    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 2, 2003]
    [Pages 585-586]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Jacques Chirac of France and an Exchange With Reporters in Evian-
    les-Bains, France
    June 2, 2003

        President Bush. First of all, I want to thank Jacques Chirac for his
    warm hospitality. We've had a really good meeting. This morning we
    talked about our common desires to grow our economies. I thought it was
    a very interesting and fantastic meeting; I really did.
        Today I'm going to meet with Jacques here in a little bit and ask
    his advice on the Middle East. He's a man who knows a lot about the
    Middle East. He has got good judgment about the Middle East, and we will
    spend some time discussing that.
        I know there's a lot of people in both our countries wondering
    whether or not we could actually sit down and have a comfortable
    conversation. And the answer is: Absolutely. We can have disagreements,
    but that doesn't mean we have to be disagreeable to each other. And so
    I'm very glad I came and would say absolutely that this has been a very
    helpful and a positive meeting. So thank you, sir, for your hospitality.

    [At this point, President Chirac spoke in French, and no translation was
    provided.]

        President Bush. We've agreed to take one question apiece. Terry
    [Terry Moran, ABC News], do you want to ask a question?

    President's Upcoming Visit to Egypt

        Q. Mr. President, can you tell us your expectations for the summit
    in Sharm el-Sheikh? And what are you hearing from the region?
        President Bush. Well, first let me talk about my expectations for
    the G-8. They have been met. I was hoping to come to Europe and to say
    that a united Europe working with America can do a lot of good. We can
    do a lot of good on issues such as fighting terror or working on matters
    such as proliferation. We can do a lot of

    [[Page 586]]

    good to help those who suffer in the world. And so the expectations, at
    least as far as I'm concerned, have been met here.
        My expectations in the Middle East are to call all the respective
    parties to their responsibility to achieve peace, and to make it very
    clear that my country and I will put in as much time as necessary to
    achieve the vision of two states living side by side in peace.
        I fully understand this is going to be a difficult process. I fully
    understand we need to work with our friends, such as France, to achieve
    the process. I know we won't make progress unless people assume their
    responsibilities. The first message is, I will dedicate the time and
    energy to move the process forward. And I think we'll make some
    progress. I know we're making progress.

    [A question was asked and answered in French, and no translation was
    provided.]

    Iraq and France-U.S. Relations

        President Bush. Yes, and I want to thank President Chirac's support
    in the latest resolution in the United Nations. Listen, we must be
    frank, we went through a difficult period. I understand his position. He
    made it very clear to me in the very beginning. There was no question
    where Jacques Chirac stood, and I made it clear where I stood. And
    that's why I can say we've got good relations, because we're able to be
    very honest with each other.
        But when it came time to focus on a free Iraq, a healthy Iraq, a
    prosperous Iraq, we're in agreement, and we will move together to ensure
    that the Iraqi people have now got the capacity to run their own
    country. It's going to take them time to get there. It's a difficult
    situation in Iraq. But we are committed to a free Iraq, and together we
    can make that happen more quickly than if we were still at odds on the
    issue.
        Thank you, Jacques, appreciate it.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:42 a.m. at the Hotel Royal.