.

And the night before that, you had to come to the rescue of your own security men. Why do you think there was such friction between the U.S. delegation and the Chilean delegation?

QUESTION: This is a question?

Look, we had a fabulous dinner last night. It was really wonderful to be in the presence of President Lagos and his cabinet.

BUSH: And I thought the visit was a spectacular visit.

And I appreciated the hospitality of our Chilean friends, just like I appreciate the hospitality of our Colombian friends.

You know we're making good progress, thanks to strong leadership. The president said, you know, "Thanks to America, things are going well." No, he got it backwards. It's not thanks to America things are going well; it's thanks to a strong leadership that things are going well. It's thanks to a strategy that's working. It's thanks to a Cabinet that's dedicated to what's best for the interests of the Colombian people.

Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: The president of the United States side by side with the president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe. As you know, Bush was paying a visit to Colombia there to show his support for the South American nation's war on drugs. The U.S. now giving Colombia $3 billion to aid in that fight against drug traffickers. We will continue to follow the meeting there between the two presidents.

We're going to take a quick break, we've got more for you right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired November 22, 2004 - 14:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're waiting for a live news conference any minute now from the Indiana Pacers about the highly publicized brawl at the Pacers/ Pistons game last Friday night. Prosecutors say that criminal charges could be filed against players and fans. The NBA says it will review arena security. We'll bring you that news conference as soon as it begins.
The penalty phase of the Scott Peterson murder trial has been delayed until next Tuesday. Today Peterson's lead attorney Mark Geragos filed a motion demanding a change of venue and a new jury. The judge says he is not inclined to move the sentencing.

A plane that was planning to pick up former president George Bush for a business trip to Ecuador crashed this morning in Houston. All three of those crew members were killed. CNN affiliate KHOU reports that the Gulfstream 2 apparently clipped a light pole on its landing approach.

President Bush is paying a visit to Columbia to show his support for the South American nation's war on drugs. The U.S. has given Columbia $3 billion to aid in that fight against drug traffickers. President Bush has scheduled a news conference ahead this hour. We'll cover it live.

Some U.S. troops in Iraq are kicking back a bit after securing the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. But there's still much work ahead. CNN's Jane Arraf is embedded with U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): For some of the American troops in Falluja, a celebration. The heavy armor in the battle, the army's task force 22 and its soldiers are going back to their bases. For this occasion only, courtesy of the marines they fought with, for the first time in months, they get a beer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It tastes a lot better because you know, it feels like we deserve this way more than any other beer we've ever drank.

ARRAF: The task force commander raises a toast to the army's four men killed and others wounded in battle. And another for the marines and other troops remaining.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got the easy part. All we had to do was go in and kick somebody's butt. Those guys are going to put a city back together and bring the civilians back.

ARRAF: The soldiers included gunners, tankers, artillery men. They fired almost 1,000 rounds of artillery, the most in a battle for a city since Vietnam, clearing the way for marines to spread throughout the city. This was the most intense combat most of these soldiers have ever seen. But even though the high intensity conflict is over, some of the biggest challenges for Falluja are still ahead.

Marine officials at a post-battle briefing said the speed of the fight exceeded their wildest expectations. They said, though, with 60,000 buildings in Falluja, each of them able to hold weapons or insurgents, there's no definite timetable for the marines to leave or citizens to return. A civil affairs official said the Iraqi government using U.S. money was speeding ahead with plans to reconstruct the heavily damaged city. The army troops just days from returning to their home base and months from going home to their stations in Germany were celebrating finishing their role in the fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Drinking to the United States.

ARRAF: Sergeant First Class Brit Kimmell held a puppy he rescued from the rubble. In a neighborhood long ago abandoned by civilians, the dogs were among the few living things.

SGT. 1ST CLASS BRIT KIMMELL, U.S. ARMY: We was coming out of a bunker and about ready to throw a fragmentation grenade in there, got a little closer and realized there was nothing in there, looked a little closer and the puppy's in there. Pick of the runt.

ARRAF: They named her Falluja, not something that would go over well with city residents, but for these soldiers, a symbol of survival and hope through the devastation. Jane Arraf, CNN near Falluja.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Other news around the world, following the funeral of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, his family is voicing concern over how he died. His nephew says there's no cause of death in his medical records and he says that toxicology tests show that Arafat was not poisoned as rumored. Palestinian officials have also denied those rumors.

