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CNN Live Event/Special

Bush, Blair Hold Press Conference

Aired July 19, 2001 - 13:38   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.
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: That news conference is just beginning. Tony Blair is speaking first.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER OF ENGLAND: ... we started with a discussion of the upcoming G- 7/G-8 summit, where we agreed how important it is that we get across the strong message to people that the summit is important because it allows us to discuss issues of real importance to people.

I've no doubt there will be people there who will be making their protests, but I hope they do so peacefully, because some of the things we're discussing at this summit, in terms of global trade, in terms of the developing world, are things that are of huge importance not just to the most prosperous parts of the world, but also to some of the poorest countries of the world.

We touched then on many other issues in the course of our discussion, including, obviously, missile defense and the issue of climate change. We had a good discussion on Macedonia and Northern Ireland, the Middle East process, and of course the state of the world economy. And I'm sure you want to ask some questions about those things.

But once again can I say, George, how much I welcome you and Laura here, how delighted we are to see you. And I know and hope very much this will be a good evening for you and set you up in the right frame of mind for the summit ahead.

(LAUGHTER)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you.

At Camp David, Tony told me Chequers was a beautiful place, and he was telling the truth, and Laura and I are glad to be here.

We appreciate so very much your hospitality and your friendship. America and free Britain have got a special relationship. We both have pledged to keep the relationship as special as possible, and I'm convinced it will continue to be.

I, too, look forward to going to Genoa. You know, I can't wait to make the case, along with Tony Blair, about the need for the world to trade in freedom, and for those who want to shut down trade, I say this to them as clear as I can, you're hurting poor countries. For those who kind of use this opportunity to say that the world should become isolationists, they're condemning those who are poor to poverty and we don't accept it. We don't accept it.

We've got a lot in common between our countries, most of which are values: We value freedom, we value political dialogue, we value freedom of religion, freedom of the press, for that matter, but we also value the fact that we're responsible nations and that we realize there are some that are less fortunate than the great land Tony is the leader of and our great land as well.

And so, at the summit we'll be talking about how best to help the continent of Africa deal with HI-AIDS, how best to make sure our aid and loans work well and how best to encourage the habits of freedom, starting with good education.

So I'm looking forward to it.

And I want to thank you for having Laura and me. It's a great joy to be in this beautiful country.

BLAIR: All right. We'll take some questions.

Yes?

QUESTION: Could I ask you both about what you've been saying to each other about Northern Ireland, and particularly in view of the president's comments, whether he feel it's still possible that the package that Britain and Ireland are going to produce can be even handed in the continued absence of decommissioning?

And can I also ask you, Prime Minister, about your thoughts on Jeffrey Archer, the former deputy general of the Tory Party and the concern that he's starting a four-year sentence tonight for perjury and perverting the cause of justice.

BLAIR: On the second part, I've really got nothing to say on that.

In respect to the first part, the package that we put to the parties will be balanced because it will deal with all the outstanding issues. It will deal with the issues of the stability of the institutions, how we get a normalized situation. We've reduced troop movements and the numbers of troops in Northern Ireland dramatically, but we want to do more.

How we make sure, too, that we get a police service that all parts of the community in Northern Ireland can support. And then, also, there is the issue of the decommissioning, the putting beyond use, of paramilitary weapons. And obviously, there's got to be action on all those fronts.

And so, we hope very much that people will respond positively, because, as I often say to people, you only have to look at the situation in the Middle East to realize what happens when negotiation breaks down when parties move apart from each other and how quickly a situation that looked optimistic can become unstable and dangerous.

And this is -- this Good Friday Agreement, this peace process, is the only hope for people in Northern Ireland. And the package is being put forward by ourselves and the Irish government together. And I hope people respond positively and realize that the future of generations of people in Northern Ireland depend on that positive response.

BUSH: We did spend a fair amount of time talking about Northern Ireland. I reiterated to the prime minister that I stood ready to help in any way. I'm a simple phone call away. If there's anything that I can help to do bring peace to the region, I will do so.

And make no mistake about it. People shouldn't have any doubt as to where my government stands. We stand strongly, side by side with Britain, when it comes to decommissioning in Northern Ireland.

QUESTION: Mr. Prime Minister, does Saturday's successful test on the anti-missile system in the U.S. affect your opinion at all of President Bush's plans to deploy a missile shield and scrap the ABM Treaty?

