===========================================================================
President Bush Meets with President Talabani of Iraq
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 25, 2008

President Bush Meets with President Talabani of Iraq Oval Office

˙ /news/releases/2008/06/20080625-1.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio


10:43 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's been my honor to welcome a friend, President Talabani,
back to the Oval Office. He is the President of a free Iraq. He is a man
who's been on the front lines of helping to unify Iraq and to help Iraq
recover from a brutal regime -- that of Saddam Hussein.

I complimented the President on the progress that the government has made.
I complimented the President on the fact that as security has improved, he
and his fellow officials are reaching out to all aspects of society to help
people realize the blessings of a free life.

There's still a lot of work to be done, we recognize that. We talked of a
variety of subjects. We talked about a strategic framework agreement that
suits the Iraq government. We talked about elections and different laws
that have been passed. I did compliment the President on working hard to
see to it that the legislative session this year has been very successful.
We talked about the fact that the economy is improving, and that the
attitude of the people there has improved immeasurably over the years.

And so I welcome you here. I'm proud of what you've done, and I thank you
for the tough decisions, so that the people of a free Iraq can realize
hopes and dreams. Welcome.

PRESIDENT TALABANI: Well, I am proud to have the honor of meeting President
George Bush, whom we consider the liberator of Iraq from the worst kind of
dictatorship, as a great friend of the Iraqi people. I'm grateful for what
he said about me, but I agree with him that we are going to work together
for having this agreement -- security agreement between the United States
and Iraq, and also to continue our cooperation in our struggle against
terrorism, for promotion of democracy in Iraq and Middle East.

We are proud to have such a good friend here in this great country, and I
think we can -- I can say that we can pass this year two important laws,
oil and election. And we are now going to reunite our government by
bringing -- (inaudible) -- to the United Assembly representatives, to the
Iraqi National Unity government headed by our Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki.

I also briefed our good friend about the achievements which Iraq had done
in struggle against terrorism and, again, militias, who were making
troubles for Iraq and threatening civil war. Now I can say that Iraq -- big
part of Iraq is stable and is secure and liberated from the danger of
terrorism and militia.

Yes, some places still there are some groups that remain here and there,
but I think big achievement we have done this year with the support of the
United States Army and government, and with the friendly advices from
President Bush. I can say that we are proud to achieved good successes in
Iraq, and our economy is growing.

We have also -- big steps forward for national reconciliation. We improved
our relation with our neighbors -- with Turkey, with Egypt, with Jordan,
with Kuwait. We normalized our relation with Iran and with Syria, also. So
Iraqi government is now going to play its role in the Arab world as one --
a founder of the Arab League. And there is no -- I think no more, any kind
of isolation of our government.

We are doing our best for this agreement -- this agreement with the United
States of America. I think we have -- we were able to go the steps towards
reaching to finalize this agreement. And we continue our struggle to -- our
efforts to reach -- Inshallah -- very soon this agreement.

And again to thank -- here I am again to thank here our great friends,
President Bush and American people, for their sacrifice and their support
for the Iraqi people. Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.

END 10:49 A.M. EDT

===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080625-1.html