    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [January 3, 2005]
    [Page 5]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters After Signing the Book of Condolence at the
    Indian Embassy
    January 3, 2005

        Q. Mr. President, you have come this far; are you planning to extend
    your visit someday to India? It could be before your Presidency----
        The President. Well, I appreciate that very much. I was just telling
    the Ambassador, when I spoke to the Prime Minister I assured him that my intentions were to make it
    this year to India. In the meantime, though, our country stands with the
    people who have suffered. We want the Indian Government, the Indian
    people to know that we'll help in any way we can. I've asked President
    Clinton and President Bush to lead an effort to raise private contributions to go
    to the families of those who have suffered and to help provide food,
    medicine, water, shelter, whatever the Indian Government thinks is
    necessary.
        I want to thank the Indian Government for taking a lead in this
    issue. One of the first things that we did was to put together a core
    group of nations, nations that are capable of organizing relief efforts
    around the region. And the Indian Government has been especially strong
    as a part of this core group. And I told the Ambassador to thank the Prime Minister for his very strong leadership.
        Our navies are coordinating together; our search and rescues are
    coordinating together. And now the American people and the American
    Government want to help where help is needed.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:01 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India; and India's Ambassador to the
    U.S. Ranendra Sen.