    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [March 10, 2006]
    [Pages 456-457]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Alejandro Toledo of Peru
    March 10, 2006

        President Bush. I am very pleased to welcome mi amigo back to the
    Oval Office. I have grown to admire President Toledo for his strength of
    character, his clear vision, his willingness to make difficult
    decisions, even sometimes when the popularity polls suggest he do
    something differently. Leadership requires strength of character, the
    willingness to make tough choices.
        I admire my friend's record. Peru is on the verge of elections, and
    he'll be passing on to a successor a stable economy and stable political
    process. And that is a wonderful legacy--the first President in 50 years
    to be able to say, ``I'm passing on a stable economy and a stable
    political process.''
        I admire the growth rate, the economic growth rate of Peru. It's the
    strongest growth rate in South America. I always admire this about my
    friend--he is--he says that one of his biggest goals was to reduce
    poverty, and he recognizes that while progress is being made--a lot of
    progress--that more needs to be done. He cares deeply about the people
    of Peru. He's a man of--he's got a corazon gigante.
        I have enjoyed working with him. We accomplished some important
    missions, one of which was a free trade agreement between Peru and the
    United States was the result of his leadership and his vision.
        And so it's with mixed emotions that I meet my friend. I'm pleased
    to be in the presence of an accomplished person, somebody who's led, and
    I'm going to miss working with him, because he's been a partner in
    peace.
        And so, Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. It's an honor to
    have you back, and it's a joy to be with you. Welcome.
        President Toledo. Thank you very much. You're very generous.
        Let me say very briefly, Peru and Latin America are partners with
    the United States in more than just a free trade agreement. It's very
    important, the free trade agreement, because it generates jobs and
    enables to continue the sustained rates of economic growth, to reduce
    poverty. But we are also partners in spreading the democratic values in
    the region. We're also partners in the fight against narcotrafficking
    and terrorism. We are partners in the search of peace in the world. We
    are partners in trying to inculcate in the region that democracy is the
    imperfect way, but it's the best way that we have. We are partners in
    trying to convey the idea that being elected democratically is good, but
    it's insufficient; we need to govern democratically.
        And I'm sure that after I finish and pass away the power to the next
    President, the Peruvians and Latin Americans do not want to go through
    this cycle that creates instability, that does not attract capital
    investment to continue growth, to generate jobs, to invest more in
    health, nutrition, and education, and to reduce poverty.
        Mr. President, partnership means to focus seriously and deliver
    results in what we believe, but also means to have the degrees of
    tolerance to entertain our differences. And that's democracy, as
    practiced over here.
        It has been a very productive relationship. I also have mixed
    feelings. And I would say publicly, you are my friend now, you will be
    my friend after I'm not President, and you will be my friend when you
    are no longer President. [Laughter]
        The United States is a market of 290 million people, with an average
    income of $37,000 a year. It's a market that I will leave for the next
    President, and that means jobs, because that has to do with poverty. I
    don't believe in giving away fish, just a decent job and a quality
    education and health.

    [[Page 457]]

        Mr. President, I hope that we soon will sign the free trade
    agreement and will continue working for the approval of that free trade
    agreement in our respective Congress.
        I went through a tough time, but I'm stubborn. I'm a believer, a
    strong believer in my convictions. And I'm sure that the wisdom of
    Peruvians will, on April 9th--or May--will elect someone that believes
    in democracy, that believes in the stability to continue on, to build on
    our accomplishment, but correct our mistakes; that we cannot go back and
    forth, because the poor people cannot afford to wait so much.
        Thank you very, very much for receiving us today. It has been a very
    productive meeting. I want to thank my collaborators. I'm not going away
    yet; I still have 5 more months. [Laughter] And we will continue
    working. We have done a good job, I think, of exchanging productive
    ideas in the meetings of APEC. APEC represents around 57 percent of the
    world economy, 46 percent of the world trade. And so in 2008, the next
    Peruvian President, he or she will receive you in Peru as a President of
    the APEC.
        Thank you very, very much.
        President Bush. Mi amigo, gracias. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:53 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.