[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 24 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Page 1041]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Ghazi Ujayl al-Yawr of Iraq 
at Sea Island

June 9, 2004

    President Bush. Mr. President, thanks for being here. This has been 
a special day for me and those of us in my administration who are here, 
because I really never thought I'd be sitting next to an Iraqi President 
of a free country a year and a half ago, and here you are. Not only are 
you here to visit with me--and we've had a wonderful talk--but you're 
here to talk to the leadership of the G-8, leaders of the free world. 
And I am so grateful you are here. Please convey my best wishes to your 
Prime Minister as well.
    Yesterday the United Nations sent a clear message that the world 
supports a free Iraq. And the United States supports a transfer of full 
sovereignty to you, Mr. President, and your government. And having 
visited with you, having talked to you, and having listened to you, I 
have got great faith in the future of your country, because you believe 
in the hopes and aspirations of the Iraqi people.
    It's been a proud day for me. I'm glad you're here.
    President al-Yawr. Thank you. First of all, I'd like to, on behalf 
of the Iraqi people, to thank you for giving us this chance to attend 
the G-8 Summit, where, again, thanks to the American people, for the 
leadership of President George Bush, without which we couldn't have been 
here into the G-8. Mr. President, I'd like to express to you the 
commitment of the Iraqi people to move toward democracy. We are moving 
in a steady--steady steps toward it. We're determined to have a free, 
democratic, federal Iraq, a country that is a source of stability to the 
Middle East, which is very important for the rest of the world.
    Again, Mr. President, I'd like to thank the American people for the 
sacrifices that the brave men and women of the United States toward 
trying to liberate Iraq. We're working with all our hearts to make sure 
that all these sacrifices of the Iraqis, as well as our friends in the 
coalition, will not go to avail, that all these will be to the benefit 
of the Iraqi government.
    Thank you very much, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 3:49 p.m. at Dunbar House. In his remarks, 
he referred to Prime Minister Ayad al-Alawi of the Iraqi interim 
government. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.