[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Pages 1368-1369]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Jean Chretien of
Canada
September 24, 2001
President Bush. It's my honor to welcome our close friend Jean
Chretien to the White House again. Thank you for coming.
You know, after this terrible incident on September 11th, one of the
first phone calls I received was from the Prime Minister, offering all
his support and condolences to the United States and our citizens. It
was like getting a phone call from a brother, and I appreciate that so
very much.
We've got a great partner in our neighborhood who understands what I
know, that we
[[Page 1369]]
are facing a new type of war. And those of us who love freedom, like the
Canadians love freedom, now understand that freedom is under attack. And
we've combined together to fight--to fight against a new enemy. And the
Prime Minister understands that.
We had a great discussion about a variety of issues. We discussed
the need for us to continue to work peacefully along a huge border.
Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better. And
there is no doubt in my mind that the Prime Minister and the Canadian
people will work hard to make sure that Canada is secure from any
terrorist activity that takes place, just like I can assure the Prime
Minister we're doing the same. We both have a mutual responsibility in
our hemisphere to find and disrupt terrorist organizations.
An amazing thing came up the other day. Somebody said to me, ``Well,
you know, in your speech to Congress, there were some that took affront
in Canada''--because I didn't mention the name. I didn't necessarily
think it was important to praise a brother; after all, we're talking
about family.
There should be no doubt in anybody's mind about how honored we are
to have the support of the Canadians and how strong the Canadian Prime
Minister has been, and not only his condolences but his offer of support
for the American people. I guess there's--somebody is playing politics
with you, Mr. Prime Minister.
But I suggest those who try to play politics with my words and drive
wedges between Canada and me, understand that at this time, when nations
are under attack, now is not the time for politics. Now is the time to
develop a strategy to fight and win the war. And Mr. Prime Minister, I
want to thank you for being here to continue those efforts with me.
Prime Minister Chretien. Thank you, Mr. President. And I am happy to
be with you. I think that, as you say, we're part of--not America; we're
your neighbor, friends, and family. And we have to work together. This
problem of terrorism is a problem that concerns all the nations of the
world. And we're working together to build a coalition that will defeat
that, because it will disrupt the societies around the world. And I
think that you know you have the support of Canadians. When you will
need us, we will be there.
We had a very good discussion this morning on the element of the
solutions, and we will carry on during the lunch time. I guess that the
Canadians were traumatized by what happened 2 weeks ago. And we had the
occasion to receive 45,000 Americans on the Canadian soil who had to be
diverted to Canada. And we had a great demonstration of support when
100,000 Canadians appeared on the hill to offer support to our neighbor
and friends and family, the Americans.
So we will work together. We will have occasion to carry this
message that we have to be together, because Canada participates in the
meeting of the Commonwealth next--10 days from now, in Australia. And
later on, there will be the meeting of the Francophone in Lebanon,
where, again, we'll have to talk to all the leaders and tell them that
we're all in that fight.
[At this point, Prime Minister Chretien spoke in French, and no
translation was provided.]
President Bush. Thank you.
Note: The President spoke at 12 p.m. in the Colonnade at the White
House.