[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 10 (Monday, March 11, 2002)]
[Pages 351-355]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt

March 5, 2002

    President Bush It's my honor to welcome President Mubarak to the 
White House again. The United States has got a close and meaningful 
relationship with Egypt. The relationship is a cornerstone for our 
policy in the Middle East. I value my friendship with President Mubarak. 
I always appreciate our candid conversations. Our nations are united by 
ties of friendship and a shared commitment to regional stability, 
economic prosperity, and peace.
    Today, the strategic partnership between our countries is more 
important than ever, as we confront the threat of global terror. And I 
want to thank the President for his steadfast support in our war against 
terror. Egypt has been a good friend, and I'm grateful.
    We also meet at a moment when the people of both our countries are 
gravely concerned about escalating violence in the Middle East. Each day 
brings fresh reports of more lives lost and more Palestinian and Israeli 
families shattered by those losses. Both our countries view this 
situation with great alarm. We both feel deep sympathy for the people in 
the region who are trying to live their lives in peace, and we're both 
determined to redouble our efforts to work for peace.
    We talked extensively today about our efforts. President Mubarak has 
a long history of advancing peace and stability in the Middle East. My 
country has set forth a goal, which I stated last November at the United 
Nations: We're committed to two states, Israel and Palestine, living 
peacefully together within secure and recognized borders, as called for 
by the Security Council resolutions of the United Nations.

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    The United States also believes that this goal is only possible if 
there is a maximum effort to end violence throughout the region, 
starting with the Palestinian efforts to stop attacks against Israelis.
    We want to work with the parties to implement the Tenet security 
plan and then the Mitchell recommendations. We stand ready to return 
General Zinni to the region when appropriate. The Israeli-Palestinian 
situation will be an important topic of Vice President Cheney's upcoming 
visit to the region. And we're willing to work with all our friends in 
the region to see how we can build on the vision for peace recently 
advanced by Crown Prince Abdullah.
    President Mubarak and I also spoke about the full range of interests 
that our nations share. We welcomed the decision yesterday by Secretary 
Powell and the Foreign Minister of Egypt to initiate a U.S.-Egyptian 
strategic dialog to provide regular coordination on political, economic, 
and military issues.
    We also discussed how important it is to expand economic 
opportunities in the Middle East and help more young people acquire the 
education and technical expertise they need to embrace opportunities as 
they arise. I've asked Secretary Powell to launch a new initiative aimed 
at increasing both economic and educational opportunities throughout the 
region.
    Egypt was the first Arab State to stretch out its hand for peace in 
the Middle East, and it has worked hard to preserve its peace with 
Israel, even during difficult times. I know that Egypt will continue to 
be a vital partner as we seek to help the parties move forward in the 
months to come toward a broader Middle Eastern peace.
    I want to thank President Mubarak for coming back to Washington, and 
now it's my honor to welcome him to the podium.
    Mr. President.
    President Mubarak. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
    Good evening. Before commenting on my discussions with President 
Bush, I want to reiterate my personal condolences and those of the 
Egyptian people to you, Mr. President, and to the American people and 
all those who suffered in the tragic events of September 11th. Let me 
seize this occasion to reaffirm that Egypt has always been on the 
forefront of fighting terrorists and will continue to play an 
instrumental role in this regard.
    Once again, I met with my friend President Bush and exchanged views 
with him on several issues of common concern. As usual, our discussions 
were very friendly. As President Bush just said, we have built a solid 
partnership that is serving our bilateral interests and the cause of 
peace and stability in the Middle East. The partnership has matured over 
the years and endured the test of time. A general sense of continued 
cooperation and friendship has evolved.
    As you know, Egypt took many pioneering steps toward peace in the 
Middle East. Today, we remain committed to that goal. Our partnership 
has an indispensable role to play in helping the parties directly 
involved in the conflict find a just and comprehensive solution.
    In this vein, the U.S. has contributed greatly to this cause for the 
past 25 years. I welcome that the administration will spare no effort in 
order to help achieve a comprehensive peace. In this context, we look 
forward to welcoming Vice President Cheney to the area soon and 
appreciate that the peace process will be one of the issues to be given 
the merit it deserves.
    We must bring about an end to the cycle of violence and other 
hostile actions and ensure the early resumption of peace negotiations. 
Nothing can be achieved through violence or resolved through force.
    As the Palestinians are being asked to exert more effort to bring 
down the level of violence, the Israeli Government should understand 
that the use of military power and unilateral measures against the 
Palestinian population, the closure of roads, the siege of towns and 
villages, the demolition of houses, the collective punishment that make 
progress more difficult, should stop.
    The only way out is to put a decisive end to all this suffering, to 
resume full-fledged peace negotiations immediately, including the 
implementation of the Tenet plan and the Mitchell recommendations. Peace 
will only be achieved through ending the Israeli occupation of all 
territories occupied since June 1967, implementing the relevant U.N.

