[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 15 (Monday, April 16, 2001)]
[Pages 592-594]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With King Abdullah II of Jordan and an 
Exchange With Reporters

April 10, 2001

    President Bush. I'm going to have an opening statement. His Majesty 
will have an opening statement. I'll be glad to take a couple of 
questions from the American press. His Majesty will take a couple of 
questions from the Jordanian press, and we'll alternate.
    It's my honor to welcome the Majesty to the Oval Office, to our 
country. We had a very good lunch. We discussed a lot of subjects, 
starting with how best to work together to lay the foundation for peace 
in the Middle East. We had a very good discussion about

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trade, and I explained to His Majesty that ours is a country that 
believes in free trade.
    We look forward to working to get an agreement, one way or the 
other, out of our Congress that encourages free trade with Jordan. We 
will be discussing strategies as how best to achieve that objective, but 
the objective is for there to be a free trade agreement between our 
countries.
    His Majesty is one of the young leaders of the Middle East who has 
got a good vision for peace. And I look forward to his advice and 
counsel and working closely together to achieve peace. So welcome, Your 
Majesty.
    King Abdullah. Thank you very much, sir. Mr. President, as you said, 
we had a very warm and constructive discussions today about not only 
bilateral relations but that of the region. And I believe that we're 
both committed to finding peace and stability in our part of the world. 
We're very grateful for all the support that we've had from your country 
over the years. And I look forward to working with you, sir, and with 
your administration to try and bring peace and stability to the Middle 
East.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir.

U.S. Navy Aircraft Incident

    Q. Your Majesty, with apologies, because there's another subject on 
everybody's mind--Mr. President----
    President Bush. What might that be?
    Q. Well, it's the China problem. What is it going to take to resolve 
that? Have you considered dealing directly with the President of China?
    President Bush. We are working hard to resolve the situation. The 
first piece of news I have to report is, I talked to the General, 
Sealock, again. He met with our folks in Hainan Island. He reported that 
spirits are high, that the troops are patient.
    He informed us that there is an exchange of e-mails between the--our 
troops and their families, which is, I found to be an important piece of 
news, that the families will be able to talk to each other.
    Diplomacy sometimes takes a little longer than people would like. I 
urge the Chinese to bring resolution to this issue. It's time for our 
people to come home.
    Q. Mr. President, what about the issue with Jesse Jackson? Mr. 
President, what about the issue with Reverend Jesse Jackson? He says if 
China lets him in, he will go there to help free the 24 detainees.
    President Bush. We are--there's a lot of people that are anxious for 
this situation to end. I appreciate the good will of a lot of Americans 
that are concerned about our folks in Hainan Island. This administration 
is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. 
We're making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end.
    Q. Do you support Reverend Jackson? Do you support----
    Q. Mr. President, you said a moment ago----
    President Bush. This is a Jordanian reporter.
    Q. Mr. President, you said a moment ago that diplomacy takes longer 
than sometimes people would like. Are you trying to prepare the American 
people for an extended and prolonged stay of this 24-member crew in 
Chinese captivity?
    President Bush. No. I am making it clear to the Chinese that it's in 
their nation's interests to end this situation as quickly as possible. 
As all members of my administration have been saying, that the longer 
this goes, the more likely it is that it could--could--jeopardize 
relations, and we certainly don't want that to happen.
    Q. Mr. President----
    President Bush. Is there anybody from the Jordanian----
    Q. The West Bank----
    President Bush. Yes, ma'am?

Middle East

    Q. A Jewish spiritual leader yesterday called upon killing all 
Arabs, and we are seeing Israel launching an unannounced, full-scale war 
against Palestinians. Is your country going to use or veto another 
proposal at the United Nations to send an international protection 
force?
    President Bush. Our country is very interested and working with all 
parties to--for parties to lay down their arms. The only--wait, let me--
--
    Q. Your Majesty, can you state specifically what you think----

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    President Bush. I'm not quite through yet----
    Q. Sorry.
    President Bush. And then you're next.
    Q. Thank you.
    President Bush. In order for there to be discussions that will lead 
to peace, first and foremost, the violence must stop. And we're working 
hard to convince the parties to stop the violence. His Majesty and I 
talked about how best that all countries, peaceful countries in the 
region can discourage violent activities. And the Secretary of State 
and--has been on the phone recently with the leaders in the Middle East 
to make sure that they understand the U.S. position is for the violence 
to stop.
    Q. Your Majesty, can you say specifically, beyond rhetorical tools, 
what Jordan and the United States can do to stop the violence, bring it 
down, restore calm?
    King Abdullah. Well, I think the situation at present is, try to 
find a way of de-escalating the violence. There has been meetings 
between the Israelis and the Palestinians as early as last week which 
produced some results. And I think we need to be able to build on that.
    President Bush. Thank you all. Look what you started. Thank you very 
much.

Note: The President spoke at 1:06 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, the President referred to Brig. Gen. Neal 
Sealock, USA, U.S. Embassy Defense Attache in Beijing. Reporters 
referred to President Jiang Zemin of China and civil rights leader Rev. 
Jesse Jackson. A tape was not available for verification of the content 
of these remarks.