[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 50 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Pages 2915-2916]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With King Abdullah II of Jordan

December 6, 2004

    President Bush. Your Majesty, welcome back to the Oval Office. It is 
my honor to receive you here again. And every time you come, I enjoy our 
conversations, and I'm impressed by the progress that your good country 
is making.
    Today we had a chance to talk about the Jordanian economy and the 
growth of the economy. And the amount of trade between our countries is 
growing, which is to the benefit of the Jordanian people as well as to 
the American people. And I appreciate your leadership.
    We also talked about, of course, Iraq. I expressed my strong belief 
that the Iraqi elections must go forward on time. And I appreciate His 
Majesty listening to my beliefs. And I assured His Majesty that the 
United States and my Government will be involved with Middle Eastern 
peace and that I believe that two states living side by side in peace, a 
Palestinian state and an Israeli state, is necessary for there to be 
peace and that we have a moment, a window of opportunity, and I intend 
to work very closely with His Majesty to seize that moment for the good 
of the Palestinian people and for the good of the Israelis, so that we 
can achieve peace that I know is on your mind.
    So welcome, sir. I'm really glad to have you back.
    King Abdullah. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. We're delighted 
to be back here and to thank you, Mr. President, for, really, the 
outstanding support that you are giving our part of the world, and the 
President's dedication to bring hope and peace, hopefully, to Israelis 
and Palestinians. I know that you have been committed in the past 4 
years in identifying a future for the Israelis and the Palestinians and 
the Israelis and the Arabs. And again, the President today brought home 
to me how important that is. And I'm very delighted with that strong 
stand that you've always taken for a better Middle East.
    As you mentioned, sir, we talked about the future of Iraq, and we 
work very closely together to bring a transition in Iraq as quickly

[[Page 2916]]

as possible and a future for the Iraqi people. And I tremendously 
appreciate the effort that you've given all of us and your vision for a 
better world for all of us in our part of the world.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir. Welcome. Appreciate you. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:10 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House.