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resolutions, establishing of a viable Palestinian state, and 
guaranteeing the security of all parts in peaceful coexistence.
    For decades, Egypt has been at the forefront of peacemaking and 
development in our region. Our partnership with the U.S. has played a 
crucial role in this process. Our comprehensive reform program is now 
entering a new phase, one that seeks to complete Egypt's integration 
into the world economy.
    At the core of this vision is our quest to deepen our trade ties 
with all partners, especially the United States. In this context, we 
have discussed our bilateral relations with a view to intensifying our 
cooperation in various fields. We agreed to take concrete steps in that 
direction.
    Thank you.
    Q. Mr. President, what----
    President Bush. Hold up a second. Please, please, please. I'm going 
to call on two U.S. reporters; the President will call on two Egyptian 
reporters. We'll be glad to answer four questions.
    I will start by asking AP writer Barry Schweid.

Middle East Peace Initiatives

    Q. Thank you. Mr. President, you spoke today, as Secretary Powell 
has, favorably of the Saudi initiative. Israelis are virtually lining 
up--Israeli officials--wanting to go to Saudi Arabia to talk about this 
proposal. But the Saudis apparently are discouraging that. Do you think 
there should be some preliminary discussions, preliminary searching out 
of what the proposal means? And does it carry any solid hope, as far as 
you're concerned, of ending this morass?
    President Bush. First of all, I think the Crown Prince's suggestion 
was a very positive development, and I appreciate those in Israel who 
are trying to find out exactly what it means.
    There has got to be a vision for peace in order for us to head 
toward peace. And the President of Egypt has talked--made an offer for 
dialog that will help lead to a peace, hopefully. Crown Prince Abdullah 
has as well. And our Government supports efforts to create--lay out a 
vision for a more peaceful tomorrow.
    And so I appreciate the efforts of both leaders, and I applaud those 
efforts of those willing to explore opportunity. But I want to remind 
everybody that it's going to be difficult to achieve any kind of peace 
so long as there is a cycle of violence. And one of the things that we 
talked about is how best we can come together to break the cycle of 
violence.
    There are people in the Middle East that do not want peace. There 
are people who want to use death to prevent there to be peace 
discussions. They want to murder innocent lives. I cannot tell you how 
it breaks my heart to see the weeping moms and those who have lost life, 
because somebody is preventing peace from--somebody wants to prevent a 
peace process from beginning.
    And so, as the President mentioned, the step is to reduce the cycle 
of violence and to get into the Tenet security plan as quickly as 
possible. But I applaud the efforts of these leaders for trying to move 
the process forward.
    Q. I would like the question of both President Mubarak and President 
Bush. President Bush----
    President Bush. It's the old two-question trick. [Laughter]
    Q. President Bush, now President Mubarak has offered a window of 
hope, the offer of President Mubarak to host both Prime Minister Sharon 
and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Sharm el-Sheikh or in Egypt. 
So what is your response to that offer? Particularly, what can the U.S. 
do in order to translate that offer, that is likely to break the cycle 
of violence, into a reality?
    And President Mubarak, whether you were satisfied from what you 
heard from President Bush in your discussions regarding your offer? 
Thank you.
    President Bush. Well, thank you for that question. Let me say, as I 
mentioned, that I appreciate any efforts, any ideas that will lay out a 
vision for a peaceful resolution. And the President's offer was a 
meaningful offer, and we applaud his efforts. As I mentioned in my 
opening remarks, Egypt has had a--has led the way toward leading the 
region toward peace, and his offer was indicative of that type of 
leadership. Crown Prince

