[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[June 8, 2004]
[Pages 1011-1012]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chancellor Gerhard 
Schroeder of Germany at Sea Island
June 8, 2004

    President Bush. Mr. Chancellor, welcome, thanks. It's great to see 
you. I want the folks to know how much I appreciate your willingness to 
work on promoting freedom around the world, and it's an important 
statement, and I appreciate your Government's good work.
    I appreciate very much the Chancellor's help in Afghanistan. That 
country is improving, and that's important. I appreciate our mutual work 
on the U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq. I look forward to 
continuing our dialog in a spirit of cooperation and friendship, and I'm 
glad you're here.
    Chancellor Schroeder. Thank you very much. And let me say, I love to 
be here, particularly since the weather, compared to what we are used 
to, so nice and so favorable. [Laughter]
    And I think what we're talking about here at this meeting will be 
essentially something that, indeed, forms part of one whole and 
something that is an indissoluble, namely a good world economy on the 
one hand and stable political situation--a stable political environment 
on the other.
    We are willing to give our contribution, and we, indeed, gave our 
contribution to this in Afghanistan, for example, but also

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on the Balkans. And let me say that I'm gratified to know that this is 
appreciated.
    I am confident that the resolution, the United Nations Security 
Council resolution on Iraq, will be adopted today. Whatever we can do to 
bring this about, we will certainly do. We think that this resolution 
will be a good basis, a good foundation for enhancing stability, for 
also improving the chances for the Iraqi people, and also to enhance 
stability all around in that region that is--I think we would all 
agree--a difficult one. And I think that this is, indeed, our common 
task. It is something that we shall work on together. And well, thank 
you again for your gracious hospitality.
    President Bush. Thanks, Gerhard. Appreciate you.

Note: The President spoke at 3:43 p.m. at Dunbar House. Chancellor 
Schroeder spoke in German, and his remarks were translated by an 
interpreter.