    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [April 23, 2002]
    [Pages 651-653]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With King Mohamed VI of Morocco and an Exchange With Reporters
    April 23, 2002

        President Bush. It's my honor to welcome His Majesty the King of
    Morocco to the Oval Office. We've had a really good discussion about a
    number of matters. No question that Morocco is a great friend of the
    United States of America, and for that, Your Majesty, we are very
    grateful. I appreciate your steadfast support when it comes to the war
    on terror. I appreciate your leadership in the region.
        Today I've informed His Majesty that our Government will work to
    enact a free trade agreement with Morocco. It's in our Nation's interest
    that we do so. His Majesty believes it's in his nation's interest that
    we have a free trade agreement as well.
        To this end, it's very important that the United States Senate act
    on free trade, to give me the trade promotion authority, as well as to
    work on an extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act. Trade is an
    important part of good foreign policy; it's an important part of making
    sure Americans can find jobs. And the Senate needs to act, and it needs
    to act now.
        We will continue our discussions over lunch. I look forward to those
    discussions. His Majesty brings a lot of knowledge, a lot of vision, and
    it's my honor to welcome him here to the Oval Office.
        Your Majesty.
        King Mohamed. Thank you. Well, as I told you, I will ask that--
    [inaudible]--to translate me. It will be easier for me and safer for
    you. [Laughter]

    [At this point, King Mohamed spoke in French, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter as follows.]

        His Majesty wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for the words you
    have just expressed about Morocco and words which honor His Majesty
    personally, the royal family, as well as the entire Moroccan people.
        We are honored for--with the relations we have enjoyed so far with
    the United States. But I think it's time that we have to shift the gear
    to go on higher speed. And we have also--we are determined to carry out
    all kinds of programs dealing with our cooperation, our collaboration,
    all fields.
        With respect to terrorism, Mr. President, we are also determined to
    go ahead with you in fighting terrorism. And this is something of
    concern to Morocco as much as it's of concern to the United States and
    all the democratic people in the world.
        With respect to the free trade zone which you have just announced,
    Mr. President, I would like to thank you and to tell you how much we
    appreciate this initiative coming from yourself, Mr. President, and from
    the United States. We will work closely with your collaborators, in
    particular, Mr. Zoellick, who I have met twice and who will be visiting
    Morocco together with his colleagues. We will work very closely with
    them in order to bring about the concretization of this great program of
    cooperation and friendship between the United States and Morocco.
        His Majesty wishes, Mr. President, to praise the efforts you
    personally make, and your administration, to promote peace and
    understanding in the world. He wishes also to thank and to praise Mr.
    Secretary of State Colin Powell for what he has done so far and
    especially the effort he just deployed lately and the visit in the
    region of which we are beginning to see the results.
        And His Majesty wishes that the Secretary of State would have
    recovered by now from the trauma he has had when

    [[Page 652]]

    he first met with His Majesty in Agadir. [Laughter]
        And I would like to thank also Mrs. Tutwiler for the excellent work
    she has been doing since she arrived to Morocco.

    Situation in the Middle East

        President Bush. Thank you, Your Majesty. We'll answer a couple of
    questions, or I will. Barry [Barry Schweid, Associated Press].
        Q. Mr. President, on that trip, the Secretary came home with an
    Israeli idea, but others said similar things, for an international peace
    conference. And since he's been home, the White House reaction seems to
    be a little lukewarm. Is that something you think is a viable idea, a
    foreign ministers conference, perhaps?
        President Bush. Well, what's first important to know, that our
    Government means what we say, and we said that the only way for there to
    be lasting peace is for there to be two states living side by side, at
    peace with each other; and secondly, that in order to achieve that
    vision, all parties have responsibilities. The Arab world has
    responsibilities, and we will work with them to delineate those
    responsibilities and to encourage them to accept those responsibilities.
    Mr. Arafat has got responsibilities, and that
    is not only to renounce terrorism but to fight terror. Mr.
    Sharon has got responsibilities, and that is to
    continue his withdrawal.
        There is a strategy in place. We're analyzing all options to help
    achieve this vision. And I look forward to visiting with His Majesty
    about ideas such as a conference. The key is, however, for the leaders
    of the world to work toward that vision by assuming, accepting, and
    acting on the responsibilities necessary to achieve peace.
        Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters], are you here?
        Q. [Inaudible]
        President Bush. Who? Oh, there he is. There you are, sorry.

    Resignation of Karen Hughes

        Q. Mr. President, are you concerned that the long hours and the
    pressure of working in this building will drive away more people, like
    Karen Hughes? And would you be here without her?
        President Bush. Well, first of all, Your Majesty, one of my close
    friends and adviser has informed the White House today that she is
    moving back to Texas. And the reason why is, is because her
    husband and son will
    be happier in Texas, and she had put her family ahead of her service to
    my Government. And I am extremely grateful for that approach and that
    priority. And Karen Hughes will be changing her address, but she will
    still be in my inner circle. I value her judgment, and I will have her
    judgment. I value her advice; I have her advice. And I value her
    friendship, and I will have her friendship.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:55 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, President Bush referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat
    of the Palestinian Authority; and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel.
    King Mohamed referred to Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade Representative;
    and Margaret Tutwiler, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco.

    [[Page 653]]