[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.