And to you, Mr. President, as we speak, environmentalist ministers are meeting in Germany, trying to find a way to salvage the Kyoto global warming treaty. If the rest of the world proceeds without you, doesn't it isolate your policies and your country?

BUSH: Ron's very good about taking one question and converting it into two.

BLAIR: Well, first of all, on the subject of missile defense, obviously we await a specific proposal from the U.S. administration. But I want to say this and say it clearly that I think President Bush is right to raise the issue of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and say that that needs new and imaginative solutions, because it's a huge threat because it's a huge threat facing the whole of the world.

Secondly, I think that that has got to -- as I said at Camp David, has got to encompass defensive systems and offensive systems and I think it's, again, sensible and right that we sit down and work our way through that.

And the third thing is that we welcome very much the approach that President Bush and the administration have taken to consulting allies and also making it clear that they wish to have a dialogue and a partnership with Russia about this issue.

And I think that in combination those things are bringing about a situation in which we can have a sensible and rationale debate about an issue that is of fundamental importance facing the world. So I hope that in that spirit, you know, we will carry forward the dialogue that we have achieved so far.

BUSH: Let me comment on that and then I'll comment on the other question. The thing I appreciate about the prime minister is that he's willing to think anew as we head into the future. It's hard for any country to commit to vague notions, but there are some leaders who just out of hand reject any willingness to think differently about security, and Prime Minister Blair is not that way. He's been very forthcoming. He's had great questions. He's been more than willing to listen to the philosophy behind and moving beyond a treaty that has codified a relationship that no longer exists.

The ABM Treaty codified a relationship between enemies. Russia is not our enemy.

And as we head into the 21st century, we must think about new ways to keep the peace. The prime minister has been very positive, and some people just reject this all out of hand. And that's certainly not the case. As time develops, I will stay in touch, you know, as our plans develop, I'll stay in touch with Tony as to what's going on. He's been a great person with whom to consult on this issue.

The United States is concerned about the emission of CO2. We share the goal of reduction of greenhouse gases. We will be, and are in the process -- we will be presenting a strategy that may have different means than Kyoto, of achieving the same goal. And we're in the process of developing the strategy.

People shouldn't -- because I gave an honest assessment of Kyoto's chances in the United States Senate and what it would mean to our economy, should not think that we don't share the same goal; we do. We want to reduce greenhouse gases. Ours is a large economy, we used to generate more wealth than we are today. And as a result, we do contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. And so we're concerned about it.

But first things first, as far as I'm concerned. Our strategy must make sure working people in America aren't going out of work.

My job is to represent my country, and I'm going to do so in a way that keeps in mind the ability for people to find work and for our nation to be prosperous. And I believe economic growth and sound environmental policy can go hand in hand.

Mr. Prime Minister, as I assured you, I will come to you with a strategy that conforms to the goals of Kyoto and one that I hope people understand makes sense for our country.

QUESTION: Mr. President, given the very strong relationship which you say exists between yourself and Tony Blair, between Britain and the United States, are you endangering that special, unique, close relationship because Mr. Blair wants to a bridge between Europe and the United States, and yet you don't seem to be offering very much to help narrow the gulf which seems to be opening up between Europe and the United States on key issues?

BUSH: I will let Tony Blair speak to, you know, how he feels my relationship with Europe. You'll say my answer is not very objective. But, frankly, after my last trip here, I think the European leaders got to know me and realize that our country will be engaged with Europe in all aspects.

In the Balkans, I made it clear, we came in together and we're going to leave together. When it comes to trade, I made it clear that we're a strong trading partner; we've got to work hard to reduce barriers that prevent us from trading freely. When it comes to defenses, within NATO, we're more than willing to do our commitment.

And, you know, I appreciate Tony's friendship. I think people will find out that I'm plenty capable of conducting foreign policy for the United States in a way that reflects positively on my nation. And I'm glad to be back in Europe, I look forward to a frank discussion in Genoa, and I'm confident that we'll find areas to work together on.

When we disagree, we'll do so in a respectful way.

BLAIR: Well, I'd just like to add a word on that, if I could. First of all, I think the way the president came to Europe and to Gothenburg and made his presentation, impressed everybody who was there. I thought I thought it was a highly successful visit.

And, of course, there may be differences of the minute, for example, over Kyoto. Though, again, I think it is helpful that the United States is saying, "Look, this is not what we can agree to. But nonetheless we agree with the aim. We're agreeing with the objectives. And there are proposals that we will make as to how we can get there now."

You know, we've got a strong position in favor of Kyoto, that is our position, obviously. But the fact that there is that dialogue there is extremely important.

