[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 4 (Monday, January 30, 2006)]
[Page 136]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Parliament Member Saad Hariri of 
Lebanon

January 27, 2006

    It's my honor to welcome a Member of the Lebanese Parliament, Saad 
Hariri, here to the Oval Office. We've just had a very interesting and 
important discussion about our mutual desire for Lebanon to be free--
free of foreign influence, free of Syrian intimidation, free to chart 
its own course.
    The American people mourn the loss of life. I know it's been hard on 
you and your mom, who we had the honor of meeting in Paris, and your 
family to think about your dad, a man who cared about Lebanon a lot. 
It's very important for the investigation into your dad's death to go 
forward. We expect there to be a full and firm investigation, and the 
people who are responsible for your dad's death need to be held to 
account.
    I want to thank you for your passion for the people of Lebanon. I 
was telling him I was raised in west Texas, and I can remember Lebanese-
American Texans being such great citizens of our State and our country. 
Many people of Lebanese extraction want Lebanon to flourish and thrive, 
and so do I. It will be very important for the region for Lebanon's 
democracy to be able to reach its full potential. And there's no doubt 
in my mind, with the focused effort of the free world reminding Syria to 
uphold to U.N. resolution 1559, we will be able to achieve the 
objective.
    So I talked about a donors conference--he's going to work the world 
community to try to help organize a conference to help the Lebanese 
people get going. And we appreciate very much your suggestions and your 
advice. In the meantime, welcome to the Oval Office. Thank you for your 
courage. I appreciate it very much. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at noon in the Oval Office at the White House. 
In his remarks, he referred to Nazek Hariri, widow of former Prime 
Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon, who was assassinated on February 14, 
2005, in Beirut. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.