[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
[February 16, 2006]
[Pages 261-263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks Following Discussions With President Alvaro Uribe Velez of Colombia and an Exchange With Reporters
February 16, 2006
President Bush. Thank you all for coming. The President and I will
make a statement. We'll be glad to take two questions per side.
Mr. President, bienvenidos. We're glad you're here.
First of all, the President and I are friends, and we are personal
friends, and we're friends of freedom as well. Every time I visit with
President Uribe, I am impressed by his strength of character and his
belief in the future of his country. Mr. President, I'm proud that
you're here. I want to thank you for the wide-ranging discussions we
have had.
The President, of course, has got trade on his mind. I've explained
to him very carefully that we are interested in a trade agreement that
we will negotiate in good faith. The agreement must be good for the
people of Colombia and--as well as the people of the United States. And
I assured him that our trade negotiators will be fair in our approach.
So, Mr. President, thank you for your strength of character, and
thank you for your friendship. And welcome here to the Oval Office.
[At this point, President Uribe made remarks in Spanish.]
President Bush. Si, senor.
Q. Senor Presidente----
President Bush. Hold on for a second. Hold on for a second. Un
momento, por favor. [Laughter] You want to say it?
[The interpreter then translated President Uribe's remarks as follows.]
President Uribe. President Bush, this meeting has been very
constructive, as it always is whenever we meet. I want to thank you, I
want to thank the Government, and I want to thank the Congress and the
people of the United States for their permanent interest in Colombia.
Our peoples have a relationship that is historic, and it's also a
relationship that is close. We also have a convergence, a convergence
that is based on democratic values and the belief that democracy needs
security in order to build those values.
We have been negotiating an FTA for the last 23 months. All of us
have come to this negotiation in good faith, and I'm sure that we will
see a conclusion. This meeting has been good for democracy, and it has
been good for the interests of our people, as well as for our shared war
on terror and our war against the drugs that finance that terror.
Thank you.
President Bush. I understood you. [Laughter]
President Uribe. Thank you.
President Bush. Nedra [Nedra Pickler, Associated Press].
Vice President's Hunting Accident
Q. Yes, Mr. President, do you feel it was appropriate that the Vice
President didn't reveal his shooting accident until the next day and
through a private citizen? And do you think it was okay that he didn't
talk to you about it, personally, until Monday?
President Bush. I thought the Vice President handled the issue just
fine. He went through--and I thought his explanation yesterday was a
powerful explanation. This is a man who likes the outdoors, and he likes
to hunt. And he heard a bird flush, and he turned and pulled the trigger
and saw his friend get wounded. And it was a deeply traumatic moment for
him, and obviously, for the--it was a tragic moment for Harry
Whittington.
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And so I thought his explanation yesterday was a very strong and
powerful explanation, and I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave.
Q. But are you satisfied about the timing?
President Bush. I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave.
Mr. President is about to ask somebody to ask a question.
Colombia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement
Q. Mr. President, is there going to be a free trade agreement with
Colombia or not?
President Bush. Espero que si.
Q. Pronto? Soon?
President Bush. Vamos a ver. I spent time visiting with the
President about the progress on negotiations. Free trade agreements are
never easy to negotiate--es muy dificile and--because there's interests.
He represents the people of your country very well. He's a good
negotiator, as is his trade minister.
They're strong in representing the interests of the people, whether they
be farmers or manufacturers. And our people are good, strong negotiators
too.
I'm very hopeful. I'm very hopeful we reach a conclusion. It's a--
trade agreements are never easy, and that's what's very important to
understand. But they--in my judgment--and by the way, I, too, have to
convince the American people of the importance of trade agreements--in
my judgment an agreement with this important country, Colombia, will be
a very important agreement. And so we're working hard.
Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].
Vice President's Hunting Accident
Q. Some Democrats say that this shooting episode has contributed to
a perception of White House secrecy. What do you say to that, sir?
President Bush. I think people are making the wrong conclusion about
a tragic accident. The Vice President was involved in a terrible
accident, and it profoundly affected him. Yesterday when he was here in
the Oval Office, I saw the deep concern he had about a person who he
wounded. And he--again, I thought
yesterday's explanation was a very strong and important explanation to
make to the American people.
And now our concerns are directed toward the recovery of our friend.
I knew Harry Whittington when I was the
Governor of Texas, down there in Austin. He's a fine man. He was been
involved in our State's politics for a long period of time. And, you
know, my concern is for Harry, and I know the Vice President feels the
same way.
Colombia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement
Q. President Bush, do you think the negotiators are making the link
between the fact that it's important to prove legal economy as a way to
fight against terror and illegal drugs?
President Bush. That's a great question. I believe that when we work
together in a free trade, it strengthens markets and the appreciation
for open markets, whether it be in Colombia or here at home. I believe
free commerce between nations will enable countries--people in countries
to realize their full potential. I think one of the things that's very
important--I know the President is dedicated on--is a strategy on the
one hand that says he will deal harshly with those who deal in drugs.
But he also recognizes there needs to be economic activity to compete.
We've had a lot of discussions about crop substitution and
microloans for people to be able to develop ways to make a living that
is distinct from and different from being involved in the drug trade.
And so absolutely we understand the connection between trade of
legal products in a free way between nations as a way to compete against
illegal activities. I appreciate the President's leadership on working
hard to make sure that Colombia is rid of narcotrafficking. It's a great
country with a wonderful history. And the determination
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to rid the country of narcotrafficking will go down as a very important
part of your nation's history, and we'll continue to say to the world
Colombia is a great country with great enterprise and great hope and
great opportunity.
So thank you for coming. Adios.
Note: The President spoke at 4:16 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
House. In his remarks, he referred to Harry M. Whittington, chairman,
Texas Funeral Service Commission, who was injured on February 11 while
hunting with the Vice President on a ranch in Corpus Christi, TX; and
Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Jorge Humberto Botero of
Colombia. President Uribe spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were
translated by an interpreter.