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Abdullah has laid out an interesting idea. I, myself, at the U.N., 
talked about a solution.
    The key, however, for us to get to the solution is to bust this 
cycle of violence. And that is where my administration, and I know the 
President as well, is spending a lot of time and efforts to convince the 
parties that violence will only lead to heartbreak and will enhance the 
chances for those who hate the idea of peace to prevail. And those of us 
who love peace must continue to, as I said, redouble our efforts, which 
we will.
    Mr. President.
    President Mubarak. I'm satisfied with my discussion with President 
Bush about the peace process. And we hope we could continue, and the 
other partners should comply with what we are mentioning.
    Something concerning the Crown Prince Abdullah initiative, I would 
like to say this is the first time in the history of the Saudis that 
they could say, ``We are ready to normalize relations with Israel in 
case of peace prevails''--the first time in history. We should underline 
this. Thank you.

Steel Decision

    Q. Mr. President, many U.S. allies are threatening retaliation over 
your steel decision. Are you prepared for a trade war? And why shouldn't 
this be seen as a tax increase?
    President Bush. Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters], we're a free trading 
nation, and in order to remain a free trading nation, we must enforce 
law. And that's exactly what I did. I decided that imports were severely 
affecting our industry, an important industry--had a negative impact--
and therefore, provide temporary relief so that the industry could 
restructure itself. That's exactly what the World Trade Organization 
allows for. The International Trade Commission made this recommendation.
    As you know, I honored our NAFTA agreements by exempting Canada and 
Mexico. I also--we will honor our agreements with developing nations. 
This is a remedy allowed under the WTO. It also is a part of our law, 
and I intend to enforce our laws.

International Terrorism

    Q. My question is addressed for Mr. President Bush and Mr. President 
Mubarak. As we know, this is your first meeting after 11 September 
attacks, and Egypt's experience in combating terrorism is worldwide 
recognized. Did you find a common stand in your talks today to combat 
this international phenomenon?
    President Bush. We did. The President reminded me of the fact that 
he has been fighting terror long before I became the President. He's an 
old hand at fighting terror. And I assured him that we were strong 
allies in this effort.
    There are some in the world who don't like President Mubarak because 
of what he stands for, a more open society. He's been a great leader of 
Egypt, and there are extremists who don't like him. And to the extent 
that we can help round up those extremists that would do harm to the 
President or his government or the people of Egypt, we will do so.
    It doesn't matter to me where a terrorist tries to hide. We will 
work with our friends and allies to hunt them down, and I assured the 
President that my determination is as strong today as it was on 
September the 11th. This is an important moment in history, where 
nations must not flinch in the face of murder and terror and people who 
are willing to take innocent lives, people who hate free societies.
    And I am proud of our alliance, and I appreciate his friendship, and 
I appreciate his steadfast resolve, as well, to rout out terror wherever 
it exists.
    Mr. President.
    President Mubarak. Thank you.

Note: The President's news conference began at 5:35 p.m. in the Cross 
Hall at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to U.S. Special 
Envoy to the Middle East Gen. Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.); Crown Prince 
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher of Egypt; Prime 
Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel; and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the 
Palestinian Authority. The President also referred to the Tenet plan, 
the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and security plan of June 13, 2001, 
negotiated by Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet; and the 
Mitchell report, the Report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding 
Committee, issued April 30, 2001.

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