    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [September 10, 2002]
    [Pages 1566-1567]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao
    Barroso of Portugal
    September 10, 2002

        President Bush. It's my honor to welcome Prime Minister Barroso of
    Portugal to the Oval Office. He's one of the bright young leaders on the
    international stage. And it's a conversation I've been looking forward
    to having with Jose.
        He comes at a very interesting time. It's a time where the world is
    discussing the present and the future. Today--tomorrow we'll be reliving
    a horrible reminder of what is possible in the 21st century; that is, no
    country is immune from attack.
        We will discuss today our mutual desire to fight terror. And I
    appreciate the Government of Portugal for its strong support in the war
    against terror. We will also discuss future threats that we face, all of
    us face, the dire possibilities that outlaw regimes will develop weapons
    of mass destruction and use them with terrorist organizations or use
    them on their own against countries which love freedom, countries such
    as Portugal.
        We will discuss our relationship in NATO, and of course, we've got a
    very important conference coming in NATO about the expansion. I look
    forward to hearing the Prime Minister's views on that important issue.
        So you're here at a perfect time----
        Prime Minister Durao Barroso. Thank you.
        President Bush. ----to discuss important issues. I value his
    judgment. I look forward to his advice.
        Mr. Prime Minister, if you'd like to say a few things.
        Prime Minister Durao Barroso. Okay, thank you very much. Let me
    first of all thank very much Mr. Bush, President Bush, for receiving me
    here today. I think it is very important the United States of America
    and President Bush listens to the opinion of close allies, and Portugal
    is a very close ally of the United States.
        I think that it was Winston Churchill that said once that: ``The
    problem with allies is that sometimes they have opinions.'' [Laughter]
    And I come here to listen to President Bush, but also----
        President Bush. I'm going to listen. [Laughter]
        Prime Minister Durao Barroso. ----to give you my opinion, very
    frankly, the opinion of a friend, the opinion of a close ally of the
    United States, a country that shares the same basic values.
        And I think at this very moment, where there are some global threats
    that have to

    [[Page 1567]]

    have a global answer, we should act globally. And that's one of the
    messages I will convey to President Bush, a personality I admire very
    much for everything he represents, for the free world, the way he has
    led this global coalition against terrorism.
        And I'm very proud to be today here with you, to convey to you the
    deep respect of the Portuguese people--indeed, I would say, of Europe--
    in all our common endeavors against global terrorism.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:57 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.