[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 7 (Monday, February 20, 2006)]
[Pages 259-261]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia 
and an Exchange With Reporters

February 16, 2006

    President Bush. Thank you all for coming. The President and I will 
make a statement. We'll be glad to take two questions per side.
    Mr. President, bienvenidos. I'm glad you're here.
    First of all, the President and I are friends, and we are personal 
friends, and we're friends of freedom as well. Every time I visit with 
President Uribe, I am impressed by his strength of character and his 
belief in the future of his country. Mr. President, I'm proud that 
you're here. I want to thank you for the wide-ranging discussions we 
have had.
    The President, of course, has got trade on his mind. I've explained 
to him very carefully that we are interested in a trade agreement that 
we will negotiate in good faith. The agreement must be good for the 
people of Colombia, as well as the people of the United States. And I 
assured him that our trade negotiators will be fair in our approach.
    So, Mr. President, thank you for your strength of character, and 
thank you for your friendship. And welcome here to the Oval Office.
    President Uribe. President Bush, this meeting has been very 
constructive, as it always is whenever we meet. I want to thank you; I 
want to thank the Government; and I want to thank the Congress and the 
people of the United States for their permanent interest in Colombia.
    Our peoples have a relationship that is historic, and it's also a 
relationship that is close. We also have a convergence, a convergence 
that is based on democratic values and the belief that democracy needs 
security in order to build those values.
    We have been negotiating an FTA for the last 23 months. All of us 
have come to this negotiation in good faith, and I'm sure that we will 
see a conclusion. This meeting has been good for democracy, and it has 
been good for the interests of our people, as well as for our shared war 
on terror and our war against the drugs that finance that terror.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. I understood you. [Laughter]
    President Uribe. Thank you.
    President Bush. Nedra [Nedra Pickler, Associated Press].

Vice President's Hunting Accident

    Q. Yes, Mr. President, do you feel it was appropriate that the Vice 
President didn't reveal his shooting accident until the next day, and 
through a private citizen? And do you think it was okay that he didn't 
talk to you about it, personally, until Monday?
    President Bush. I thought the Vice President handled the issue just 
fine. He went through--and I thought his explanation yesterday was a 
powerful explanation. This is a man who likes the outdoors, and he likes 
to hunt. And he heard a bird flush, and he turned and pulled the trigger 
and saw his friend get wounded. And it was a deeply traumatic moment for 
him, and obviously for the--it was a tragic moment for Harry 
Whittington.
    And so I thought his explanation yesterday was a very strong and 
powerful explanation, and I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave.
    Q. But are you satisfied about the timing?
    President Bush. I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave.

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    Mr. President is about to ask somebody to ask a question.

Colombia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

    Q. Mr. President, is there going to be a free trade agreement with 
Colombia or not?
    President Bush. Espero que si.
    Q. Pronto? Soon?
    President Bush. Vamos a ver. I spent time visiting with the 
President about the progress on negotiations. Free trade agreements are 
never easy to negotiate--es muy dificile--and because--there's 
interests. He represents the people of your country very well. He's a 
good negotiator, as is his trade minister. They're strong in 
representing the interests of the people, whether they be farmers or 
manufacturers. And our people are good, strong negotiators, too.
    I'm very hopeful. I'm very hopeful we reach a conclusion. Trade 
agreements are never easy, and that's what's very important to 
understand. But in my judgment--and by the way, I, too, have to convince 
the American people of the importance of trade agreements--in my 
judgment an agreement with this important country, Colombia, will be a 
very important agreement. And so we're working hard.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

Vice President's Hunting Accident

    Q. Some Democrats say that this shooting episode has contributed to 
a perception of White House secrecy. What do you say to that, sir?
    President Bush. I think people are making the wrong conclusion about 
a tragic accident. The Vice President was involved in a terrible 
accident, and it profoundly affected him. Yesterday when he was here in 
the Oval Office, I saw the deep concern he had about a person who he 
wounded. And he--again, I thought yesterday's explanation was a very 
strong and important explanation to make to the American people.
    And now our concerns are directed toward the recovery of our friend. 
I knew Harry Whittington when I was the Governor of Texas, down there in 
Austin. He's a fine man. He's been involved in our State's politics for 
a long period of time. And, you know, my concern is for Harry, and I 
know the Vice President feels the same way.

Colombia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

    Q. President Bush, do you think the negotiators are making the link 
between the fact that it's important to prove legal economy as a way to 
fight against terror and illegal drugs?
    President Bush. That's a great question. I believe that when we work 
together in a free trade, it strengthens markets and the appreciation 
for open markets, whether it be in Colombia or here at home. I believe 
free commerce between nations will enable countries--people in countries 
to realize their full potential. I think one of the things that's very 
important--I know the President is dedicated on--is a strategy on the 
one hand that says, he will deal harshly with those who deal in drugs. 
But he also recognizes there needs to be economic activity to compete.
    We've had a lot of discussions about crop substitution and 
microloans for people to be able to develop ways to make a living that 
is distinct from and different from being involved in the drug trade.
    And so absolutely we understand the connection between trade of 
legal products in a free way between nations as a way to compete against 
illegal activities. I appreciate the President's leadership on working 
hard to make sure that Colombia is rid of narcotrafficking. It's a great 
country, with a wonderful history. And the determination to rid the 
country of narcotrafficking will go down as a very important part of 
your nation's history, and we'll continue to say that Colombia is a 
great country with great enterprise and great hope and great 
opportunity.
    So thank you for coming. Adios.

Note: The President spoke at 4:16 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Harry Whittington, chairman, Texas 
Funeral Service Commission, who was injured on February 11 while hunting 
with the Vice President on a ranch in Corpus Christi, TX; and Minister 
of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Jorge Humberto Botero of Colombia. 
President Uribe spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were translated by an 
interpreter.

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