Presidential Visit

20 February 2002

Transcript: Bush Reaffirms Alliance Between U.S., South Korea

(Feb. 20 exchange of toasts with S. Korea's Kim Dae-Jung) (1080)

President Bush stressed the importance of democracy and reaffirmed the
strength of the U.S. alliance with South Korea in an exchange of
toasts with that country's leader February 20.

"'Democracy is the absolute value that makes for human dignity, as
well as the only road to sustain economic development and social
justice,'" Bush said, quoting from South Korean President Kim
Dae-Jung's Nobel Peace Prize lecture.

Referring to the war on terrorism, Bush said the American people
thanked President Kim and the Korean people "for the sympathy and
support you have given our nation during these past difficult months."

Bush said America was grateful for "a half-century of friendship"
between the two nations "that has now matured into a great alliance
for liberty."

Following is the White House transcript of the exchange of toasts
between President Bush and South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Seoul, Republic of Korea)

February 20, 2002

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG
DURING AN EXCHANGE OF TOASTS

The Blue House, Seoul, Republic of Korea

7:11 P.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG: Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, distinguished
guests, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to once again extend my
warmest welcome to you, Mr. President and Mrs. Bush, on your first
ever visit to Korea. The entire nation is just thrilled to have the
President of the United States and the First Lady here with us, our
closest ally and dearest friend.

Mr. President, this is our third meeting. Mr. President, it is with
fondness that I recall our previous two meetings which happened in
March and October of last year, both in Washington and Shanghai,
respectively, where we were able to share our thoughts and have
meaningful conversations that meant a lot to both of us.

In particular, Mr. President, the tragedy of September 11th has
brought out the very best in you, Mr. President. It just re-enforced
your remarkable leadership. You have rallied the people behind you.
You have demonstrated outstanding leadership. You have also won
unprecedented support from the entire international community.

Also, in the military campaign in Afghanistan, you reaped a swift and
spectacular victory. And for this, Mr. President, I offer you my
heartfelt respect and congratulations. Mr. President, at the moment
you are carrying out what will surely be remembered in history as one
of those defining moments, as you are carrying out an important role
to ensure global peace and security.

You are also pushing for various economic recovery, as well as
educational reforms, among other domestic agendas. And, Mr. President,
you have also given your full support and cooperation to the
maintenance of the Korea-U.S. alliance, and towards the development of
the bilateral cooperative relationship, as well as to the promotion of
peace here on the Peninsula, and for the progress of inter-Korean
relationship.

Mr. President, I am certain that your visit this time to Korea will
serve as a great opportunity not only for further solidifying the
Korea-U.S. friendship, but also for the realization of peace here on
the Korean Peninsula.

Mr. President, this year marks the 120th anniversary of formal
diplomatic ties between our two countries. And as they say, Mr.
President, friends and wine -- the older the better. And in this
spirit -- (laughter) -- the time-honored friendly and cooperative
relations of Korea and the United States will further mature in the
21st century.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, please join me now in a
toast to the health and well-being and happiness of Mr. President and
Mrs. Laura Bush, and for the everlasting friendship between Korea and
the United States.

(A toast is offered.) (Applause.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, Madam First Lady, thank you all so very
much for your such generous hospitality. Laura and I are honored to be
here.

I'm told that in Korea the color blue stands for elegance and dignity.
Through your hospitality, Mr. President, these qualities are in
abundance tonight.

Earlier today, President Kim and I traveled to the Demilitarized Zone
and saw the line where freedom begins and ends. I was reminded there
of the tremendous sacrifices paid by both South Koreans and Americans
in defending that line. I met with men and women from both our nations
who defend that line today on behalf of everybody in this room. As
always, their enthusiasm and dedication to duty and freedom and
country was inspiring.

At the DMZ, President Kim and I also saw the railway and the road that
symbolize our common hopes that families and commerce, culture and
ideas may one day travel freely throughout the Peninsula. President
Kim has offered the North a better way. He has offered them a vision
of reconciliation over rivalry. He has offered them the chance to
fulfill new hopes instead of feeding old suspicions. For the sake of
all Koreans, I hope -- and the American people hope -- that the North
does not miss this chance.

Mr. President, by your unyielding love for liberty, you have written
on the pages of history a story of uncommon courage and determination.
Sustained by your strong faith, you endured hardships that most can
hardly imagine, all for a simple idea -- the idea that freedom belongs
to every person, not just every Korea or every American, but every
Asian and every person on this planet.

As you said in your Nobel lecture, and I quote -- "Democracy is the
absolute value that makes for human dignity, as well as the only road
to sustain economic development and social justice."

President Kim, Laura and I thank you for your friendship and your warm
hospitality, and the world thanks you for your leadership and your
vision. The American people thank you and the Korean people for the
sympathy and support you have given our nation during these past
difficult months. And most of all, my country thanks South Korea for a
half-century of friendship -- a friendship that has brought great
benefit to both our peoples; a friendship that has now matured into a
great alliance for liberty.

My toast tonight is that, may God continue to bless Korea and America.

(A toast is offered.) (Applause.)

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)