[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.