Interview with Ned Temko of the Observer in Rome, Italy

June 13, 2008

Progress in Iraq/Remarks to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France

Mr. Temko. You're giving a major speech in Paris in a few hours' time on what you describe as a new era of transatlantic union. And obviously, the picture in Europe is much more encouraging, it would seem, than a few years ago. What's changed, in your view, and what needs to be fixed?

The President. This is the-what's changed is the-we've gone beyond the Iraq period for two reasons. One is that Iraq is- democracy is succeeding. People are beginning to see progress. And therefore, people that-at least governments that felt like they didn't want to participate in the liberation of Iraq have now wanted to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq. And their people are beginning to see some success. Maliki has moved things-Stockholm-and comports himself like a leader would, and he speaks hopefully about the future.

Secondly, that there are a lot of issues that we're focused on that kind of send a signal that cooperation is necessary to change the conditions of the world for the better-cooperation on AIDS, cooperation on malaria, cooperation on trade, hopefully, discussion about climate change, cooperation in Afghanistan. In other words, the agenda is varied, and it's profound.

And my speech basically says that by focusing on these issues and by working together in a unified way, we can be transformative, just like we were in the past. Europe used to be inward-looking right after World War II-necessarily so-to rebuild. America helped. Now we can be outward-looking as we help others.

I also have a-I'm a believer that liberty is transformative-the power of liberty is universal; that moral...

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