    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [July 28, 2008]
    [Pages 1055-1056]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza
    Gilani of Pakistan
    July 28, 2008

        President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. It's been a very
    constructive morning. We've had a good meeting in the Oval Office. And
    then I'm going to have lunch with the Prime Minister here in the main
    White House. And that's fitting. After all, Pakistan is a strong ally
    and a vibrant democracy. And the United States supports the democracy
    and supports the sovereignty of Pakistan.
        We talked about areas of concern. Of course, we're going to spend a
    lot of time on the economy, about how the United States and Pakistan can
    continue to cooperate to--for economic benefits for all the people of
    Pakistan and for our own country, for that matter. And of course, we
    talked about the common threat we face: extremists who are very
    dangerous people. We talked about the need for us to make sure that
    their Afghan border is secure as best as possible. Pakistan's made a
    very strong commitment to that. I told the Prime Minister that the
    United States is committed to helping the Afghan democracy succeed,
    which is in Pakistan's interest. After all, the Prime Minister wants
    there to be a peaceful country on his border.
        The U.S., I repeat, respects the sovereignty of this democracy. And
    we also appreciate the Prime Minister's strong words against the
    extremists and terrorists who not only would do us harm, but have harmed
    people inside Pakistan.

    [[Page 1056]]

        So we welcome you here, Mr. Prime Minister, and looking forward to
    having a good lunch with you after your statement.
        Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you so much. Now?
        President Bush. Please, yes. Absolutely.
        Prime Minister Gilani. First of all, I want to thank Mr. President
    Bush for inviting me to United States, and this is my second meeting
    with the President. Previously, I met Mr. President in Sharm el-Sheikh,
    and today again I am meeting Mr. President.
        And I appreciate what he has said about supporting democracy,
    supporting sovereignty, looking after the interests and on a lot of
    other areas we are--there's a cooperation between us--we are both--
    Pakistan, United States have a very cordial relations and bilateral
    relations. And this is not of today; this is of--for over 60 years since
    the creation of Pakistan. We were inspired with their slogan of liberty
    and self-determination. And now we want to further improve our
    relations.
        We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists
    who are destroying and making the world not safe. And that is--this is
    our own war; this is a war which is against Pakistan. And we'll fight
    for our own part. And that is because I have lost my own leader, Benazir
    Bhutto, because of the militants, and therefore, I assure United States
    and the people of United States that majority of the people of Pakistan
    and the people of those areas, the NWFP and FATA, they are the
    patriarchs, the loyalists. They want the peace in the world, and they
    want to cooperate. And there are few militants; they are handpicked
    people, militants, who are disturbing this peace. And I assured Mr.
    President we'll work together for democracy and for the prosperity and
    peace of the world.
        Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:47 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. Prime Minister Gilani referred to former Prime Minister Benazir
    Bhutto of Pakistan, who was killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi,
    Pakistan, on December 27, 2007; and NWFP, the North-West Frontier
    Province, and FATA, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, of
    Pakistan.