    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 18, 1991]
    [Page 690]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 690]]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Fernando Collor de Mello of
    Brazil
    June 18, 1991

        Q. Are you in a talking mood today?
        The President. Out of respect for our guest, the only talking I want
    to do in here is not to respond to questions but just to repeat what I
    said out there: how much respect I have for President Collor, how much I
    value our personal relationship, but even more important, how determined
    we are to work with Brazil for the common aims that we, both countries,
    have. And I'm just delighted you're here, sir.
        Barbara and I are looking forward to the social end of it, and much
    more important to us is working with you to achieve the goals that
    you've set in a very difficult situation. But you're doing great, and we
    want to help.
        Q. How much of an issue will weapons proliferation in the Gulf be,
    sir?
        The President. You misunderstood what I said. I said I wasn't going
    to take any questions; I just wanted to give a speech. It's two entirely
    different things. But all issues will be discussed.
        Q. If you make your statement, we should be allowed to ask
    questions.
        The President. No, no, wait a minute.
        Q. Can we speak in English?
        The President. Yes, but I don't take questions in here. But I think
    out of fairness, let me just simply say what I said to the second wave
    of press, and that is how delighted I am to have my friend President
    Collor here in the Oval Office. And so, we've been looking forward to
    this visit on two planes: one, pure friendship and social side, which
    pales in comparison to the importance of working with this President to
    further our common aims, to see how the United States can be helpful to
    the broad reform agenda that he has courageously set. The problems are
    big, but we salute him for his tackling of those problems, and it's
    those things that I think are the most important for this visit.
        Q. A policy meeting next year, Mr. Bush, in Brazil?
        The President. I'm not taking any questions. It wouldn't be fair to
    the others; I said I wouldn't take questions here. We normally don't in
    the Oval Office, so I just can't, but there will be a chance to ask them
    later on, I think.

                        Note: President Bush spoke at 10:35 a.m. in the Oval
                            Office at the White House. A tape was not
                            available for verification of the content of
                            these remarks.