And chaos in Kiev. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians gathered in the capital city to protest presidential election returns. The Kremlin-backed prime minister is ahead of the reformist candidate with more than 99 percent of precincts counted. Protesters are calling the election fraudulent. Some municipal governments are rejecting the official results.

Straight ahead, we are awaiting two live events. First the president of the United States live from Cartagena, Colombia. We're waiting for him to step on the stand. You see his wife Laura Bush there just crossing the waterfront. The U.S. has given Colombia $3 billion to aid in the fight against drug traffickers. We'll hear what he says to say with the Colombian president. Also we're waiting for a live news conference any minute from the Indiana Pacers here in the interview room about that highly publicized brawl at the Pacers/Pistons game last Friday night. Pretty harsh charges coming forward. We'll find out what the NBA says it's going to do. Bring you those live events as soon as they happen. Quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Take you straight live to Cartagena, Colombia now. Side by side the president of the United States and the president of Colombia. The president showing his support for the South American nation's war on drugs. Let's listen in.

PRESIDENT ALVARA URIBE, COLOMBIA (through translator): Welcome to the historic city of Cartagena de Indias, an expression of this Colombia, full of possibilities, with many problems to resolve and with citizens who are happy, who are joyous and who have not been made bitter by terrorism and the poverty that it has brought with it.

Thank you, President Bush, and thank you, Mrs. Bush, for honoring us with your visit. We greatly appreciate the support of your government and of the U.S. people.

(UNINTELLIGIBLE) the Colombian people fight for democracy, terrorism has assassinated democratic fighters. While the Colombian people fights for growth, employment and social justice, terrorism has halted our economy. It made poverty more acute and produced internal displacement and a stampede towards other countries.

While the Colombian army destroys the anti-personnel land mines and gives the world the example of facing the terrorist threat by following of law and respecting human rights, the terrorists have killed 600 Colombians over the last year, especially members of law enforcement forces.

While the Colombian people love to live in peace and respect the ethical rule of not hurting your neighbor, terrorism only wreaks havoc and destruction.

The drugs that finance terrorism have sacrificed generations of Colombians. The thousands of young people who have been assassinated or put in jail and their families are saddened.

URIBE (through translator): The drugs that finance terrorism threaten to destroy the Amazonian jungle. They already tried this by eliminating 1.7 million hectares of tropical forest in Colombia.

The support of the United States left behind speeches (ph) and has become an effective type of help. And we trust that the United States and President Bush will continue with that help until Colombia is free of the scourge of terrorism and drugs.

We cannot stop this task halfway through. We will win, but we have not won yet. We have made progress, but the serpent is still alive. President Bush, our success against terrorism will be the success of the people, of democracy, of the supremacy of law. Our success will be the guarantee for the happiness of our children and future generations. Our success will avoid contagion to other neighboring countries. And our success will be a reason for pride in the U.S. and Colombia for those who have suffered from the scourge of drugs.

The negotiation of a free trade agreement is a step in the process to unify the Americas, and we are sure that it will be an agreement reached with equity, offering opportunity for the agricultural sector, for small business, activities that we need to bolster in order to provide true alternatives of revindication for the poor and to foster the creativity of our social enterprises that are based on our capitalist society.

The respect for intellectual property must be joined to the rights of researchers so that science can move forward and so that the people will have the right to have universal access to new medications and welfare.

We attach great importance to this visit, President Bush.

Just after your new victory and at the beginning of your second term, this is a new example of your friendship for Colombia and a clear indication of a renewed interest in Latin America.

URIBE (through translator): Latin America needs social cohesion, good governance and trust in integration.

The role of the United States and the multilateral institutions in the IMF, your signals to the markets will be definitive so that this continent can build social justice.

The role of the United States in the struggle against terrorism and in the respect for the tolerant debate of opposing ideas is definitive for good governance on the continent.

The equity we need to guarantee in the free trade agreement is going to be a beacon to establish the necessary confidence for all the Americas to become integrated.

