[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
[May 18, 2008]
[Pages 694-695]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza 
Gilani of Pakistan in Sharm el-
Sheikh
May 18, 2008

    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for coming. It's the 
first time we've had a chance to visit. I appreciate the very candid 
discussion we had. I appreciate the fact that you're committed to 
working to make sure that relations between the United States and 
Pakistan are strong and vibrant and productive.
    And one area where our relations can be productive is to cooperate 
on economic matters, because the truth of the matter is, in a population 
that has got hope as a result of being able to find work is a population 
that is going to make it harder for extremists and terrorists to find 
safe haven.
    And so I appreciate very much our candid discussion about the 
economy. I fully understand that you're dealing with serious food 
prices. I appreciate the compassion you showed for the people of 
Pakistan. I told the President--the Prime Minister that one thing we can 
do, having talked to the President of Afghanistan, is help Afghanistan grow wheat, help Afghanistan become 
self-sufficient, which will take the pressure off of the people of 
Pakistan.
    The Prime Minister and I talked, of course, about our common desire 
to protect ourselves and others from those who would do harm. And I want 
to thank your steadfast support and your strength of character and your 
understanding of the problems we face. Relations are good between our 
two countries, and they will continue to be good. And I want to thank 
you for coming and to--and advancing those relations.
    Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you.
    President Bush. Welcome.
    Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. 
President, for this opportunity. I want to take your call to confidence 
that, with the change of the new Government in Pakistan, with a new 
democratic Government in this country, there's a change for the system. 
And I've been unanimously elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan; 
that's the first time in the history of Pakistan. And we have discussed 
in detail on a few issues like economics,

[[Page 695]]

like the food problems, like the energy problems.
    And the common problem--and that is the biggest threat to the 
world--is terrorism and extremism. And our Government is committed to 
fight for terrorism and extremism. It is against the humanity; it's 
against the world. And I have lost my own great leader, Benazir Bhutto, 
because of terrorism. Therefore, I pledge and I stand by the world to 
fight against extremism and terrorism.
    I appreciate the support of Mr. President for our concerns on both 
social sectors: economic sectors, energy sectors. And we want to work 
together on all these issues. And I once again thank Mr. President for 
extending this opportunity.
    President Bush. Yes, sir, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you, Mr. Prime 
Minister.
    Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you so much.
    President Bush. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Note: The President spoke at 9 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sharm El 
Sheikh. In his remarks, he referred to President Hamid Karzai of 
Afghanistan.