[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 17 (Monday, April 29, 2002)]
[Pages 674-676]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With King Mohamed VI of Morocco and an 
Exchange With Reporters

April 23, 2002

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome His Majesty the King of 
Morocco to the Oval Office. We've had a really good discussion about a 
number of matters. No question that Morocco is a great friend of the 
United States of America, and for that, Your Majesty, we are very 
grateful. I appreciate your steadfast support when it comes to the war 
on terror. I appreciate your leadership in the region.
    Today I've informed His Majesty that our Government will work to 
enact a free trade agreement with Morocco. It's in our Nation's interest 
that we do so. His Majesty believes it's in his nation's interest that 
we have a free trade agreement as well.
    To this end, it's very important that the United States Senate act 
on free trade, to give me the trade promotion authority, as well as to 
work on an extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act. Trade is an 
important part of good foreign policy; it's an important part of making 
sure Americans can find jobs. And the Senate needs to act, and it needs 
to act now.
    We will continue our discussions over lunch. I look forward to those 
discussions. His Majesty brings a lot of knowledge, a lot of vision, and 
it's my honor to welcome him here to the Oval Office.
    Your Majesty.
    King Mohamed. Thank you. Well, as I told you, I will ask that--
[inaudible]--to translate me. It will be easier for me and safer for 
you. [Laughter]

[At this point, King Mohamed spoke in French, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter. The translation follows.]

    His Majesty wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for the words you 
have just expressed about Morocco and words which

[[Page 675]]

honor His Majesty personally, the royal family, as well as the entire 
Moroccan people.
    We are honored for--with the relations we have enjoyed so far with 
the United States. But I think it's time that we have to shift the gear 
to go on higher speed. And we have also--we are determined to carry out 
all kinds of programs dealing with our cooperation, our collaboration, 
all fields.
    With respect to terrorism, Mr. President, we are also determined to 
go ahead with you in fighting terrorism. And this is something of 
concern to Morocco as much as it's of concern to the United States and 
all the democratic people in the world.
    With respect to the free trade zone which you have just announced, 
Mr. President, I would like to thank you and to tell you how much we 
appreciate this initiative coming from yourself, Mr. President, and from 
the United States. We will work closely with your collaborators, in 
particular, Mr. Zoellick, who I have met twice and who will be visiting 
Morocco together with his colleagues. We will work very closely with 
them in order to bring about the concretization of this great program of 
cooperation and friendship between the United States and Morocco.
    His Majesty wishes, Mr. President, to praise the efforts you 
personally make, and your administration, to promote peace and 
understanding in the world. He wishes also to thank and to praise Mr. 
Secretary of State Colin Powell for what he has done so far and 
especially the effort he just deployed lately and the visit in the 
region of which we are beginning to see the results.
    And His Majesty wishes that the Secretary of State would have 
recovered by now from the trauma he has had when he first met with His 
Majesty in Agadir. [Laughter]
    And I would like to thank also Mrs. Tutwiler for the excellent work 
she has been doing since she arrived to Morocco.

Situation in the Middle East

    President Bush. Thank you, Your Majesty. We'll answer a couple of 
questions, or I will. Barry [Barry Schweid, Associated Press].
    Q. Mr. President, on that trip, the Secretary came home with an 
Israeli idea, but others said similar things, for an international peace 
conference. And since he's been home, the White House reaction seems to 
be a little lukewarm. Is that something you think is a viable idea, a 
foreign ministers conference, perhaps?
    President Bush. Well, what's first important to know, that our 
Government means what we say, and we said that the only way for there to 
be lasting peace is for there to be two states living side by side, at 
peace with each other; and secondly, that in order to achieve that 
vision, all parties have responsibilities. The Arab world has 
responsibilities, and we will work with them to delineate those 
responsibilities and to encourage them to accept those responsibilities. 
Mr. Arafat has got responsibilities, and that is not only to renounce 
terrorism but to fight terror. Mr. Sharon has got responsibilities, and 
that is to continue his withdrawal.
    There is a strategy in place. We're analyzing all options to help 
achieve this vision. And I look forward to visiting with His Majesty 
about ideas such as a conference. The key is, however, for the leaders 
of the world to work toward that vision by assuming, accepting, and 
acting on the responsibilities necessary to achieve peace.
    Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters], are you here?
    Q. [Inaudible]
    President Bush. Who? Oh, there he is. There you are, sorry.

Resignation of Karen Hughes

    Q. Mr. President, are you concerned that the long hours and the 
pressure of working in this building will drive away more people, like 
Karen Hughes? And would you be here without her?
    President Bush. Well, first of all, Your Majesty, one of my close 
friends and adviser has informed the White House today that she is 
moving back to Texas. And the reason why is, is because her husband and 
son will be happier in Texas, and she had put her family ahead of her 
service to my Government. And I am extremely grateful for that approach 
and that priority. And Karen Hughes will be changing her address, but 
she will still be in my inner circle. I value her judgment, and I will 
have her judgment. I value her advice;

[[Page 676]]

I have her advice. And I value her friendship, and I will have her 
friendship.

Note: The President spoke at 11:55 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, President Bush referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat 
of the Palestinian Authority; and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel. 
King Mohamed referred to Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade Representative; 
and Margaret Tutwiler, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco.