[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 18 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Pages 851-852]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay

May 4, 2006

    President Bush. Bienvenidos. It's been a distinct pleasure to 
welcome the President to the Oval Office. We've had a very extensive 
conversation about--we talked about a lot of subjects. We talked about 
the human condition. We talked about our mutual desire to improve lives 
through good education and health care. I assured the President that the 
billions of dollars of aid that we spend in the neighborhood are all 
aimed at justice and giving people a chance to realize their dreams.
    We talked about ways to make sure there's better student exchanges 
between our countries. It made a lot of sense; after all, the President 
was educated--or received some education in my home state of Texas, at 
M.D. Anderson.
    We talked about extending our commercial relations. One of the 
interesting topics that the President brought up was renewable energy, a 
subject that is very dear to my heart

[[Page 852]]

and necessary for our country. And finally, I shared some thoughts with 
the President about my deep desire to help countries become free, so 
that this world is more peaceful.
    I--in short, it was a very extensive dialog. And finally, he shared 
with me the joy of being a grandfather. Obviously, he's a good man, 
because he's got such pride in his family.
    And so I welcome you here, sir. Thank you for coming.
    President Vazquez. Mr. President, thank you very much for your 
kindest attention. It's, for us, a great opportunity to speak--but I 
speak Spanish.
    President Bush. Si. [Laughter]
    President Vazquez. Y tu tambien.
    Thank you very much, Mr. President. I want to thank you very much 
for your welcome. This is one more show of friendship that has been a 
very deep friendship between our countries from the very beginning.
    We've had a very kind and extensive exchange of opinions with 
President Bush. First of all, we recalled the bilateral investment 
treaty that was recently signed by our two countries in which we have--
and we have now also agreed to work to expand, intensify, and strengthen 
our trade relations. In fact, our technical people are going to be 
meeting within the framework of our joint commission in a few months in 
Montevideo, and we've agreed that we are going to be kicking off work at 
that time.
     I will not extend on the points that have--the items that have 
already been referred to by the President, but I do want to thank you 
very much.
    And to the Uruguayan people who are listening to me, I want to say 
to all of you: Without exception, without exclusions, together, we will 
continue to work jointly on this path that we have undertaken in order 
to further the standard of life with our people, through education, 
through health care, through more and better jobs, and through decent 
salaries for all our people, and to truly insert Uruguay on the path of 
globalization.
    Thank you very much.
    President Bush. Gracias, senior. Gracias.

Note: The President spoke at 11:09 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. President Vazquez spoke in Spainsh, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter.