    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 28, 1991]
    [Pages 188-189]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Foreign Minister Roland Dumas of
    France
    February 28, 1991

        Reporter. Mr. President, do you still want to prosecute Saddam
    Hussein for war crimes?
        The President. I don't want to take any questions here in the Oval
    Office, but we have with us today the Foreign Minister from one of our
    fundamentally key coalition partners. And
    I will take this opportunity to

    [[Page 189]]

    express my appreciation not only to Minister Dumas but to the President
    of the French Republic, Francois Mitterrand, for the extraordinary and,
    I'd say, historic cooperation we've had.
        And I'm glad to have this opportunity, Roland, to tell you how much
    we appreciate the closeness, the way in which you and our Secretary of
    State have worked through a lot of ups and downs in the road. And we
    valued your advice, your judgment, the courage of your fighting people.
    And you've come here on an exciting day for all Americans. It's most
    fitting that you be here, too.
        The Foreign Minister. Let me say how glad I am to be here today,
    especially, and to thank you for receiving me today and give to the
    American people the regards from France. And we have been fighting
    together in this big, difficult period, and I hope now we continue to
    work together to build peace.
        The President. We've got to, yes.
        The Foreign Minister. A very good peaceful and stable settlement in
    that region.
        The President. Well, that's what we all want to do, so we'll have a
    chance to talk about the problems and the challenges that lie ahead.
        Thank you all very much.
        The Foreign Minister. Thank you very much.

    [At this point, another group of journalists entered the room.]

        The President. May I simply repeat what I said a minute ago to the
    first wave of journalists. I still will not take questions in here, but
    this is a very special day. And it is most fitting that Roland Dumas, a
    friend, Foreign Minister of France, be here because it gives me a chance
    on behalf of all the American people to thank the French Government, the
    President, Francois Mitterrand, and the Minister for the extraordinary
    cooperation we've had, all of us together, working together since day
    one. And there have been some bumps in the road, and we've always valued
    the counsel and the steadfast solidarity that we've had with France.
        And I want to take this opportunity, Mr. Minister, to thank your
    courageous people in the military in the Gulf. They have served with
    great distinction. I heard what General Schwarzkopf said yesterday,
    commending the French soldiers. And it brought tears to my eyes because
    we've worked closely in the past, working closely in present. And now
    we've got some big diplomatic problems that you and Jim can talk about
    in detail. But we're very glad you're here, very glad. We're very
    grateful to you.
        The Foreign Minister. Well, let me say I thank you very much indeed
    for your words. And I will repeat it to the French President. And I
    appreciate very much what you said and the work we have done together--
    --
        The President. It's been good.
        The Foreign Minister. ----American people and French people in this
    difficult period of time. I'm sure we will continue now to settle the
    peace for the future and to have good cooperation together between
    ourselves and between our two people and to our people--we work together
    in the same boat.
        The President. We must do that.
        The Foreign Minister. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

                        Note: The President spoke at 1:17 p.m. in the Oval
                            Office at the White House. In his remarks, the
                            President referred to President Francois
                            Mitterrand of France; Secretary of State James
                            A. Baker III; and Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
                            commander of the U.S. forces in the Persian
                            Gulf.