    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 16 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
    [Pages 578-579]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Hosni Mubarak
    of Egypt

    April 12, 2004

    Thirty Years of American-Egyptian Relations: A Partnership for Peace and
    Development

        For thirty years, Egypt and the United States have enjoyed a
    partnership dedicated to peace, stability, prosperity, and freedom in
    the Middle East.
        Secretary Powell and Foreign Minister Maher plan soon to conduct a
    session of our bilateral strategic dialogue in Washington, reaffirming
    the determination of our two countries to strengthen our partnership.
        In our meetings today, we reiterated our resolve to continue
    working, along with our partners in the region, in Europe, and around
    the world, to promote peace in the Middle East, maintain regional
    stability, fight terrorism, and bolster the region's efforts toward
    economic, political, and social development and modernization.
        Our two nations have nurtured a vision of peace that is anchored by
    the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. This first peace agreement between
    Israel and an Arab country has been a model for subsequent endeavors to
    achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region.
        Our two nations' unwavering commitment to this process led to the
    universal acceptance of the necessity and inevitability of a negotiated
    settlement. We envisage two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-
    by-side in peace and security. We will continue our determined efforts
    in the forthcoming months to achieve these objectives. We believe that
    an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank can, under
    the right conditions, and if it is within the context of the
    implementation of the Roadmap and President Bush's vision, be a
    significant step forward. It is our firm conviction that resolving the
    Arab Israeli conflict will be a major contribution to stability and
    progress in the region, removing a major source of tension.
        Egypt and the United States also recognize the need for political
    and economic reform in the region. The United States has followed the
    steps taken by Egypt over the past few years, as well as the ongoing
    debate on reform in different sectors of Egyptian society. This ongoing
    debate, including the call for reform produced at the meeting of Arab
    civil society held at the Library of Alexandria last March, as well as
    the speech given by President Mubarak in the opening of that meeting
    reaffirming his commitment for a continuing reform process, provide for
    a constructive foundation for further efforts toward democracy and
    development.
        Egyptian-American cooperation will also continue to encompass many
    other areas. Iraq faces a critical moment in its history, with wide
    implications across the region. We are committed to helping the Iraqi
    people realize their aspirations to build a sovereign, prosperous,
    stable, unified, and peaceful modern nation.
        We intend to maintain our close cooperation in the fight against
    terrorism. Our two nations are among those who have suffered the most
    from the scourge and have no intention to relent in this fight. The
    United States expresses its appreciation for Egypt's invaluable help and
    its readiness to continue its contributions towards combating and
    eliminating terrorism.
        Since the 1970s, the United States has been Egypt's leading partner
    in economic, political, and social reform efforts, providing highly
    appreciated material and moral support. The two nations look forward to
    strengthening their partnership in this respect for the benefit of the
    people of both countries and region as a whole.
        The Egyptian-American partnership has promoted peace and stability,
    while supporting positive change in the Middle East, for thirty years.
    We are confident that it is equally capable of meeting the challenges of
    the next thirty years and beyond. We look forward to an intensified
    dialogue about Egyptian-American cooperation and partnership in the 21st
    century.

    [[Page 579]]

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.