[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 50 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Pages 2909-2911]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Pervez Musharraf of 
Pakistan and an Exchange With Reporters

December 4, 2004

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome a friend, a leader, 
President Musharraf of Pakistan. He is a person with whom I've worked 
very closely over the past 4 years, a person with whom I look forward to 
working closely over the next 4 years. And we had a really good 
discussion.
    We discussed international politics. I assured President Musharraf 
that there is an opportunity at hand to work toward the development of a 
Palestinian state and peace in the Middle East. I told him that this 
will be a priority of my administration. The goal is two states living 
side by side in peace and security.
    We spent time talking about our bilateral relations. We reviewed the 
relationship between India and Pakistan. He has showed great courage in 
that relationship, leading toward what we hope will be a peaceful 
solution of what has been a historically difficult problem.
    We talked about our own bilateral relations. The President and I are 
absolutely committed to fighting off the terrorists who would destroy 
life in Pakistan or the United States or anywhere else. And I appreciate 
very much your clear vision of the need for people of good will and hope 
to prevail over those who are willing to inflict death in order to 
achieve an ideology that is--the predominance of an ideology that is 
just backward and dark in its view.
    I--we talked about commerce between our countries. The President is 
very concerned about whether or not Pakistan goods are being treated 
equally, as fairly as other goods coming into the United States. I 
listened very carefully to what he had to say. He had some constructive 
ideas as to how to deal with that situation.

    Having brought up his economy, however, I reminded him that he's 
doing quite a good job of making sure that the economy grows in Pakistan 
so that people have got a chance to realize their dreams. And I 
congratulate you on the good stewardship of the Pakistan economy.

    All in all, our relationships are good; they're strong; and they 
will remain that way. And I'm honored you're here.

    President Musharraf. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. 
I don't have much to add to what the President has already said. We had 
a very wholesome interaction. And all that I would like to say, that 
I've come here basically to congratulate the President very sincerely, 
with all my sincerity, for having won the elections. And he does me an 
honor by receiving me on a Saturday. [Laughter]

    And therefore, the other issues that we discussed were incidental 
and all the important issues--the most important issue, a resolution of 
the Palestinian dispute, in the interest of peace in the whole world, 
and I would repeat whatever the President has already said: Enhancement 
of our bilateral relations, enhancement of our commercial ties with the 
United States.

    I'm grateful for the extreme understanding that the President has 
shown towards the concerns of Pakistan.

    Thank you.

    President Bush. Welcome. Welcome.

    We'll answer a question from the American side, and the Pakistani 
side, and the American side, and Pakistani side. And that will be it, in 
the spirit of Saturday morning meetings. And so the first person that 
will be asking the question will be Mr. Mark Knoller [CBS Radio].

[[Page 2910]]

Homeland Security

    Q. Thank you. Mr. President, what do you make of the warning sounded 
yesterday by Tommy Thompson that the American food supply may be at risk 
to terrorist attack?
    President Bush. Tommy was commenting on the fact that we're a large 
company--country, with all kinds of avenues where somebody can inflict 
harm. And we're doing everything we can to protect the American people. 
I picked a good man to head the Homeland Security Department in Bernie 
Kerik. I hope the Senate confirms him quickly so he can get to work. 
There's a lot of work to be done. We've made a lot of progress in 
protecting our country, and there's more work to be done. And this 
administration is committed to doing it.
    Q. Mr. President----
    President Bush. Do you want to call on somebody?
    President Musharraf. I know that--I know that you're trying your 
best to address the issue of terrorism all over the world, and 
obviously, the most important part is to protect your own, the United 
States, from terrorism.
    President Bush. Actually, I wasn't asking you necessarily to answer 
the question; I was asking you to call on somebody from the Pakistani 
press, I'm sorry. [Laughter] You don't have to answer every question 
they ask me. I would advise you not answering those questions. 
[Laughter]

