    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [March 16, 2005]
    [Pages 453-454]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Maronite Patriarch of Antioch
    Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir of Lebanon
    March 16, 2005

        President Bush. Your Eminence, welcome. It is my honor to welcome
    you and your distinguished delegation to the Oval Office. We're--thank
    you for your conversation.
        His Eminence and I discussed, of course, Lebanon and our deep desire
    for Lebanon to be a truly free country--free where people can worship
    the way they choose to, free where people can speak their mind, free
    where political parties can flourish, a country based upon free
    elections. And I assured His Eminence that United States policy is to
    work with friends and allies to insist that Syria completely leave
    Lebanon, Syria take all her troops out of Lebanon, Syria take her
    intelligence services out of Lebanon, so that the election process will
    be free and fair.
        His Eminence is a man of God. He brings great prestige of the church
    to the Oval Office. And I'm proud you're here,

    [[Page 454]]

    Your Eminence, and thank you for your time.
        Now His Eminence would like to say a few words.
        Cardinal Sfeir. Thank you very much, Mr. President. We come to the
    White House in response to the invitation of His Excellency, President
    George W. Bush, and we thank him for his cordial and warm reception. I
    would also like to express my deep gratitude for his sincere interest in
    Lebanon, the freedom of its people, and in peace in Lebanon and the
    world.
        This was a good opportunity to exchange views on the situation in
    Lebanon and the questions of freedom and democracy in our region. We
    profited from this occasion to convey to President Bush the views and
    aspirations of all the Lebanese.
        The Lebanese, above conviction, are alarmed by the continued
    migration of Christian and Muslim youths due to the lack of job
    opportunities and the suffocating political conditions at home. We look
    forward to see these conditions reversed because the future of Lebanon
    requires the talents and energy of all her children.
        It is important to recall that Lebanon was the first democracy--
    democratic country in the region. Maybe it was not a perfect democracy,
    but Lebanon remains the role and the point of departure for the spread
    of democracy in the region. This why His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,
    stated that Lebanon is an ideal for freedom and democracy for the East
    and West, and this is what we have repeated here.
        We are hopeful that the Lebanese, with the support of their friends
    around the world, will be able to build a better future in a free,
    independent, pluralistic, and sovereign Lebanon.
        Thank you.
        President Bush. Your Eminence, thank you, sir. Proud you're here,
    sir. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.