    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 24, 2008]
    [Pages 575-576]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Discussion With President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
    April 24, 2008

        President Bush. Thanks for coming, Mr. President. I appreciate your
    chance to talk about peace. I assured the President that a Palestinian
    state's a high priority for me and my administration--a viable state, a
    state that doesn't look like Swiss cheese, a state that provides hope.
    It's in--I believe it's in Israel's interest and the Palestinian
    people's interest to have leaders willing to work toward the achievement
    of that state.
        People that can deliver that state, that vision, to the Palestinian
    people were sitting right here in the Oval Office, led by the President.
    The President is a man of peace. He's a man of vision. He rejects the
    idea of using violence to achieve objectives, which distinguishes him
    from other people in the region. I'm confident we can achieve the
    definition of a state. I'm also confident it's going to require hard
    work.
        To that end, I'm going back to the Middle East. I'm looking forward
    to meeting you, sir. And thank you for making time. I consider you a
    friend. I also consider you a courageous person. And I'm also will
    consider--believe strongly that when history looks back at this moment
    and a state is defined, that the Palestinian people will thank you for
    your leadership.
        There are a lot of issues we discussed, issues of importance: the
    security of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people, the economic
    advancement of the Palestinian people. The thing that I'm focused on,
    and you are: how to define a state

    [[Page 576]]

    that is acceptable to both sides. I'm confident it can get done. I want
    to thank you for coming. I appreciate your time.
        President Abbas. Thank you. Mr. President, thank you very much for
    receiving us here at the White House these days. And I also would like
    to thank you very much for the initiative that was launched during the
    Annapolis conference.
        We believe that you actually are truly seeking a true, genuine, and
    lasting peace in the Middle East. And I am certain that you would like
    to see an agreement and settlement before the end of your term. And at
    the same time, we are doing everything we can in order to seriously
    negotiate and reach a peace that will be satisfactory to both the
    Palestinian side and the Israeli side, a peace that would be promoted
    around the world.
        There are many parties also that are working very hard to support
    our efforts and to help us reach that peace. When I talk about your
    initiative, Mr. President, I also have to praise the Arab peace
    initiative that simply states that peace will be achieved after the
    Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab and Palestinian Territories.
    As a result of that, I believe strongly that more than 57 Arab and
    Islamic countries will normalize their relations with Israel. I believe
    very strongly that time is of the essence. We are working very hard and
    hope not to waste any time and continue these efforts to achieve peace.
        Mr. President, your efforts, the efforts of your administration, the
    various visits--your previous one and your upcoming visit to Sharm el-
    Sheikh and to the region--all of this is a strong indication that you
    are very keen to continue to work very hard and to achieve your vision.
        I cannot say that the road to peace is paved with flowers; it is
    paved with obstacles. But together we will work very hard in order to
    eliminate those obstacles and achieve peace.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you all. Shukran jazeelan.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:51 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Abbas spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated
    by an interpreter.