    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 38 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
    [Pages 1638-1639]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With President Jalal Talabani of Iraq in
    New York City

    September 19, 2006

        President Bush. I want to thank the President of Iraq for joining
    us. President Talabani, you and your colleagues here have given us time
    so we can strategize together to help you succeed, help you become a
    democracy, a country that can sustain itself and govern itself and
    defend itself, in the heart of the Middle East.
        I want to congratulate the Iraqi people on your courage. These are
    tough times. There is still violence in your midst because extremists
    want to stop the advance of a free society. We spent time strategizing
    on how we can continue to help the Iraqi Government provide security for
    her people. It's not only security that comes from troops but security
    that comes from economic vitality.
        We had a very good meeting yesterday on the compact for Iraq. The
    international community came and listened very carefully to the Iraqi
    Government's proposals and pledged support for this new democracy, and
    that ought to hearten the Iraqi people. I made it very clear to the
    President that it's important for the Government of Iraq to continue to
    make very difficult decisions so that the people of Iraq see progress,
    to see different political parties capable of working together for the
    good of the country and for the good of the people. I'm optimistic that
    this Government will succeed. And I've told the President of Iraq that
    America has given her word to help you, and we will keep our word. The
    people of Iraq must know that.
        I spoke today at the United Nations, and in my speech, I spoke
    directly to the people of Iraq. I wanted them to know that we're
    thinking about them during this difficult period of time. I want them to
    know we appreciate their courage. And I want them to know that the
    United States of America stands with them, so long as the Government
    continues to make the tough choices necessary for peace to prevail.
        So, Mr. President, thank you for coming again. I appreciate your
    time. I appreciate your longstanding courage and support for freedom and
    liberty. History will judge you kindly, Mr. President, when they look
    back and realize that under your leadership, a new democracy began to
    flourish in the heart of the Middle East, called Iraq.
        Welcome.
        President Talabani. Thank you. Today we were honored to meet
    President Bush, who we consider him as the hero of liberation of Iraq
    and who we are--very much appreciate the sacrifice of brave American
    Army, those who gave their life to liberate our country from the worst
    kind of dictatorship, which left behind mass graves with hundreds of
    thousands of innocent Iraqis in it. And the liberation of Iraq from this
    kind of dictatorship opened the door for Iraqi people to enjoy
    democracy, human rights, and all kinds of liberties, and to have free
    election, the National Assembly then elects the Presidency and Speaker
    and Prime Minister, and to have national unity, a Government headed by
    Dr. Maliki.
        This Government is representing main portions of Iraqi people, of
    course Arabs, Sunnis, Shi'as, Turkomans, Christians, Muslims, everyone
    represented in this Government, and is working well for national
    reconciliation. I briefed his Excellency, President, about the steps we
    have taken towards implementing--implementation of national
    reconciliation program. And also, I told him that we are trying to do
    our best to remove all obstacles in the way of national reconciliation,
    to try to review some of those like de-Baathification and look to the
    amendment of a Constitution and also try to have some kind of
    discussion, free discussion about federation and some other issues. We
    have also our roadmap in Iraq, which was decided by a political council
    of national security for solving other problems of Iraqi people.
        We, again, expressed our gratitude to his Excellency, our dear
    friend, President George Bush, and to American people. We hope that
    America also understand that we are grateful to them, to the America,
    and we will never forget those friends who helped us in the difficult
    days of Iraq, and Iraq will be always in the future in very good
    relation

    [[Page 1639]]

    and be the friend of the United States and partner of United States in
    fighting against tyranny, dictatorship, and terrorism. You can count on
    the Iraqi people, Mr. President, in fighting against terrorism and for
    democratization of whole Middle East.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:16 p.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
    President Talabani referred to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq. A
    tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.