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President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Gillani of Pakistan
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 28, 2008

President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Gillani of Pakistan South Lawn

˙ /news/releases/2008/07/20080728-1.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
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˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: President Bush Meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf
Raza Gillani

11:47 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. It's been a -- it's been a
very constructive morning. We've had a good meeting in the Oval Office. And
then I'm going to have lunch with the Prime Minister here in the main White
House. And that's fitting. After all, Pakistan is a strong ally and a
vibrant democracy. The United States supports the democracy and supports
the sovereignty of Pakistan.

We talked about areas of concern. Of course, we're going to spend a lot of
time on the economy, about how the United States and Pakistan can continue
to cooperate to -- for economic benefits for all the people of Pakistan and
for our own country, for that matter. And of course, we talked about the
common threat we face: extremists who are very dangerous people. We talked
about the need for us to make sure that the Afghan border is secure as best
as possible; Pakistan has made a very strong commitment to that. I told the
Prime Minister that the United States is committed to helping the Afghan
democracy succeed, which is in Pakistan's interest. After all, the Prime
Minister wants there to be a peaceful country on his border.

The U.S., I repeat, respects the sovereignty of this democracy. And we also
appreciate the Prime Minister's strong words against the extremists and
terrorists who not only would do us harm but have harmed people inside --
in Pakistan.

So we welcome you here, Mr. Prime Minister, and looking forward to having a
good lunch with you after your statement.

PRIME MINISTER GILLANI: Thank you. Now?

RESIDENT BUSH: Please, yes, absolutely.

PRIME MINISTER GILLANI: First of all, I want to thank Mr. President Bush
for inviting me to United States, and this is my second meeting with the
President. Previously I met Mr. President in Sharm el Sheikh, and today
again I am meeting Mr. President.

And I appreciate what he has said about supporting democracy, supporting
sovereignty, looking after the interests and on a lot of other areas we are
-- there's a cooperation between us -- Pakistan, United States have very
cordial relations and bilateral relations. And this is not of today -- this
is for over 60 years since the creation of Pakistan. We were inspired with
their slogan of liberty and self-determination. And now we want to further
improve our relations.

We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists who are
destroying and making the world not safe. And that is -- this is our own
war; this is a war which is against Pakistan. And we'll fight for our own
past. And that is because I have lost my own leader, Benazir Bhutto,
because of the militants, and therefore I assure United States, the people
of United States, that majority of the people of Pakistan and the people of
those areas, the NWFP and FATA, they are the patriarch, the loyalists, they
want the peace in the world, and they want to cooperate. And there are few
militants -- they are hand-picked people, militants, who are disturbing
this peace. And I assured Mr. President we'll work together for democracy
and for the prosperity and peace of the world.

Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.

END 11:51 A.M. EDT
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