For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 14, 2004
Remarks by President Bush and President Aznar of Spain Before Meeting
The Oval Office
6:28 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Bienvenidos a mi amigo, a friend of mine, a friend
of our country, a person who I admire a lot. This is a happy moment
and a sad moment. It's happy to be with President Aznar. It is sad to
realize this will be the last time he'll come to the Oval Office as the
leader of Spain.
I say, sad, because our time together has been very productive for
the people of America, and I believe, the people of Spain and the
people of the world. We have worked together to spread freedom. And
the world is more peaceful today because of the decisions we jointly
made.
However, this is not the last time I will see the President. I am
confident that the friendship we have made will last beyond our -- my
time in office and his time in office. I look back -- I look forward
to welcoming him back to America as a non-President. We'll be members
of the ex-President's club.
And so, Mr. President, I'm really glad you're here. I look
forward to having dinner with you tonight, and your great wife. And
again, in front of these cameras, I want to thank you for your
steadfast leadership, for your courage, for your wisdom and your
advice.
PRESIDENT AZNAR: (Remarks spoken in Spanish.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all.
Q Translation?
PRESIDENT BUSH: He doesn't need to translate for me. I understood
every word. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT AZNAR: (As translated.) Good evening, everyone. I want
to thank President Bush once again for this very warm welcome, for the
invitation, for his hospitality. For me, it is a satisfaction and an
honor to be here with him again. I consider him a very good friend.
He has been my friend during my time as President of the government of
Spain, and I will continue to consider him my friend afterwards.
And a friend -- I am a friend of the United States now, and I will
continue to be a friend of the United States in the future. I consider
that, at present, the relationship between Spain and the United States
is closer and tighter than it has ever been.
I will continue to work to do everything to strengthen the
relationship, the Atlantic link. I will work for freedom, for human
rights, for democracy, for stability, prosperity around the world. And
I know that President Bush will be able to count upon me to continue
working in that direction. So I will continue to work for the world
and for the relationship between the United States and Spain.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Adios.
END 6:34 P.M. EST
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