In the same spot, your father stood, President George Bush, along with President Vajello (ph) Barco (ph) at a summit meeting against drugs, this historic city is pleased to show you its past and its promise for the future.

Endowed by nature (ph), like other parts of Colombia, is grateful for the help of the United States. This beautiful city, which is now adorned by your visit, wants you to take back to the people of the United States an invitation to come and visit.

In order to do so, and with your help, we have made a major effort, Mr. President, which translates into greater security.

We welcome you, President Bush, with gratitude and with friendship. In the midst of our emotional reflections of Abraham Lincoln and Simon Bolivar (UNINTELLIGIBLE) paradigms of a commitment to their peoples and the idea of authority and order to respect the law.

In Gettysburg, President Lincoln made the democratic statement that establishes that the government of the people by the people and for the people must never perish from the face of this earth.

URIBE: (through translator): The message to the Ocana (ph) convention by the liberator Bolivar is for us a proposal that the strength of the state must guarantee the life of the weak and must guarantee the government and the strength of institutions as a warranty of virtue and the permanence of our nation.

Thank you very much, President Bush for this wonderful visit. Thank you, Mrs. Bush.

BUSH: Mr. President, thank you very much.

I appreciate those kind words.

Laura and I are so honored to be here. We want to thank you and Mrs. Uribe for such warm hospitality, such gracious hospitality.

We thank your cabinet and thank the Colombian people, as well.

I'm proud to be with my friend, President Uribe. El es mi amigo. He's a strong -- and he's courageous like the nation he leads. He has been tireless in the fight against terror, and he's making progress on behalf of the people of Colombia.

President Uribe and the Colombian people are dedicated to the triumph of democracy and the rule of law against the forces of violence. And the United States stands with you.

Our two nations share in the struggle against drugs. The drug traffickers who practice violence and intimidation in this country send their addictive and deadly products to the United States. Defeating them is vital to the safety of our peoples and to the stability of this hemisphere.

President Uribe and I also share a basic optimism. This war against narcoterrorism can and will be won, and Colombia is well on its way to that victory.

During the president's tenure in office, he's built an impressive record. Kidnappings in Colombia are significantly down. Terrorist attacks and homicides have declined. Cocaine seizures have risen dramatically. And since July of last year, dozens of leaders and financiers of the FARC narcoterrorist organization have been killed or captured.

BUSH: President Uribe has also reformed Colombia's judicial system and is aggressively fighting corruption.

My nation will continue to help Colombia prevail in this vital struggle. Since the year 2000, when we begin Plan Colombia, the United States has provided more than $3 billion in vital aid. We'll continue providing aid.

We've helped Colombia to strengthen its democracy to combat drug production to create a more transparent and effective judicial system, to increase the size and professionalism of its military and police forces, to protect human rights and to reduce corruption.

Mr. President, you and your government have not let us down.

Plan Colombia enjoys wide bipartisan support in my country and next year, I will ask our Congress to renew its support so that this courageous nation can win its war against narcoterrorists.

Full and final victory also requires the spread of prosperity and progress throughout this nation and throughout this region. President Uribe's economic reforms have created jobs and improved living standards. Investor confidence is up, unemployment is down and growth is strong.

Our two nations also share a strong commitment to advancing free and fair trade and economic growth throughout the Americas. We're working hard on a free trade agreement that will link the United States and Colombia as well as other Andean nations of South America in a wider economic partnership.

As hope advances, violence and extremism will retreat. President Uribe has a vision for a better Colombia, a vision of peace and prosperity that he is pursuing with skill and energy.

He's a fierce opponent of terror and drug trafficking. He's a defender of Colombia's democracy. And I'm proud to call him friend. Gracias, senor presidente.

(APPLAUSE)

QUESTION (through translator): Mr. President, President Bush, good afternoon. How far are you willing to pursue the groups that you have labeled as terrorists in Colombia, including the self-defense groups? And how do you see the peace process that is being carried out here with the self-defense groups?

And President Uribe, what did President Bush actually say to you about helping Colombia and being a little more flexible with regards to the FTA, especially with the farmers in our country?

Thank you.

BUSH: Well, first, let me talk about the security situation and the president's strategy to defeat groups like the FARC.

