[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 24 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Page 1043]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Jacques Chirac of France at 
Sea Island

June 10, 2004

    President Bush. It's good to have yet another discussion with 
Jacques Chirac. We had a wonderful visit in Paris. And again, I want to 
thank you for your hospitality. The food was superb, the hospitality 
warm----
    President Chirac. Here, also.
    President Bush. ----and our discussions were meaningful.
    We continued our discussions about world poverty and world peace. Of 
course, we talked about Iraq. We had our differences in the past. But 
we're friends, and friends are able to discuss the future. And our hope 
is for peace and freedom around the world.
    We consulted on some NATO--we're partners in NATO. We talked about a 
lot of issues, and one of the issues that we talked about was NATO and 
whether or not there is a continued role in Iraq for NATO. I assured the 
President we will continue to consult closely. The point is, is that we 
understand that the Iraqi people need help to defend themselves, to 
rebuild their country, and most importantly, to hold elections.
    And I appreciate the chance to visit with Jacques.
    President Chirac. Can I first of all say, as I said yesterday, tell 
President Bush our gratitude and our feelings of gratitude and our 
feelings of gratitude of the French people as a whole, in the context of 
the D-day celebrations. D-day was something that was terribly important 
for all the French people, and once again I'd like to thank the 
President for having made the trip and having heard, himself, the French 
people speak their words of thanks and gratitude and friendship. It was 
very moving for us.
    And I also wanted to come and congratulate him for the way in which 
the G-8 was organized and conducted. It is a success.
    We had an opportunity during the summit to discuss a number of 
issues. We've just reviewed some with our colleagues from the Middle 
East yesterday; we'll be doing so with our colleagues from Africa today. 
And this gave us an opportunity of reviewing the major areas of concerns 
for today's world, to better understand each other and also to prove our 
efforts for peace, development, and human rights.
    And as I said, I'd like to thank once again the President for the 
hospitality here. The President was kind enough to mention French 
cuisine, but I can tell you that over the last few days, this cuisine 
here in America was certainly on a par with French cuisine, and I ask 
the President to convey my thanks to the chef.
    President Bush. He particularly liked the cheeseburger he had 
yesterday. [Laughter]
    President Chirac. It was excellent. [Laughter]
    President Bush. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:45 a.m. at Dunbar House. President Chirac 
spoke in French, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter. A 
tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.