    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [June 5, 2006]
    [Pages 1074-1075]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Manuel Zelaya
    Rosales of Honduras
    June 5, 2006

        President Bush. Mr. President, welcome. It's good to have you here.
    We've had a very good discussion, as you would expect amongst friends.
    We discussed our common interests, and one of our common interests is
    expanded commercial opportunity. And CAFTA gives us a chance to realize
    those opportunities. We talked about our common desire to make sure the
    democracies in the region are strong.
        We talked about the immigration issue. The President is very
    concerned about the immigration issue. I assured him that my
    administration supports a comprehensive immigration bill that treats
    people with respect and, at the same time, upholds our laws. And over
    lunch, I will give him our strategy to continue to press for a
    comprehensive bill that will enforce our borders but allow people to
    come to our country in a legal way to work on a temporary basis.
        So, Mr. President, thank you. The people of America respect your
    country and appreciate our close ties. And we're sure glad you're here.
        President Zelaya. I have expressed my appreciation to the President.
    I'd like to reiterate my thanks to him for the frankness with which he
    has spoken about the solutions to the common problems we face in the
    Western Hemisphere.
        And we come to this meeting with President Bush with great
    enthusiasm. And in coming here, we have asked for God's blessing so that
    this is a meeting that will truly strengthen the fraternal ties that
    join us in trying to achieve peace in our day.
        I thank you very much, Mr. Bush. Your trust makes both of our
    nations strong.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:51 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Zelaya spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.

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