Interview With the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation

Q. Thank you for your time, Mr. President.

The President. My honor, thank you.

U.S. Support for Lebanese Freedom

Q. Recently there isn't a day that passes by without you mentioning Lebanon. Why now, this country that was under occupation for almost 30 years, became so important for the United States?

The President. Well, there's a movement toward freedom around the world. And the Lebanese people have made it clear that they want to be free of Syrian influence; they want there to be free elections. And the United States of America stands squarely with the people of Lebanon.

Syrian Withdrawal From Lebanon

Q. Are you concerned, Mr. President, that your calls for freedom in Lebanon, for free elections, and for the Syrians to be out of Lebanon could be seen as interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs?

The President. No, I don't think so. I think people will see that the United States is consistent in working with the people so that they can have a free voice, and so they get to decide the Government. The people of Lebanon will decide who is in their Government, not the United States. But the United States can join with the rest of the world, like we've done, and say to Syria, "Get out—not only get out with your military forces, but get out with your intelligence services too. Get completely out of Lebanon, so Lebanon can be free and the people can be free."

Q. Do you have any doubts that Syria will be out by end of April?

The President. I am pleased that they're beginning to get out. And we expect them to be completely out, and I mean not only the troops but the people that have had— that have been embedded in parts of Government, some of the intelligence services that have been embedded in Government and others. They need to get completely out of Lebanon so the people of Lebanon can decide the fate of the country, not another Government, not agents of another Government, but the people.

And Lebanon is a great country, and Lebanon has had a fantastic history. It's also had some difficult days. But I think there is a better day ahead for the people of Lebanon, and I think people, no matter what their politics may be, really want Lebanon to succeed.

Lebanese Freedom

Q. Mr. President, I'm sure you saw the pictures of the demonstrations in Lebanon. Beirut was packed with maybe a million people in the street, calling for freedom and democracy in Lebanon. What was your—what did you feel when you saw it?

The President. Well, I wasn't surprised, because I think everybody wants to be free. I think people long to be free, and I think people are tired of living under a Government which, in essence, was a foreign occupation.

The other thing is, in our great country, there's a lot of Lebanese Americans that love Lebanon. And everywhere I go in my country, people are saying, "Now, listen, as the President, you must work there to be a free Lebanon." And so I'm not surprised. If the spirit of those Lebanese Americans is strong here, imagine what the spirit will be of their relatives and friends in Beirut. People live in a free society here, and not one there, but there will be one soon.

Hizballah/Implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559

Q. You worked closely with the French on Resolution 1559. And this resolution calls Hizballah to disarm. How will the United States ensure this happens?

The President. Well, first things first, and that is to make sure that there are free elections. Secondly, listen, we put Hizballah on the terrorist list for a reason; they've killed Americans in the past. And we will continue to work with the international community to keep the pressure on this group of people. And we'll work with the international community to fully implement 1559.

But ultimately, the people of Lebanon are going to decide the fate of the country. And you can't have a free country if a group of people are like an armed militia. In other words, there needs to be police organized by the state, a military organized by the state. But citizens groups that are armed, trying to impose their will on a free society is just not the definition of a free society.

Q. But Mr. President, what if Lebanon is not capable of implementing this element of the Resolution 1559?

The President. Well, the international community is going to have to work to help them achieve that capability. Listen, not every free society is capable of internal security right off the bat. And there's ways for the international community to come together to reassure the people that there will be help to secure the country.

Freedom in the Middle East

Q. I'm sure, Mr. President, you heard what I want to say maybe thousands of times, and maybe from Presidents and Kings that come and see you here in the White House—some people think that it's not in the best interest of America to have democratic Arab countries——

The President. Right.

Q. ——because democracy and free elections may help anti-American groups, radical groups to come to power. What do you respond to that?

The President. I respond to them and say, "Well, I guess they don't really understand me, and they don't understand my view of freedom, because I think freedom is embedded in everybody's soul." I do believe there is an Almighty God, and I believe that freedom is that Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. I believe that a true free society, one that self-governs, one that listens to the people, will be a peaceful society, not an angry society but a peaceful society.

