    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [June 25, 2008]
    [Pages 867-868]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President Jalal Talabani of Iraq
    June 25, 2008

        President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome a friend, President
    Talabani, back to the Oval Office. He is the President of a free Iraq.
    He is a man who's been on the frontlines of helping to unify Iraq and to
    help Iraq recover from a brutal regime, that of Saddam Hussein.
        I complimented the President on the progress that the Government has
    made. I complimented the President on the fact that as security has
    improved, he and his fellow officials are reaching out to all aspects of
    society to help people realize the blessings of a free life.
        There's still a lot of work to be done; we recognize that. We talked
    of a variety of subjects. We talked about a strategic framework
    agreement that suits the Iraqi Government. We talked about elections and
    different laws that have been passed. I did compliment the President on
    working hard to see to it that the legislative session this year has
    been very successful. We talked about the fact that the economy's
    improving and that the attitude of the people there has improved
    immeasurably over the years.

    [[Page 868]]

        And so I welcome you here. I'm proud of what you've done, and I
    thank you for the tough decisions, so that the people of a free Iraq can
    realize hopes and dreams. Welcome.
        President Talabani. Well, I am proud to have the honor of meeting
    President George Bush, whom we consider the liberator of Iraq from the
    worst kind of dictatorship, as a great friend of Iraqi people. I am
    grateful for what he said about me. But I agree with him that we are
    going to work together for having this agreement--security agreement
    between United States and Iraq and also to continue our cooperation in
    our struggle against terrorism, for promotion of democracy in Iraq and
    Middle East.
        We are proud to have such a good friends here in this great country.
    And I think we can--I can say that we can pass, this year, two important
    laws, oil and election. And we are now going to reunite our Government
    by bringing Tawafuq also to the--I mean, Sunni representatives--to the
    Iraqi national unity Government headed by our Prime Minister, Nuri
    Maliki.
        I also briefed our good friend about the achievements which Iraq had
    done in struggle against terrorism and, again, militias, who were making
    troubles for Iraq and threatening civil war. Now I can say that Iraq--
    big part of Iraq is stable and is secured and liberated from the danger
    of terrorism and militia.
        Yes, some places still--there are some groups that remain here and
    there, but I think big achievement we have done this year with the
    support of the United States Army and Government and with the friendly
    advices from President Bush. I can say that we are proud to achieved
    good successes in Iraq. And our economy is growing.
        We have also--big steps forward for national reconciliation. We
    improved our relation with our neighbors, with Turkey, with Egypt, with
    Jordan, with Kuwait. We normalized our relation with Iran and with Syria
    also. So Iraqi Government is now going to play its role in the Arab
    world as one--a founder of the Arab League. And there is no--I think, no
    more--any kind of isolation of our Government.
        We are doing our best for this agreement. That this agreement with
    the United States of America--I think we have--we had very good,
    important steps towards reaching to finalize this agreement. And we
    continue our struggle to--our efforts to reach--inshallah--very soon
    this agreement.
        And again to thank--here I am again here to thank here our great
    friends, President Bush and American great people, for their sacrifice
    and their support for Iraqi people. Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:43 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.