[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 38 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[Pages 1639-1640]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Mahmoud Abbas of the 
Palestinian Authority in New York City

September 20, 2006

    President Bush. Mr. President, thank you for coming. Yesterday, in 
my speech to the United Nations, I said that you're a man of peace who 
believes in a two-state solution. And after our conversation today, once 
again you confirmed that.
    I, too, believe that the best way to bring peace to the Holy Land is 
for two democratic states living side by side in peace. I said in my 
speech yesterday that the Palestinian state must have territorial 
integrity. I firmly believe that. I also said in my speech that the--one 
of the great objectives of my administration is to achieve this vision. 
I fully understand that in order to achieve this vision, there must be 
leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for 
peace, and you are such a leader, Mr. President.
    I can't thank you enough for the courage you have shown. I assure 
you that our Government wants to work with you in order--so that you're 
able--capable of delivering the vision that so many Palestinians long 
for, and that is a society in which they can raise their children in 
peace and hope. And I know that society is possible. And I appreciate 
your vision along those lines.
    So, welcome to Washington, DC [the United States] *; I think this is 
our fifth visit. Every time, I've left our visits inspired by your 
vision.
    * White House correction.
    President Abbas. Mr. President, thank you very much. I'm honored to 
meet with you, as you said, for the fifth time during these past years.

[[Page 1640]]

    First of all, I would like to thank you greatly for the wonderful 
speech that you have delivered yesterday before the United Nations, and 
talk about the Palestinian issues and your vision of two states, and you 
adopt this vision. Mr. President, you are the first American President 
to adopt the vision of two states living side by side.
    Of course, I've talked with the President about the situation in the 
Palestinian Territories and the difficulties that the Palestinian people 
are facing as well as the possible solution that can get us out of these 
difficulties. And I mentioned to the President that more than 70 percent 
of the Palestinian population, they believe in the two-state solution, a 
state of Palestine and a state of Israel living in peace and security 
next to each other. That means that the Palestinian people desire peace, 
and there is no power on Earth that can prevent the Palestinian people 
from moving toward the peaceful solution and living and coexisting in 
peace.
    Of course, we look forward to activate the various plans and various 
resolutions and the roadmap in order to be in a position to reach, with 
our neighbors, the desired objectives.
    We always, Mr. President--we look forward to your support and your 
help and your aid, because we are in dire need for your help and 
support. Mr. President, we will always be faithful and truthful to 
peace, and we will not disappoint you.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:33 a.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. 
President Abbas spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an 
interpreter. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.