    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [March 23, 2002]
    [Pages 491-492]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by President Alejandro Toledo of Peru in Lima
    March 23, 2002

         Mr. President, we're so honored to be here. We want to thank you
    for your invitation. We want to thank you for the hospitality that you
    and the First Lady have shown us. And we
    want to thank you all for coming.
        I want to thank my friends the President of Colombia y de Bolivia y
    tambien el Vice Presidente de Ecuador.
    Thank you all for being here as well.
        I have come to Peru to congratulate the President and the people of
    Peru for embracing the institutions of democracy. It is such an
    important example for the world to see. I have come to Peru to thank the
    people of Peru and the President of Peru for the condolences that you
    sent to mi pais on September the 11th. We appreciate your prayers; we
    appreciate your condolences; and we appreciate your firm stand in the
    fight against terror.
        And I bring with me the condolences of the American people for those
    lives and the families whose lives were affected as a result of the
    cowardly bombing that took place in Lima last week.
        I come in the spirit of respect and cooperation, respect for the
    people of Peru and the desire to cooperate to advance trade and commerce
    and prosperity and education and health. I see a great future in our
    relationship, and I see a great future for the great country of Peru.
        So it's my honor to be here tonight to toast my friend el
    Presidente, the First Lady, and the
    people of this gran pais.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:41 p.m. in the Presidential Palace. In
    his remarks, he referred to President Toledo's wife, Eliane Karp Toledo;
    President Andres Pastrana of Colombia; President Jorge Fernando Quiroga
    Ramirez of Bolivia; and Vice President Pedro Pinto Rubianes of Ecuador.
    A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.

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