[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 50 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Page 1781]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Members of the Iraqi National Symphony

December 10, 2003

    Last night Laura and I had the honor of going to hear the Iraqi 
National Symphony play with the Washington Symphony at the Kennedy 
Center. It was an extraordinary event. And today I've had the honor of 
welcoming members of the symphony here at the White House. Maestro, you 
did a superb job. Thank you very much.
    I'm also honored to be here with Rend al-Rahim, who is the Iraqi 
representative to the United States. Rend is an articulate defender of 
freedom and peace. I'm so honored you're here, Rend, and we look forward 
to working with you.
    We've had a very positive discussion here about freedom and hopes 
and aspirations of young and old alike. And I am so impressed by the 
spirit of these musicians. I'm so honored you would come to our country.
    It's very interesting that the Iraqi Symphony is made up of people 
who are Shi'a and Sunni and Armenian and Kurdish. They work for one 
thing, and that is a unified sound, a beautiful sound. And that's the 
country that is now emerging in Iraq, a country that will work together 
and recognize everybody's rights. We're making good progress in Iraq. 
There's more to do, obviously, but the fact that the Iraqi Symphony is 
here and entertaining Americans is a sign of that progress.
    And we thank you all for coming. We wish you Godspeed.

Note: The President spoke at 2:01 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Mohammed Amin Ezzat, 
conductor, Iraqi National Symphony; and Rend Rahim Francke, head of 
Iraq's Interest Section in the U.S. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of these remarks.