    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 10, 2002]
    [Pages 49-50]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Konstandinos
    Simitis of Greece
    January 10, 2002

        President Bush. Well, thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Listen, we're
    so honored you're here. Thank you so much for coming to America. There
    is a huge number of Greek Americans who live in our country who have
    still got great fondness for their--for your country.
        I am most appreciative, sir, of your strong stand against terror.
    You have been a friend in our mutual concerns about routing out terror
    around the world, and I want to thank you for that very much.
        I'm also very appreciative of your administration's working with
    Turkey. Relations have improved with Turkey, and as a result, the world
    is better off. And I want to thank you for your vision, for your foreign
    ministry's hard work to do what is right for the world, to make the
    world more peaceful.
        We've got a lot in common with your country; we've got a lot of
    interests in common. I look forward to discussing those with you. I also
    look forward to the Olympics. Thank you for your invitation. It's going
    to be a magnificent moment for the sporting world to have the Olympics
    return to Athens. I'm confident your country will do a fine job.
        So welcome to the White House. We're so glad you're here.
        Prime Minister Simitis. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm so
    very glad to be here and have the possibility to discuss with you the
    problems--the subjects are interesting for us.
        We are totally committed to the fight against international
    terrorism. And as you know, we take part in the Afghanistan effort. We
    will be part also in the international peace corps in Afghanistan. And I
    think it's necessary to cooperate in order to fight terrorism all over
    the world, because there are also, for example, in the

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    Balkans, group terrorists, groups in all the Balkan countries, and we
    think that this must be controlled.
        Thank you also for your appreciation for our effort concerning the
    Greek-Turkish relations. We make--we want more peace and stability in
    the region, and this is our main principle, how--apply international
    laws that we have a southeastern Europe that is really peaceful.
        As you know, I showed you the coins of the new euro.
        President Bush. Yes.
        Prime Minister Simitis. This means--this means a big banking change
    for Europe, because the whole environment will change. There will be a
    new feeling about the possibilities of Europe, and there will be new
    discussions on the new European structures, on the necessity of new
    cooperation, and also of the necessity, I hope, of a closer cooperation
    with the United States in order to solve the common problems.
        So this is a new year, and I'm very glad to be here at the beginning
    of the new year.
        President Bush. Well, thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
    Welcome.
        Thank you, all.
        Q. You don't want to take a question?
        President Bush. I took them all this morning; you just were in the
    wrong pool.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:17 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. Prior to the President's remarks, Prime Minister Simitis
    presented him with an Athens 2004 Olympic sweatshirt.