[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 29 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Pages 1354-1355]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of 
India in Strelna

July 17, 2006

    President Bush. Thanks for coming over this morning. It's always a 
pleasure to be in your company. You're one of the really true gentlemen 
in the international arena. And you've got a wonderful heart. I know 
you've been through difficult times, and America mourns the loss of 
innocent life as a result of the terrorist attacks.
    One of the issues that we've been discussing here at the G-8 is the 
recent terrorist activities in the Middle East. Yesterday, in working 
with other members of the G-8, we cobbled together a very important 
statement. I'm most pleased that the leaders came together to say, 
``Look, we condemn violence; we honor innocent life.''
    However, for the first time, we've really begun to address with 
clarity the root causes of the conflict, the recent conflict in the 
Middle East, and that is terrorist activity--mainly Hizballah, that's 
housed and encouraged by Syria, financed by Iran, are making these moves 
to stop the progress of peace. We would hope that by addressing the 
conditions of this violence, we could get to a situation where there was 
calm. We're going to work hard as nations to address the root cause. 
Yesterday was an important statement. The reason I tell you that is that 
you'll find nations willing to work together for the common good here.
    I also look forward to discussing with you our trade matters as well 
as the wonderful deal you and I negotiated. Our Congress is working on 
that important piece of legislation that will encourage and allow India 
and U.S. cooperation, and I'm optimistic that we will get that passed.
    At any rate, welcome, and thank you, sir. I'd be glad for you to 
make some comments.

[[Page 1355]]

    Prime Minister Singh. Mr. President, thank you very much for your 
words of sympathy and support in the wake of these terrible terrorist 
acts in Mumbai and--[inaudible]. I've just been there--200 people, 
innocent men, women, and children, have perished, about 800 citizens 
injured--[inaudible]--in various hospitals. It was such a moving sight, 
people without limbs and always sad. And I'm grateful to you--you gave 
me help from Germany, and I deeply appreciate your generosity. Your 
kindness, your sympathy and support mean a great deal to me, President--
[inaudible].
    Sir, your visit to our country in March, and in the company of the 
First Lady, was a landmark. [Inaudible]--are working together between 
our two countries. And I'm glad to report to you that we are making 
progress in all directions. India was the idea of getting the business 
community of our two countries engaged. You suggested we set up a CEOs 
forum. That forum is very active. It has produced a number of good 
ideas. We'll follow it up by an investors' summit towards the end of the 
year.
    Sir, India is still very largely an agricultural country; 65 percent 
of all people live on land. And the initiative that you took, and--
[inaudible]--put also your ideas and knowledge, initiated a second green 
revolution in our country. We have now agreed on a roadmap. We have 
identified sectors like agricultural education, food processing, water 
management--[inaudible]--as the key areas which will be the focus of 
this agriculture initiative. It means a great deal to us, to build a new 
trust to agricultural innovation, agricultural productivity. And I thank 
you for active support.
    In science and technology also, Mr. President, we have now agreed to 
work together and invite national--[inaudible]--and science and 
technology coordinators--[inaudible]. They have no outline, a roadmap. 
And I am very happy that both our administrations are working very hard 
to give concrete meaning and substance to our cooperation.
    And I thank you, Mr. President, for your efforts and Secretary 
Rice's effort in getting the legislation with regard to nuclear 
cooperation moving through the Congress. We have followed really 
intensely what has been written into these bills. And I must confess to 
you that while we deeply appreciate your personal involvement, Secretary 
Rice's magnificent efforts when she appeared before the Congress--there 
are some concerns which worry us, and we believe, our Parliament. And 
like you, we are a democracy; we have a Parliament which is very jealous 
of what we do and what we don't do. And we have--these concerns are 
made, and I sincerely hope that we can find constructive solutions to 
all these problems. So this truly is landmark cooperation.
    I recall it--I said to you that, Mr. President, that this is a--
[inaudible]--consideration of India and the U.S.--[inaudible].

Note: The President spoke at 8:11 a.m. in Cottage Nine at the 
Konstantinovsky Palace Complex.