And the reason I believe that is because I believe, for example, most mothers want to raise their children in a peaceful world, and they want their little children to be able to go to school and to grow up in peace. And if that's the ultimate feeling of the people, the Government, if it's a true democracy, will reflect that.

Support for the Lebanese Economy

Q. Well, Mr. President, I'm sure you know that Lebanon is also facing severe economic problems.

The President. Yes.

Q. Would the U.S. be willing to rally the world community to help Lebanon's economy?

The President. Of course. The United States as well as European finance ministers would want to work closely with international organizations, like the IMF or the World Bank, to help this country get back on its feet after occupation, help this new democracy succeed. Yes, there will be plenty of help.

The Lebanese people are going to have to, though, however, have elections. In my judgment, they ought to be as scheduled. And the elections need to be free and fair, without interference. There will be monitors, hopefully, international monitors, to make sure they're free and fair. The people of that good country ought to feel comfortable about going out and voting and expressing their opinion. And when a democracy is up and running, I believe the international community will want to help this new democracy.

Syria-U.S. Relations

Q. Mr. President, we all know that Syrian-American relations are at their lowest now. Is there a roadmap for Syria to improve its relationship with the United States?

The President. Well, Syria has heard from us before. We have made it very clear that—what we expect, in order to be able to have relations with us. First on the agenda, right now, there's two things immediately that come to mind. One is to stop supporting Ba'athists in Iraq, stop those people in Syria who are funneling money and helping smuggle people and arms into Iraq. They've heard that message directly from me. And secondly, of course, is to completely withdraw from Lebanon. Syria must shut down Hizballah offices. Hizballah not only is trying to destabilize the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, but Hizballah, as you know, is a dangerous organization.

Q. But those offices are in Lebanon; they're not in Syria.

The President. Well, they're in Syria too. And Syria has got to do its part about making sure that Hizballah doesn't receive support from Syria.

Q. What if the diplomatic effort and the sanctions fail in changing Syrian attitudes? Is there another option?

The President. Well, I think the Government will feel the international pressure. We're just beginning. And obviously, diplomacy is the first course of action. And we hope—I think diplomacy will work.

Israel-Syria Relations

Q. Mr. President, for the last four or five decades, Israel was seen as a country trying hard to be accepted by its Arab neighbors and signing peace agreements with them. Nowadays we hear someone like President Bashir of Syria complaining that all Syria's attempts to relaunch peace talks with Israel were not taken seriously. Are you doing something to intervene and maybe to put the two parties together?

The President. Well, first of all, Syria and Israel have got current obligations. Syria has got a current obligation to get out of Lebanon. And again I'll repeat this, because I want it very clear what I mean by, "Get out of Lebanon." I mean not only troops but intelligence services as well. And we expect that to happen. Syria has also got to stop inciting or providing—allowing people in their country to incite violence against Iraqi citizens and our coalition troops.

Israel has got obligations under the current roadmap to help the Palestinians. Israel is getting ready to withdraw from Gaza, and we expect the Government of Israel—and want to work with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to make this withdraw successful. And so there's a lot of obligations that these two countries have right now in order to affect world peace.

Late Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri

Q. I want to go back to Lebanon and ask you, Mr. President, what do you recall from your last meeting with the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri?

The President. Yes. I remember I met members—I remember their family love. I remember how proud he was of his boys. And then Laura and I met Mrs. Hariri in France when we were there. I was there visiting President Chirac, and he hosted a dinner for me and my delegation, and Mrs. Chirac kindly hosted a dinner for Laura, and Mrs. Hariri was one of the guests. I remember how striking she was, very lovely lady. I know her heart is broken at the loss of her husband.

Prime Minister Hariri was here to talk to me about Lebanese affairs. He clearly loved the country and loved the people of Lebanon. And I know he'll be sorely missed.

Message to the Lebanese People

Q. Mr. President, is there anything else you would like to convey to the Lebanese people?

The President. I will. United States believes in freedom, and we appreciate courage. We appreciate the courage of those who are willing to stand up and say, "We want to be free. We want to be a democracy. We want to help establish a Government that responds to the people." And you'll have our help.

Q. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

We greatly appreciate it.

The President. Thank you.