Pakistan-U.S. Relations

    Q. Mr. President, the public perception in Pakistan is that Pakistan 
is doing much more, deeper cooperation, and doing more favors to the 
United States than Pakistan is getting anything in return. What is your 
comment, and what is the room for Pak-U.S. relations during your next 
term?
    President Bush. Well, first of all, I don't view relations as, one, 
that there's a scorecard that says, ``You know, well, if we all fight 
terror together, therefore, somebody owes somebody something.'' This is 
a world in which cooperation is essential, and mutual cooperation is 
really essential between Pakistan and the United States.
    Obviously, there's ways to strengthen our bilateral relations. The 
President and I are constantly discussing ways to do so. After all, he 
is the strongest advocate for the Pakistan people I have ever met. His 
duty is to represent Pakistan, and so, therefore, we talk about ways to 
enhance trade. Trade between the United States and Pakistan is good. It 
can be better, and we discussed ways to enhance that.
    But our cooperation has been very strong. But let me just say 
something. Friends don't sit there and have a scorecard that says, 
``Well, he did this,'' or ``He did that, and therefore, somebody is--
there's a deficit.'' Our relationship is much bigger than that. Our 
relationship is one where we work closely together for the common good 
of our own people and for the common good of the world.
    Jennifer [Jennifer Loven, Associated Press].

President Musharraf's Role in the War on Terror

    Q. Thank you, sir. You've talked repeatedly about how pleased you've 
been with President Musharraf's cooperation in the arrest of Al Qaida 
suspects. But are you not disappointed that his army has somewhat 
downgraded the search for Usama bin Laden?
    President Bush. Quite the contrary. His army has been incredibly 
active and very brave in southern Waziristan, flushing out an enemy that 
had thought they had found safe haven. His army has suffered casualty, 
and for that, we want to thank their loved ones for the sacrifice that 
their family has made.
    The President has been a determined leader to bring to justice not 
only people like Usama bin Laden but to bring to justice those who would 
inflict harm and pain on his own people. Remember, this is a man whose 
life had been threatened by and still is threatened by Al Qaida 
leadership. He's the person who survived two direct assassination 
attempts. And there is nobody more dedicated than--in the protection of 
his own people than President Musharraf.
    And I am very pleased with his efforts and his focused efforts, and 
our discussions today were to determine how best we can help the 
President achieve his objective and--which

[[Page 2911]]

is not only protect himself but protect his country.

Pakistan-U.S. Relations/Pakistan's Role in the Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, it's determined that you have a long vision, long-
term vision between Pakistan and the United States. How would you define 
it, and how do you see it in the days to come?
    President Bush. I think the long-term vision is one that is a 
relationship which is very mature in this sense: that there is a 
commercial relationship which is fair and balanced, mutually beneficial 
to both people; a defense relationship which is one in which there is 
close collaboration and complementary efforts based upon the true 
threats of the 21st century; and thirdly, there's a relationship in 
which I can call upon my friend to help deal with international issues 
such as the development of a Palestinian state, one in which the 
aspirations of the Palestinian people are met and listened to because 
democracy has taken hold.
    One of the interesting lessons that the world can look at is 
Pakistan. You see, there are some in the world who do not believe that a 
Muslim society can self-govern. Some believe that the only solution for 
government in parts of the world is for there to be tyranny or 
despotism. I don't believe that. The Pakistan people have proven that 
those cynics are wrong. And where President Musharraf can help in world 
peace is to help remind people what is possible. And the solution in the 
Middle East is for there to be a world effort to help the Palestinians 
develop a state that is truly free, one that's got an independent 
judiciary, one that's got a civil society, one that's got the capacity 
to fight off the terrorists, one that allows for dissent, one in which 
people can vote. And President Musharraf can play a big role in helping 
achieve that objective.
    None of us can convince the Palestinians to say--or make the 
Palestinians adhere to this point of view, but we can help convince 
them. And that's precisely what I intend to do. And as a Palestinian 
state evolves there will be much more confidence, and when that happens, 
peace is more likely to happen.
    And I look forward to working with this world leader on that 
important issue.
    Thank you all for taking time out of your weekend. I know it's been 
a disappointment for you to have to work on Saturday, but--[laughter]--
the press. But nevertheless----
    President Musharraf. Because of me. [Laughter]
    President Bush. ----the President and I are thrilled you're here.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:50 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al 
Qaida terrorist organization.