But, you know, on a whole range of issues Europe and America and Britain and America stand together. We're doing so in the Balkans. We're doing so trying to sort out the problems in Macedonia. We're doing so on the issue of world trade. We're going to do so again on issues like Africa and global health and debt, and where we're trying to go to the G-7, G-8 and present to the world an agenda for better and more free trade, for help for the poorest nations in the world, for stability in the world economy, which is of dramatic importance not just to our countries, not just to Europe and America, but to the whole of the world.

You know, this is a passionate belief I have that I held in theory when I was an opposition leader and has strengthened in practice over the last few years that I've been prime minister. And that is, not merely is the relationship between Britain and America key, and we are and always will be key allies, but when a Europe and America stand together and when they approach problems in a sensible and serious way and realize that what unites them is infinitely more important than what divides them, then the world is a better, more stable, more prosperous place.

When we fall out and diverge and when people try and put obstacles in the way of that partnership, then the only people rejoicing are the bad guys.

That's my basic view after these years, and just to make one other point, since this administration has come to power, on the issue of trade in particular, we have seen big steps forward in the relationship between Europe and America, and these are important things as well. There was a whole range of issues that I was dealing with a couple of years ago which were tough issues here, but we've got results. So, you know, I think it's against that background that we make these judgments.

QUESTION: Mr. President, will be urging your G-7 partners to do more to bring major economies out of the doldrums? And will you heed the call of U.S. business and labor groups who urge you to discuss negative effects of the strong U.S. dollar in Genoa? And Prime Minister Blair, I'd like your views also on whether Europe is doing all it can to stimulate the global economy?

BUSH: Well, one of the things I'll do is to share with my colleagues the successes we've had at cutting taxes as well as holding the line on spending. Let me say this, the successes we've had so far in holding the line on spending, but the president's given a veto for a reason, Mr. Prime Minister, and that's to hold the line on spending, as well as to assure them that our Fed is going to continue to watch our economy very carefully.

The Federal Reserve is independent from my government, but nevertheless, Mr. Greenspan is sending signals that he's concerned about the state of our economy. In other words, we're doing everything we can within our own borders to deal with an economic slowdown. As for the dollar, the market needs to determine the price of the dollar.

There are all kinds of folks in our country insisting the dollar be this way or the dollar be that way. The best way to determine the price of the dollar is to let the market determine that price. And that's my message to business, labor, anybody else who wants our government to intercede in the market.

BLAIR: Well just shortly, on the impression of the European economy, obviously we want to see the European economy strengthen. I think quite apart from the impact of the world economy, particularly the U.S. economy, on Europe, there is the whole issue of economic reform in Europe. We know one of the big changes in the direction of European economic policy over the past couple of years has been that every year now -- and next year it will be in Barcelona in March -- we hold an annual summit specifically on the issue of economic reform in order that Europe should be not a Fortress Europe, but should be a Europe that is open, competitive, not just within Europe but with the rest of the world.

Now I think we've still got a lot of structural change to get through in Europe. And certainly, we will be raising this, obviously, in the G-7, G-8, but within the European Union as well it's important that we make big steps forward on that reform agenda, since whatever the state of the world economy, some of the rigidities we still have within our own economies have to be eliminated. QUESTION: Prime Minister, could you tell us whether you support President Bush's wish to set aside or get rid of the ABM Treaty?

And for President Bush, could you tell us whether it is likely that you'll want to upgrade U.S. radar stations in the north of England for your missile defenses?

BLAIR: Well in respect to the first part, as I said a moment or two ago, we welcome very much the approach the U.S. administration has taken, which is to say that the world has moved on, let us look at what is the right framework for today, and let us do that in close consultation and dialogue with Russia, since it's a treaty between those two countries.

And I think that is the right approach to take.

BUSH: I'm absolutely convinced we need to move beyond the ABM Treaty, and we'll continue my dialogue with President Putin in a couple of days time. It is important for him to know once again, to hear me say once again, Russia is not the enemy of the United States. There is no need for us to live under a treaty that codified a period of time in which the world was divided into armed camps. It's time to work together to address the new security threats that we all face.

And those threats just aren't missiles or weapons of mass destruction in the hands of untrustworthy countries. Cyber-terrorism is a threat, and we need to work on that together. There are all kinds of threats that freedom-loving people will face in the near future, and I look forward to discussing all those threats with President Putin, as I have with Tony Blair.

