[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[May 2, 2007]
[Pages 531-532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following Discussions With President Ali Abdallah Salih of Yemen
May 2, 2007

    President Bush. It is my honor to welcome the President of Yemen to 
the Oval Office. I have gotten to know the President over the past 6 
years of my Presidency. I feel comfortable saying, welcome, my friend.
    I had the privilege of calling President Salih after the elections 
of Yemen. I told him, I said it was a remarkable occurrence that his 
great country had a free and open election. I've had a chance to 
congratulate him and thank him in person today.
    We had a very good discussion about the neighborhood in which the 
President lives. And we spent a lot of time talking about our mutual 
desire to bring radicals and murderers to justice. And I thanked the 
President for his strong support in this war against extremists and 
terrorists.
    So I'm glad you're here.
    President Salih. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for the good 
reception and hospitality and also for the excellent and fruitful talks 
that we had. I'm very pleased for the limitless support by President 
Bush and the United States for Yemen in the field of combating terror. 
Yemen is an essential partner with the United States of America and the 
international community in combating terror. We will continue in this 
path, in--on this track.
    We had the chance to discuss a number of issues with Mr. President, 
including a number of issues in the Middle East region, the Palestinian-
Israeli problem and the situation in Somalia, the situations in Iraq, 
Lebanon, Afghanistan. We found a complete understanding on the issues 
that we have discussed with Mr. President Bush. We also discussed the 
bilateral relations between Yemen and the United States.
    I would like, on this occasion, to highly express my gratification 
and my appreciation for the brave position taken by President Bush since 
the first moment he took power in this country, since he expressed his 
belief in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, side by 
side with the State of Israel. And I wish that His Excellency would 
pursue his effort and will continue his efforts in implementing the Arab 
initiative, which was adopted in the

[[Page 532]]

summit of Beirut, to maintain peace in the region. I am sure that 
adopting such initiative would end 70 percent of the problems in the 
region.
    Of course, you will be in history if you can successful in 
establishing the independent Palestinian state before leaving the White 
House.
    Shukran.
    President Bush. Shukran.

Note: The President spoke at 11:44 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. President Salih spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated 
by an interpreter.