[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 13 (Monday, April 3, 2006)]
[Page 607]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Tour of the Chichen-Itza Archaeological Ruins With 
President Vicente Fox of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of 
Canada in Chichen-Itza, Mexico

March 30, 2006

[At this point, President Fox spoke in Spanish, and no translation was 
provided.]

    President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much for your 
hospitality. This is a good start to a very important series of 
discussions. It is an honor to be here with the Prime Minister of Canada 
as well. We've got vital relations that will matter to the future of our 
people. And I look forward to the discussions.

    And I want to thank you for letting us begin our very important 
meetings at this very significant historical site. And I congratulate 
our guide, and I want to thank those who have worked hard to make sure 
this important part of history is accessible and is available for people 
to understand the past, so we can better understand the future.

    So Mr. President, thank you for having us.

[Prime Minister Harper spoke in French, and no translation was provided. 
He then continued in English.]

    Prime Minister Harper. And I can repeat the same thing quickly, if 
you don't mind. Forgive us; that's how we speak Spanish in the north. 
[Laughter] Wonderful to be here. Thank you for the welcome, President 
Fox. I think we stand here in a historic site, a symbol here of our 
determination to build a new future for all inhabitants of North 
America. And I am honored to be with President Bush and President Fox 
and look forward to our discussions.

Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of these remarks.