    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 5, 2003]
    [Page 608]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani  bin Khalifa Al of Qatar in Doha, Qatar
    June 5, 2003

        Amir Hamad. I would like to welcome His Excellency the President in
    Qatar. We are delighted to have him here with us in Qatar. The President
    is the first sitting U.S. President ever to visit Qatar. However, his
    father, President Bush, was actually here in Qatar in 1960, but perhaps
    the President does not remember. He was young then. [Laughter]
        So we are delighted to continue our dialog with the President and
    continue the issues that we have discussed recently in Washington during
    my visit regarding the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
        President Bush. Your Highness, thank you so much for your grand
    hospitality. You have been a steadfast friend of the United States, and
    for that we are very grateful. You and your wife have been a leader in
    education reform and reforms leading to freedom, and for that we are
    very grateful as well and are impressed by your leadership. And it is my
    honor to be the first sitting United States President to have visited
    this important country, and I want to thank you for your hospitality.

    Note: Amir Hamad spoke at 8:59 a.m. at Amiri Diwan. In his remarks, the
    President referred to Sheikha Mouza Al-Misnad, consort of the Amir. Amir
    Hamad spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an
    interpreter.