It's premature to determine how best to track missiles under a new strategic framework. So to answer your question about upgrading radars in Britain or in America or anywhere else, it is too early to determine.

The problem we face under the current system is that it's impossible to do enough research and development to determine what will work. Therein lies part of the dilemma for the prime minister. He said: What do you want me to support? What are you proposing?

And what I'm first proposing to Mr. Putin is that we move beyond the treaty so that we can figure out what does work.

And I want to remind you all that he was the leader early on who said that, "The new threats of the 21st century will require theater- based systems that will be able to intercept missiles on launch." Mr. Putin said that.

Of course, that's what I was saying the course of the campaign, which led me to believe that there was some common ground. And that's the common ground on which we're exploring moving beyond the ABM Treaty. And I look forward to reporting back how the conversations go here pretty soon, to my friend Tony Blair.

QUESTION: I have a three-part question for you, Mr. President, and a one-part question for you Prime Minister Blair.

BUSH: Well, wait a minute, that's four questions.

QUESTION: Oh no, it's just actually one question...

BUSH: OK, good.

QUESTION: ... in three parts.

BUSH: I see.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: I'm wondering, sir, how it is that it's taking you so long to make a decision on whether or not to continue embryonic stem cell research. What is the basis of this compromise that we've heard about? And now that Senator Frist has joined Senator Hatch and former Reaganites in supporting a continuation of funding for embryonic stem cell research, do you believe you now have enough political cover on the right to make a decision in the affirmative?

And Prime Minister Blair, as some U.S. laboratories, in anticipation of a negative decision, have started the process to move to Great Britain, I'd like to know your position on embryonic stem cell research in the context of the global advancement of science?

BUSH: I'll start.

BLAIR: You're welcome.

BUSH: This is a very serious issue that has got a lot of ramifications to it. And I'm going to take my time because I want to hear all sides. I want to fully understand the opportunities and to fully think through the dilemmas.

And so I will make an announcement in due course when I'm ready, and it doesn't matter who's on what side as far as I'm concerned. This is a decision I'll make. And somehow to imply that this is a political decision is, I guess, either doesn't understand how -- somebody doesn't understand how I think or really doesn't understand the full consequence of the issue. This is way beyond politics.

This is an issue that speaks to morality and science and the just position of both, and the Americans deserve a president who will listen to people and to make a serious, thoughtful judgment on this complex issue, and that's precisely how I'm going to handle it.

BLAIR: If you'll forgive me, I'm not going to get into any of the debates that are happening in your country, and we have made our decision here, as you know and as your question implied. The only thing I would say to you about this issue is that it is an extraordinarily difficult and sensitive question for people, and I think certainly the best way of resolving it is for people on whatever side of the argument they are to realize that the people on the opposite side are not necessarily badly intentioned or badly motivated. They are just in an immensely difficult situation taking a different perspective.

And I think if people approach the question with that type of goodwill, even towards people with whom they profoundly disagree, then I think the answers are -- it's not easier to find -- they're easier then to explain. But, as I say, we took our decision here, but your decision is for the president and the people in the United States.

BUSH: I was wondering if anybody's got any extra Pepsodent?

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: Get it?

Thank you all. Appreciate you.

ALLEN: All right, joint news conference coming to an end there. President Bush standing with a good friend and ally, Tony Blair, the British prime minister. He was peppered with some questions -- let's listen in to see if...

BUSH: Who are you talking to?

BLAIR: Thank you all.

ALLEN: All right. They're over there in Britain. It was a light day for the president today; a touristy kind of day. He had lunch with the queen. This, as he heads off to Italy and a meeting at the G8 Summit, which is expected to be a little more contentious, with thorny issues such as missile defense, global warming and global economic woes, perhaps dominating what otherwise was official work resolving around world poverty and fighting the AIDS pandemic.

But he was asked a couple of questions about some of the controversial issues; one, of course, being missile defense. Prime Minister Blair said that he looked forward to further dialogue on missile defense, as well as supporting the president's wishes to alter or sidestep the ABM treaty.

But President Bush will find a little bit tougher time, perhaps, discussing these issues with the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin. That will happen during the summit in Italy. And, as well, he continued to dismiss charges that his policies are isolationists, as some back home have charged.

So we'll continue to follow all of these issues -- controversial and the like. He also took one question, a domestic question on embryonic stem cell research which, as you know, took center stage in a debate this week on Capitol Hill. The president still saying he's weighing his options there, still researching, and wants to make the right announcement. And he didn't say when that would take place.

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