If I didn't think he had an effective strategy and the willingness to fight the FARC, I wouldn't be standing here in this great nation saying I'm going to work with Congress to continue the support.

In other words, I believe in results. My administration is a results-oriented administration.

And so when I first met with the president in the Oval Office a couple of years ago, we talked about how to achieve results for the good of Colombia and for the good of our hemisphere. And he said he's going to do the following things, and he did.

And so to answer your question, we will support him in this strategy because it's working.

URIBE (through translator): Thank you, President.

Can I answer him first?

The issue of the free trade agreement, we understand that the FTA has to be totally equitable, it has to be passed not just by the U.S. Congress, but also by Colombia's Congress, and also by the public opinion of the U.S. and of Colombia.

President Bush has understood throughout this process in assisting Colombia how important it is for the legal farming business in Colombia to prosper so that we have opportunities for our farmers.

URIBE (through translator): We understand there's (ph) very difficult to negotiate an agreement where everyone is working in good faith. But we will be able to get ahead for our people, and this will build more trust between our nations and it will be a reason for prosperity, but also it will be a major step forward in uniting the Americas.

QUESTION: The IAEA, Mr. President, has said that they apparently believe Iran's claim that they've suspended uranium enrichment is true. Are you skeptical at all of that, and if so why?

BUSH: Well, let's say, I hope it's true.

And I think the definition of truth is the willingness for the Iranian regime to allow for verification.

You know, they have said some things in the past, and it's very important for them to verify and earn the trust of those of us who are worried about them developing a nuclear weapon. And that's just not the United States, that's France and Great Britain and Germany and other nations around the world understand the dangers of the Iranian government having a nuclear weapon.

And so it looks like there is some progress. But to determine whether or not the progress is real, there must be verification and we look forward to seeing that verification.

QUESTION (through translator): President Bush has committed himself here broadly to extend Plan Colombia and to continue helping Colombia. I'd like to know how you're going to convince your Congress to continue helping us at a time that's so difficult with your own deficit after the war in Iraq?

And how much assistance will there be? Is it going to be as much as the $3 billion that has been given over the last four years?

BUSH: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

Look, here's what you got to do with the Congress: You say, first of all, it's an important issue, and the issue is whether or not we're willing to stand with a friend to help defeat narcotrafficking. Most members of Congress understand it is important to help Colombia defeat the narcotraffickers.

And so the first question is whether or not there will be a consensus about the importance. I think there will be.

And secondly, do we want to continue spending money on the project that's important? And the answer to that question is: only if there are results.

And there have been significant results. The number of acres under cultivation are down significantly. The number of arrests are up. The number of murders is down.

In other words, this man's plan is working. And there is a focused strategy.

How do we know? Because our ambassador is working closely with the government, southern Command is working closely with the government. We're very aware of not only the strategy, but the will of this government to implement the strategy.

And so to answer your question, I'm very optimistic about continued funding. And I look forward to working with Congress to achieve a level that will make the plan effective.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.

Last night in Santiago, a dinner for 200 guests had to be scaled back dramatically after the Chileans objected to U.S. security plans that must have been in place for some time.

And the night before that, you had to come to the rescue of your own security men. Why do you think there was such friction between the U.S. delegation and the Chilean delegation?

QUESTION: This is a question?

Look, we had a fabulous dinner last night. It was really wonderful to be in the presence of President Lagos and his cabinet.

BUSH: And I thought the visit was a spectacular visit.

And I appreciated the hospitality of our Chilean friends, just like I appreciate the hospitality of our Colombian friends.

You know we're making good progress, thanks to strong leadership. The president said, you know, "Thanks to America, things are going well." No, he got it backwards. It's not thanks to America things are going well; it's thanks to a strong leadership that things are going well. It's thanks to a strategy that's working. It's thanks to a Cabinet that's dedicated to what's best for the interests of the Colombian people.

Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: The president of the United States side by side with the president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe. As you know, Bush was paying a visit to Colombia there to show his support for the South American nation's war on drugs. The U.S. now giving Colombia $3 billion to aid in that fight against drug traffickers. We will continue to follow the meeting there between the two presidents.

We're going to take a quick break, we've got more for you right after this.

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