    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 7, 2007]
    [Pages 1531-1532]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Northern Ireland
    December 7, 2007

        President Bush. One of the great experiences for me during my
    Presidency is to witness historic occasions, and I'm witnessing such an
    occasion with the arrival of Reverend Paisley and Mr. Martin McGuinness
    here to the White House. These two men are--have dedicated themselves to
    embettering their--Northern Ireland through their courage and conviction
    and desire to put aside the past and focus on a hopeful future.
        And so I want to welcome you all here. I congratulate you for
    seizing the moment and writing a hopeful chapter. I'm looking forward to
    hearing about how the United States can help Northern Ireland move
    forward. I know one way we can help, and that is to encourage our
    business leaders to take a good look at the economic opportunities that
    Northern Ireland presents.
        And so I welcome you here. I'm proud of your accomplishments. And I
    welcome you all to say a few comments to the TV, if you care to do so.
        First Minister Paisley. Well, Mr. President, our first words on
    that--[inaudible]. We want to say from the people of Northern Ireland,
    ``Thank you.'' Thank you to the American people for all they have done
    for us in the past. We did a lot for you in the past too.
        But what I can say is we deeply appreciate that. And we also deeply
    appreciate the fact that we're here today, and that you have met us and
    have tried to encourage us on this. We have had our political squabbles
    and fights. I think we have come to the end of that. I think that peace
    has come; there will be a fight for peace. You don't win peace; you have
    to fight to keep it.
        President Bush. Yes, sir.
        First Minister Paisley. And we intend to that, and we're dedicated
    to that.
        But we do need help in the economic field. And that--we're glad that
    the door has opened. We have had a very good reception in your country
    so far, and of course--[inaudible]. And when we look back and see this
    mighty army that's following hard in your tracks, we know that this is
    your final. And we say, thank you, and we look forward to good dealings
    between our little country and yours in the coming days.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        Martin.
        Deputy First Minister McGuinness. Yes. Can I too reiterate the
    comments of the First Minister in expressing our deepest thanks and
    appreciation to you and your administration for the tremendous help that
    we have received throughout the course of the process; follows on from
    the tradition of President Clinton and his administration.
        So we're hugely appreciative of both of you for all of the
    tremendous support that we have received. Up until the 26th of March
    this year, Ian Paisley and I never

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    had a conversation about anything--[laughter]--not even about the
    weather. And now we have worked very closely together over the course of
    the last 7 months, and there hasn't been an angry word between us.
        President Bush. Thank you.
        Deputy First Minister McGuinness. So I think that that clearly shows
    that we are set for a new course. There is peace and stability. We have
    transformed the political situation. What we now need to do, as you have
    correctly identified, is transform the economic situation so that we can
    give our young people, in particular, a better future.
        I am confident that we can do that, and with the tremendous
    assistance we've received here in the United States, and particularly
    working towards the economic investment conference in May, the future
    looks greater than it ever has in the course of Irish history.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:49 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.