[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 39 (Monday, October 2, 2006)]
[Page 1665]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Business Leaders on the U.S.-Lebanon 
Partnership Fund

September 25, 2006

    I've just had a fascinating discussion with four business leaders 
and members of my administration, all of whom are strategizing on how to 
help the good people of Lebanon recover from the recent crisis.
    Our goal and our mission is to help Lebanese citizens and Lebanese 
businesses not only recover but to flourish, because we believe strongly 
in the concept of a democracy in Lebanon. Right from the beginning of 
the crisis, I had stated that our objective is to help the Siniora 
Government--the Siniora Government, which is a democratically elected 
government. And now we've got generous citizens of the United States, 
people who are very busy in their own right, who are willing to step 
forward and to strategize and raise monies to help people in Lebanon.
    And this is a very important mission for our country. It's a public/
private partnership. Our Federal Government has committed $250 million; 
OPEC, [OPIC] * under Chairman Mosbacher's lead, has arranged financing. 
And now private-sector individuals and businesses will work together to 
send a clear message to the Lebanese people: We care about you; we want 
you to live in a free society; we've got great hopes for you; we believe 
in your Prime Minister, Prime Minister Siniora; and we will back up our 
words with actions.
    * White House correction.
    So I appreciate John Chambers, who has taken the lead for this 
group, and I appreciate you all taking time to go over to Lebanon and 
show the face of America. We're a compassionate people; we care when 
people suffer; and we care about the type of governments that people 
live under. And we strongly support the young democracies in the Middle 
East; we support the democracy of Lebanon; we support the democracy of 
Iraq. And our dream is one day for there to be a Palestinian democracy 
living side by side in peace with Israel.
    Thank you all very much for your commitment. May God bless the good 
people of Lebanon. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:38 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Fuad Siniora of 
Lebanon; and John T. Chambers, president and chief executive officer, 
Cisco Systems, Inc.