    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [September 5, 2006]
    [Pages 1599-1600]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Amir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-
    Sabah of Kuwait
    September 5, 2006

        President Bush. Your Highness, thank you for coming. It's been my
    honor to welcome you and your delegation here to the Oval Office. I
    congratulate you for taking on the very important responsibilities of
    our close friend and ally, Kuwait.
        We've had a important strategic dialog about how to work together to
    promote peace and stability in the Middle East. I thank you for your
    leadership. I congratulate you for your steady reforms in your country.
    They have served as a notable example for others in the region. I thank
    you very much for your steadfast support of our United States military.
    It means a lot, Your Highness, to know that we can count on your
    friendship.
        I appreciated your advice on a variety of matters. His Highness has
    got a clear vision about how we can work together strategically as well
    as commercially. And I want to thank you for that vision. I assured His
    Highness that I fully understand that the United States has an
    obligation

    [[Page 1600]]

    to work to promote the peace. And we will work to promote the peace with
    our friends.
        And so I welcome you here, sir. It's great to see you again. And I'm
    honored that you would take time to visit me.
        Amir Sabah. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I would like really
    to express my gratitude on my own behalf and the behalf of the
    delegation that accompanying me for this kind invitation. We have
    conducted a very fruitful talk. We have covered several issues,
    bilateral issues, economic issues related to strengthening the bilateral
    relation between our two countries. And also, we have discussed some
    regional matters related with the aim of both of us to achieve stability
    in the region.
        Yes, I do agree that there are differences between points of view
    from the United States and some of our region. But, nevertheless, I
    would like also to say that there are differences between ourselves, the
    region. But the goal is to achieve peace and security, and we have seen
    in a lot of our positions that we are seeing our--the positions eye to
    eye. Therefore, I am very grateful for the outcome of this visit.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:54 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. Amir Sabah spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an
    interpreter.