    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [July 17, 2006]
    [Pages 1413-1414]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India in Strelna
    July 17, 2006

        President Bush. Thanks for coming over this morning. It's always a
    pleasure to be in your company. You're one of the really true gentlemen
    in the international arena. And you've got a wonderful heart. I know
    you've been through difficult times, and America mourns the loss of
    innocent life as a result of the terrorist attacks.
        One of the issues that we've been discussing here at the G-8 is the
    recent terrorist activities in the Middle East. Yesterday, in working
    with other members of the G-8, we cobbled together a very important
    statement. I'm most pleased that the leaders came together to say,
    ``Look, we condemn violence; we honor innocent life.''
        However, for the first time, we've really begun to address with
    clarity the root causes of the conflict, the recent conflict in the
    Middle East, and that is terrorist activity, mainly Hizballah, that's
    housed and encouraged by Syria, financed by Iran, are making these moves
    to stop the progress of peace. We would hope that by addressing the
    conditions of this violence, we could get to a situation where there was
    calm. We're going to work hard as nations to address the root cause.
    Yesterday was an important statement. The reason I tell you that is that
    you'll find nations willing to work together for the common good here.
        I also look forward to discussing with you our trade matters as well
    as the wonderful deal you and I negotiated. Our Congress is working on
    that important piece of legislation that will encourage and allow India
    and U.S. cooperation, and I'm optimistic that we will get that passed.
        At any rate, welcome, and thank you, sir. I'd be glad for you to
    make some comments.
        Prime Minister Singh. Mr. President, thank you very much for your
    words of sympathy and support in the wake of these terrible terrorist
    acts in Mumbai and in Srinagar. I've just been there--200 people,
    innocent men, women, and children, have perished, about 800 citizens
    injured, and when I--[inaudible]--various hospitals, it was such a
    moving sight, people without limbs and all this--and I'm grateful to
    you--you gave me help from Germany, and I deeply appreciate your
    generosity. Your kindness, your sympathy and support mean a great deal
    to me, President, personally and to our Government and to our people.
        Sir, your visit to our country in March, and in the company of the
    First Lady, was a landmark. We have set new goalposts for working
    together between our two countries. And I'm glad to report to you that
    we are making progress in all directions. India was the idea of getting
    the business community of our two countries engaged. You suggested we
    set up a CEOs forum. That forum is very active. It has produced a number
    of good ideas. We'll follow it up by an investors' summit towards the
    end of the year.
        Sir, India is still very largely an agricultural country; 65 percent
    of all people live on land. And the initiative that you took, and that
    was also your ideas and knowledge initiative to usher in a second green
    revolution in our country. We have now agreed on a roadmap. We have
    identified sectors like agricultural education, food processing, water
    management--[inaudible]--as the key areas which will be the focus of
    this agriculture initiative. It means a great deal to us, to build a new
    trust to agricultural innovation, agricultural productivity. And I thank
    you for active support.
        In science and technology also, Mr. President, we have now agreed to
    work together and invite national--[inaudible]--in science and
    technology. The coordinators have been appointed. They have no outline,

    [[Page 1414]]

    a roadmap. And I am very happy that both our administrations are working
    very hard to give concrete meaning and substance to our cooperation.
        And I thank you, Mr. President, for your efforts and Secretary
    Rice's effort in getting the legislation with regard to nuclear
    cooperation moving through the Congress. We have followed very intensely
    what has been written into these bills. And I must confess to you that
    while we deeply appreciate your personal involvement, Secretary Rice's
    magnificent efforts when she appeared before the Congress--there are
    some concerns which worry us and, we believe, our Parliament. And like
    you, we are a democracy; we have a Parliament which is very jealous of
    what we do and what we don't do. And we have--these concerns are made,
    and I sincerely hope that we can find constructive solutions to all
    these problems. So this truly is landmark cooperation.
        I recall it--I said to you that, Mr. President, that this is a--
    [inaudible]--conciliation of India and the U.S.--[inaudible].

    Note: The President spoke at 8:11 a.m. in Cottage Nine at the
    Konstantinovsky Palace Complex.