Bush Holds Joint Press Conference with Italy's Prime Minister

United States has taken over the responsibility of taking care of the world. I would like to express a special thanks for President Bush and to his people for what America and United States have been doing over these years. And (inaudible) save us -- save Europe from Communism, (inaudible), many years ago, but it also -- United States, has helped us to achieve welfare, wealth, and well-being. They were next to us over the Cold War years. Every time that (inaudible) opened in the world, the United States send its troops, paying a very high price in terms of human lives to guarantee freedom not only in the United States but in the rest of the world as well.

And I think we all -- all Europeans say we must be grateful to the United States for this. We must be grateful to the American people. We must (inaudible) of the sacrifices and -- the sacrifices of so many lives, and we have to say that never, ever, (inaudible) the U.S. troops continued to stay in countries where they had intervened to help people save their lives. So they didn't ever stay there to occupy out of interest.

And this has to be remembered by all Europeans.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for being here. And believe me, believe me, that my feelings are shared by the great majority of Italians and Europeans citizens as well.

Thank you very much. Thank you again.

(APPLAUSE)

END