    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 10, 2008]
    [Pages 1190-1191]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President Jalal Talabani of Iraq
    September 10, 2008

        President Bush. Mr. President, welcome. First of all, I am so
    pleased to see that you're looking good. The President's health is
    strong, and that's going to be very important for the people of Iraq.
    After all, there's been no stronger defender of a free Iraq than
    President Talabani. I've known him for a long time. He cares deeply
    about the Iraqi people, and he has been a strong defender of human
    liberty.
        Mr. President, thanks for the good conversation we had about the
    election laws, about the need to get a strategic framework agreement
    signed. And thank you very much for bringing me up to date on your
    perspective about life inside of Iraq. It's--things have changed a lot
    since we've known each other.
        President Talabani. Of course.
        President Bush. And attitudes are completely different now that
    people realize the security situation has changed and mothers can raise
    their children in a more normal life. It's still difficult, but there's
    no doubt that the surge has been effective, which has enabled us to take
    out troops. Iraqis want there to be fewer U.S. troops, the United States
    wants there to be fewer U.S. troops, but both of us want to realize that
    vision based upon success.
        And so, Mr. President, welcome back. I'm glad you're feeling good.
    And thank you for the visit.
        President Talabani. Well, Mr. President, thank you very much for
    giving me the honor of meeting you again. I think it's clear that we are
    in Iraq looking to you as a hero of liberation of Iraq from worst kind
    of dictatorship. And now we are working with your--with you, Mr.
    President, for finalizing the strategic framework of--agreement between
    United States and Iraq.
        And also, we are always getting benefit from your views about how to
    secure Iraq. I think you know very well that we--you and we in Iraq
    achieved very good successes on terrorism. Now I can say all parts of
    Iraq liberated from terrorist control and activities. It's true that
    some groups remain, hiding themselves from here or there, but there's no
    place, no inch of Iraqi land under the control of terrorist activities.
    There are some terrorist--still groups working, hiding themself. And
    thanks to you and sacrifice of your brave Army and to Iraqi people, now
    we can live in peace and security.
        And Iraq Government started to spend the money which we have for
    serving the Iraqi people and rebuilding the country, reconstructing the
    country. Not only we liberated our country from terrorist activities,
    but also from militias, outlawed militias who are also making troubles
    and danger for Iraqi people.
        And as you have heard, the Basra city, Sadr City, Shulla, Ninawa,
    Baqubah, all these cities are now liberated. So we are thankful to you
    and to your people, your Army. We hope that the agreement about this
    strategy situation will be signed soon.
        And as usual, we are working in--our Parliament is working now for
    finalizing the draft of a new law for election of Provinces. And I hope
    that--as I heard the news yesterday--I hope that today it will be
    finalized, because the groups--head of groups of Parliament are now
    gathering in Parliament to reach--to finalize it.
        In our country, we are now busy to reconstruct our country and to
    rebuild our country. And I am glad to tell you, Mr. President, that our
    relation with our neighbors is improved very well--with Turkey, with
    Syria, with Iran, with the Arab countries. The relation is normal now,
    and we have no problem with any of these countries. In contrary, many,
    many new ambassadors are coming----
        President Bush. That's right.

    [[Page 1191]]

        President Talabani. ----to our country from Arab countries. And
    our--the visit of Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Tayyip Recep Erdogan,
    and of the--His Majesty the King of Jordan to Baghdad was very
    successful and was encouraging Iraqi people to understand that they have
    friends outside Iraq.
        So I hope that friendship and relation between your great people and
    the Iraqi people will continue and will be strengthened. And we will
    never forget what you have done for our people.
        President Bush. Thank you, President. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:53 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Talabani referred to King Abdullah II of Jordan. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.