THE PRESIDENT : First of all, I want to thank Jacques for his warm
hospitality. We've had a really good meeting. This morning we talked
about our common desires to grow our economies. I thought it was a
very interesting and fantastic meeting, I really did.
Today I'm going to meet with Jacques here in a little bit and ask
his advice on the Middle East. He's a man who knows a lot about the
Middle East, he has got good judgement about the Middle East, and we
will spend some time discussing that.
I know there's a lot of - a lot of people in both our countries
wondering whether or not we could actually sit down and have a
comfortable conversation. And the answer is absolutely. We can have
disagreements, but that doesn't mean we have to be disagreeable to each
other. And so I'm very glad I came and would say absolutely that this
has been a very helpful and a positive meeting. Thank you, sir, for
your hospitality.
(President Chirac spoke in French, untranslated.)
THE PRESIDENT: We've agreed to take one question apiece. Terry,
do you want to ask a question?
Q Mr. President, can you tell us your expectations for the
summit in Sharm el-Sheikh? And what are you hearing from the region ?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first let me talk about my expetations for
the G8. They have been met. I was hoping to come to Europe and to say
that a united Europe working with America can do a lot of good - it can
do a lot of good on issues such as fighting terror, or working on
matters such as proliferation. We can do a lot of good to help those
who suffer in the world. And so the expectations - at least as far as
I'm concerned -- have been met here.
My expectations in the Middle East are to call all the respective
parties to their responsibility to achieve peace. And to make it very
clear that my country, and I, will put in as much time as necessary to
achieve the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace .
I fully understand this is going to be a difficult process. I
fully understand we need to work with our friends, such as France, to
achieve the process. I know we won't make progress unless people
assume their responsibilities. The first message is I will dedicate
the time and energy to move the process forward. And I think we'll
make some progress - I know we're making progress.
(President Chirac spoke in French, untranslated.)
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, and I want to thank President Chirac's support
in the latest resolution in the United Nations. Listen, we must be
frank, we went through a difficult period. I understand his position,
he made it very clear to me in the very beginning. There was no
question where Jacques Chirac stood. And I made it - I made it clear
where I stood. And that's why I can say we've got good relations,
because we're able to be very honest with each other.
But when it came time to focus on a free Iraq, a healthy Iraq, a
prosperous Iraq, we're in agreement and we will move together to ensure
that the Iraqi people have now got the capacity to run their own
country. It's going to take them time to get there. It's a difficult
situation in Iraq, but we are committed to a free Iraq and together we
can make that happen more quickly than if we were still at odds on the
issue.