    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 16 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
    [Pages 724-725]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Fuad Siniora of
    Lebanon

    April 18, 2006

        President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of
    Lebanon to the Oval Office. Prime Minister, thanks for coming.
        Prime Minister Siniora. Thank you very much for giving us the
    opportunity.
        President Bush. Well, we just had a really interesting discussion. I
    told the Prime Minister that the United States strongly supports a free
    and independent and sovereign Lebanon. We took great joy in seeing the
    Cedar Revolution. We understand that the hundreds of thousands of people
    who took to the street to express their desire to be free required
    courage, and we support the desire of the people to have a government
    responsive to their needs and a government that is free, truly free.
        We talked about the need to make sure that there is a full
    investigation on the death of former Prime Minister Hariri, and we'll
    work with the international community to see that justice is done. We
    talked about the great tradition of Lebanon to serve as a model of
    entrepreneurship and prosperity. Beirut is one of the great
    international cities, and I'm convinced that if Lebanon is truly free
    and independent and democratic that Beirut will once again regain her
    place as a center of financial and culture and the arts.
        There's no question in my mind that Lebanon can serve as a great
    example for what is possible in the broader Middle East; that out of the
    tough times the country has been through will rise a state that shows
    that it's possible for people of religious difference to live side by
    side in peace; to show that it's possible for people to put aside past
    histories to live together in a way that the people want, which is there
    for to be peace and hope and opportunity.
        And so, Mr. Prime Minister, we're really glad you're here. I want to
    thank you for the

    [[Page 725]]

    wonderful visit we've had, and welcome you here to the White House.
        Prime Minister Siniora. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I would
    like to really thank President Bush for giving us the opportunity to be
    here at the White House and to discuss matters of mutual interest to the
    United States and Lebanon, and matters that has to do with the
    developments that have been taking place in Lebanon.
        For the past--over 16 or 18 months, Lebanon has been undergoing
    major changes. And Lebanon has really been committing itself that we
    want the change to happen to--in a democratic and a peaceful manner, but
    at the same time, to really stay course--on course; that we are there to
    meet the expectations of the people to have a united, liberal, free
    country, and, at the same time, prosperous economy.
        So that are the matters that we have discussed with President Bush.
    And I really would like to seize this opportunity to thank President
    Bush and the United States for the support that they have been extending
    to Lebanon throughout the past periods and with all the resolutions that
    were taken since the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri. The United
    States has been of great support to Lebanon.
        I am really convinced that President Bush and the United States will
    stand beside Lebanon to have Lebanon stay as a free, democratic, united,
    and sovereign state. And the United States is really of great importance
    in this regard, whether this can be done directly or indirectly. So I
    would like once more to express our great thanks for President Bush and
    the United States for this.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:51 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House.