[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.